An Exquisite Estate
PHOTOS: STACY BASS
This Country Estate, completed in 2007, has the timeless feeling of a cottage in the Cotswolds and the stately presence of a made-for-today American mansion. The approach to the whitewashed exterior, up a long gravel garden-bordered drive, is dramatic. And the house is set majestically among rolling hills and lush greenery, giving the residence and property a feeling of tranquility. A welcoming committee of horses and a half-dozen exuberant dogs adds to the warm and inviting atmosphere. It’s a place where the boundaries between indoors and outdoors blur, creating a seamless connection with nature.
Rob Rizzo is a Partner at Cobble Court Interiors, an internationally renowned firm, located in New Canaan. Steven March is the Partner at Cobble Court Interiors responsible for everything outside of the design itself, from customizing to ordering, and bringing in the very best skilled laborers for every task. And long-time Ridgefield designer, Stacey Schibli, recently joined Cobble Court Interiors to focus on projects in the local area emanating from the studio shop at Cobble Court.
The owners recently called-in Rob Rizzo to decorate the living room, the breezeway, and the patio areas. Rob recalls, “In the oversized living room, the owners wanted to incorporate their extensive antique furniture collection, including two well-loved sofas in particular, while making sure the room felt fresh and elegant. I created three separate seating areas within the massive space of the living area, to invent a sophisticated space that was still family and animal friendly, and with plenty of spots for everyone to get comfortable.”
“All of my projects come together nicely with a mix of old and new pieces layered throughout a space, creating the opportunity for durability and beauty, and function and form to be intertwined,” Rob explains. “The most important thing for me is creating a space where my clients really feel at home - and that often means incorporating pieces that are meaningful or important to their family and their story. This particular client had many treasured items that we were able to include – giving the room the authentic feeling that it’s been collected over time… because it indeed has been! As an example, in this house we sourced a Donald Sultan black and white oil painting entitled ‘Mimosa’, which hangs above the fireplace, and the pair of metal wire horse statues by artist Peter Busby, once used as prototypes for life-sized outdoor sculptures, which sit on a console table which serves as a centerpiece for the room.”
Steven March, Rob’s partner at Cobble Court Interiors, explains.
Rob was obsessed with creating the atmosphere and vibe that the clients wanted, not just designing a room or a space
but creating an atmosphere to imbue entertaining!
“We used grays, blues, and whites to unite the different seating areas in the living room,” Rob explains. “The result is a very rich and textured room, with lots of detail, and plenty to look at. It’s more an interesting and pleasant experience than just a place to sit down.”
“We also decorated the breathtaking breezeway that leads from the living room to the fabulous and functional 3-season stone patio - where the owners spend most of their time during the summer - and designed the patio as well. I selected simple white wrought-iron furniture by Janus et Cie that’s minimal and lightweight. All outdoor furniture should be practical. And then I added pops of color with whimsical Flower Power pillows.”
Imagine a sunset gathering, with views from the living room and patio of the historic horse barn, and the pool, a romantic pergola that’s covered by Wisteria, and rolling hills as the backdrop.
