House hunting during the Covid-19 pandemic was no picnic. But for one young Westport couple, it proved to be the gateway to a long-held dream. Interior designer Danielle Perdue of DK Home, her husband and their two young sons had made the leap from Manhattan to Westport in 2015, but the house they built a year later lacked one crucial quality—a waterfront setting. Once the pandemic hit, they tried to work around it by building a pool and were told to get on a two-year waiting list. So, they reverted to plan B, bought a boat (which they named Plan B) and began looking for properties that had a dock.
A neighbor who was a real estate broker had the inside scoop on a private listing on the Bermuda Lagoon.“We immediately went to see it,” says Perdue. “We weren’t allowed inside but were permitted to walk the property and had to have an offer in by 5 p.m.” They were thrilled when the bid was accepted.
Fortunately, the Perdues were buying the location—a quiet neighborhood, access to the lagoon and a boat dock. “The house looked like it had several additions done through the years,” says Perdue. “We preferred a tear-down. When you’re a designer it’s hard to buy someone else’s selections and finishes.”
The couple envisioned a modern home with a classic Shingle-style exterior, an open-floor plan and plenty of space for indoor/outdoor entertaining. “I wanted it to have a resort-like feel,” adds Perdue.
They turned to Westport-based architect Peter Cadoux to bring their dream to life. A longtime resident, Cadoux specializes in residential architecture and has vast experience in the design, permitting and construction of coastal homes. “Coastal homes have a unique program,” he says. “Homeowners spend more time circulating between the indoor and outdoor spaces—open floor plans, screened porches, glass, pergolas and mud rooms are critical elements. The key word in all of this is not just the way that people live on the water, but a high level of practicality.”
The pool and barbecue area are furnished with pieces from Sutherland Furniture, including the teak sectional, coffee table and lounge chairs, plus the bar table and stools.
The covered patio is furnished with a sectional and coffee table through Sutherland Furniture. The sectional fabric is Perennials Old Hand in nickel.
An Elizabeth Eakins custom rug anchors the family room, where a Vanguard Furniture sofa through Schwartz Design Showrooms sports fabric from Osborne & Little’s Ocean collection. Throw pillows are covered in fabric from Anna French (Akio pattern in navy) and Osborne & Little (Rialto).
The benches are from Villa & House. Thibaut swivel chairs are upholstered in a Designers Guild chenille weave; the painting above the fireplace is by Yvonne Claveloux.
A pendant from Urban Electric centers above the custom Baker dining table and chairs, whose cushions are covered in a faux leather from Designers Guild. The wet bar is painted in a custom blend of Benjamin Moore’s After Midnight; hardware is unlacquered brass from Armac Martin.
The laundry room and mud room are home to a changing area and workspace.
The mudroom bathroom shower has tile from Tile America; the custom vanity by Segerson Builders is finished with a quartz top through AKDO.
A Visual Comfort chandelier hangs from the cathedral ceiling in the primary suite; the bed is from Hickory Chair; and the bench is through Thibaut.
A Bain Ultra tub holds center stage in the primary bath where custom vanities by Segerson Builders sport marble countertops from Cosa Marble. Tub and sink unlacquerd brass faucets are from Barber Wilsons.
The L-shape design was dictated by the size of the lot and the town’s permitting constraints. By setting it far forward on the property there was more space for a backyard and other outdoor features. The orientation was dictated by the sun. “The angles are important,” says the architect. “While designing a coastal home, sun orientation must be deliberate in the beginning of the design process.”
The back of the house is all about the water. Facing the lagoon, the family room flows into the dining room, which flows into the kitchen. The architect used ceiling beams, detailed millwork and ceiling articulations to ensure that each space feels separate from the others, while still being visually part of the whole.
When it came time to furnish her new house, Perdue kept the palette clean and crisp. “I call it sophisticated coastal,” she says. Each room is done in varying shades of blues, whites and grays, and layered with natural materials such as jute, wood and rattan. Inviting furniture layouts draw attention to the view instead of detracting from it. Lighting fixtures from Urban Electric add a cool transitional touch. Upstairs, in the primary suite, a pair of sliding glass doors leads to a small terrace. “Every day feels like vacation when you wake up to these calming views,” she adds.
Throughout, the goal was to strike a balance between beauty and comfort. The living room sofas are covered in indoor/outdoor fabric. The dining chairs are dressed in a spill-proof faux leather. Ceramic tiles lead from the pool to the mud room. The family dog has his own built-in bed, with a custom pillow and brass bars that match the hardware. “We really thought about how every family member would use the space,” Perdue says. “Even Bodhi.”
And use it, they do. “It was our dream to live on the water but when we first moved out of the city that was out of reach,” says Perdue. “To be able to raise our boys in such an amazing neighborhood is truly a blessing. They can fish, kayak and paddle board right in our backyard. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
