A Greenwich colonial home has undergone a renovation that blends modern family life with its historic soul. The outdoor area at the back of the property creates a seamless flow throughout the exterior spaces, according to interior designer Amy Andrews.
The 1930s colonial underwent an expansion that added several rooms while maintaining a cohesive exterior that looks original, says architect Chuck Hilton.
A young Connecticut couple with a growing family fell in love with the history of the house and didn’t want to harm its integrity in any way. “We immediately fell in love with the history of the house and didn’t want to harm its integrity in any way,” the owner says.
The couple entrusted Amy Andrews Interior Design and Charles Hilton Architects to collaborate on a project that thoughtfully injected a contemporary design aesthetic into a nearly century-old property.
Amy Andrews deployed captivating color and artful whimsy to help accentuate how the clients wanted to live and function in their surroundings. Her approach to balancing color with a classic mix of furnishings is seen throughout the four-bedroom home, much like a historic Dutch Colonial home revamped for contemporary living.
The bold fabrics that adorn the curved upholstery on living room furniture feel both elegant and serene. “The client’s taste for fun and color really drove many of the aesthetic ideas,” Andrews says.
In the dining room, Fromental hand-painted and hand-embroidered wallcoverings adorn the walls, while a contemporary chandelier illuminates the space.
The primary challenge for the architects was expanding the home without diluting its historical soul, says Chuck Hilton. He collaborated with Nicholas Rotondi to draft new additions to the property, including a three-car garage and a welcoming side entrance that doubles as a mudroom.
The renovation reconfigured the layout to feature an open-plan kitchen, breakfast room, and family room all oriented to capture panoramic views of the manicured fairways outside.
They compared this renovation to other historic home renovations in the area, where the goal is often to strike a balance between preserving the past and updating the home for modern living.
The designers also discreetly integrated high-efficiency systems and LED lighting, which are hallmarks of Hilton’s commitment to sustainable home construction practices.
The result is a home that honors the past but also allows the family to grow in a place that’s part of their future, according to the owner.
The home’s interior design and architecture were provided by Amy Andrews Interior Design and Charles Hilton Architects, respectively, while the building work was done by JJM Building & Woodwork.
It is a home.
