Enduring design in coastal CT.
A month before.
Photos by Donna Christopher
Opinion
I’m a friend of the designer but don’t handle her PR, but I live in Fairfield County, where we all have a vested interest in encouraging beautiful, smart designs in construction.
On Sunday, I spent time on the beaches in Fairfield. The homes around Pennfield, in particular, are new builds on old lots. They are custom designs, each in its own iteration, with enduring reverence for the neighborhood. The owners naturally have a stake in that, and it matters.
This one, like many by the beach, replaces an old family home that was torn down after falling into disrepair and no longer being viable for rehab.
As a longtime resident who chose Fairfield County years ago and often travels to the coast, I appreciate how strict new builds are in the Gold Coast towns. I want to highlight projects that show lasting value and legacy.
We drove around this neighborhood after Hurricane Sandy. It was a disaster. Many of the homes had to be rehabbed, but the reverence for design here was universal. My friend’s house is a testament to that from every angle.
This home with an infinity pool, hot tub, sauna, walkable access to a private beach, and views of the Sound exemplifies thoughtful, mindful improvements. I may be biased, as I came to Connecticut with a husband who was a builder. He rehabbed this house we lived in (1983-1997) and built an earlier one on a purchased lot back when lots were still available.
Now, there’s precious little inventory left for anyone wanting to make a reasonable living here and build their own custom dream home. Raze-and-rebuild is both sensible and respectful when done by the right hands. That’s why I applaud this project today. My friend also won a HOBI Award for a previous build on the Gold Coast.