When I began furnishing our home, I used many one of a kind, vintage pieces sourced from the wonderful local estate sales in our area. These pieces felt so much more satisfying than mass produced items, both design-wise and environmentally. It got me thinking—what if I could make vintage more accessible to others so they could experience the same? From that idea, my business Winston Drive was born.

Shop local this season for all of your holiday gifts, and give your friends and family another reason to fall in love with Litchfield County. Our holiday gift guide highlights unique ideas from local brands designed to pamper, dazzle, and wow everyone on your list. Sponsored Content.

Blair, principal of Debra Blair Design, began her career in the design department at Bloomingdale's and started her own business in 1979. She has worked on both residential and commercial projects and is known for her ability to create elegant, luxurious, and livable interiors. Blair shares with us some tips she recently learned on how to create a lush holiday mantel display.

Elyse Harney moved to Salisbury over 60 years ago when her husband took on the position of managing partner at the White Hart Inn where he would go on to work for 23 years. The couple raised five children who have continued to grow the successful family businesses—Harney & Sons Tea and Elyse Harney and Elyse Harney Morris Real Estate. Harney shares some of her favorite holiday memories with us.

You might think that after growing up among the hustle bustle of the lower East side, Cornwall might be way too subdued a place to put down roots. But for artist Magaly Ohika it offers the solitude she craves.

Tierney Moran has always known that flowers can transform an environment and create a sense of well-being. “Flowers are both beautiful and fleeting. Maybe that’s why they hold such an attraction for us,” says Moran, who creates stunning floral arrangements for friends and family and works freelance by referrals.

No matter what your look—whether it’s mid-century modern or early Pompeii—there’s a houseplant out there to fit the mood. 

As if on cue, a trio of award-winning musicians have a precious and timely gift to share: as part of an initiative to spread joy through music, October Project has released their Virtual Choir of Joy video on YouTube.

Together, they have propelled Twenty2 to become a successful private-label wallpaper manufacturing company that helps more than 100 businesses develop and produce their own collections. When asked about the meaning behind their company name, the couple explained, “It’s our lucky number and both of our ages when we first met!”

Michael Quadland is big into heavy metal—not the jarring music of Metallica or Iron Maiden, but battered, bent, warped, patina-flecked, rusty metal. An artist, Quadland draws inspiration for his abstract paintings and sculpture from the Works Progress Administration and Ashcan schools that found beauty in the industrial landscapes of early 20th-century.

One of my most favorite parts of living in Litchfield County is how steeped these towns are in history. In the historic district of Milton there are so many homes and buildings from the 1700’s and 1800’s, many sitting on the beautiful town green. It makes Milton feel like it's out of another time. It's the same with Litchfield.

The Mayflower Inn, Washington’s venerable landmark resort, has a whole new look. When hotels shut down last spring in response to COVID, Auberge Resorts, which acquired the inn two years ago, used the closure to do a complete makeover, hiring New York-based designer Celerie Kemble to orchestrate the reimagining.