Your guide to the heart of Litchfield County:
Discover local stories, hidden gems, and must-know events.

By Andrea Valluzzo

Architect Nathalie Vallier Brodhead has designed large houses to great effect—but says small projects are also satisfying, when she sees the big effect on her clients’ lives.

The Warren-based architect, who studied architecture in her native France before joining practices in Washington, D.C., and New York City, recently completed a renovation of a ranch house for a family in Sharon. “The before and after is really dramatic,” she says.

A signature of Brodhead’s aesthetic is her open-flow style and use of walls of windows to bring in natural light. This house was no exception. The kitchen was closed off from the living room, with only small windows. “The house was not in bad shape but the layout was poorly designed. It was a bad kitchen for somebody who likes to cook,” she says. Now, the east-facing kitchen has plenty of light, as does the living room with large windows that transform the space. “It is all about the light, I design spaces thinking how much natural light can flow in this room. I am interested in designing projects that positively impact the well-being of the client family’s life; the results make me extremely happy,” she says. 

Brodhead listens closely to clients in order to design for their wants and needs. First taught to sketch by hand at her Parisian architecture school, Brodhead still prefers to first sketch by hand when designing.

Entering the male-dominated fields of architecture and construction did not faze her at all. “I was always interested in drawing and understanding how things are put together,” she says. “My parents had a house designed by an architect when I was little, and I really enjoyed the process. I knew early on that I wanted to be an architect.”

She adds that, “Most of my clients know what they want. Either they have owned homes and gone through this process, or are at the time of their life where they know exactly what they want and they need it custom,” she says.

A current project is a large single-story home in Washington, being built on virgin land, that will have two walls of glass to fully enjoy the lake views. “It’s on a beautiful piece of land being brought together all on one floor, which I think is really smart, because we want to be able to age in our homes,” she says. “We oriented the house so in the morning you are going to have direct sunlight in the kitchen.”

Energy conscious—having lived in Europe where electricity costs are very high—Brodhead likes to design net zero homes as much as possible. She adds solar tiles and panels as clients allow, faces kitchens to the east, and takes advantage of where the sun hits the house. 

New England weather plays a key role in her design. “The layout is all about how the sun travels. In winter it’s cold, so we need to have rooms that are where the sun will be,” she says. 

—nvbarchitect.com

By Christopher Stella

“The vision was to bring together classic Sicilian design, which is quite opulent, with the understated Provencal approach, in a New England environment,” says Lino Carlotta, co-founder of Pasquale et Maurice Home in Washington Depot. “Ultimately, it’s about balancing the antique and contemporary, creating layers and textures that feel like a home.”

Carlotta and his partner, Gregory Caron, opened the business in May 2025. Carlotta hails from Sicily, where his mother and father manage a luxury fabric and tailoring business. He initially pursued a career in music, and later found his voice in interior design. “Music and design are the same,” he says. “Different elements create something whole, harmonious, and interesting—much like a home.”

Caron, originally from Provence, discovered a love of antiques at the tender age of 13, when he purchased his first items: a game table and creamer from a closed hotel in Provence. “The moment I saw those objects, I knew they were treasures to me,” he recalls.” By 14, he was drawing renderings for his family’s kitchen and bath design business, later pursuing a career in interior design.

The store itself is stunning—painted floor-to-ceiling in a welcoming, warm white, serving as a fresh canvas for a carefully constructed world of layered objects: Hungarian vases sit beside Florentine china; vintage Italian fabric pillows rest on 19th-century benches, beneath midcentury paintings.The space is expertly curated, and incredibly inviting.

Texture, tradition, and heritage are woven into every element of the business. It is named after the owners’ grandfathers: Pasquale, a humble Sicilian farmer who never owned a car, and Maurice, a Lyonnaise businessman. Among the wares within the store are items from Sartoria, a brand of textile products produced in collaboration with Carlotta’s mother, handcrafted in the family’s tailoring shop. “The fabrics come from her archives,” notes Caron. “Every item has a personal memory, and something to say.” Beyond the objects they purvey, Carlotta and Caron also offer home decor and staging services for residences and businesses. 

Just a few months since opening, Pasquale et Maurice Home is already evolving. Carlotta and Caron, who also own the Italian restaurant Il Melograno in NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, envision extending their offerings to food, fragrances, and even hospitality. “We want to touch the five senses with objects that enhance every element of life,” muses Carlotta. “When we opened, we were creating a space that reflected who we were,” adds Caron. “But now, the pieces we select represent what our customers and community will love.”
For Carlotta and Caron, community is essential. “When we opened, everyone was so welcoming, coming in to congratulate us,” recalls Carlotta. “It is so inspiring to be among so many complementary and creative businesses.” “Everyone is welcome here,” emphasizes Caron. “This is a community space. Please visit, explore, take pictures, be inspired!”—pasqualeetmauricehome.com

Pasquale et Maurice Home, 1 Titus Road, Washington Depot 

By Clementina Verge

On many weekends, Audrey Heffernan Meyer walks the wooded trails of Steep Rock Preserve in Washington, quietly running lines for an upcoming role—or simply enjoying the stillness. Other days, she’s swimming across Lake Waramaug or browsing the shelves of The Hickory Stick Bookshop—rituals that root her in the rhythms of Washington Depot, her second home for over two decades and a grounding counterbalance to her life on stage and screen.

She and her husband, renowned New York restaurateur Danny Meyer, raised their children here, where family life unfolded alongside a deepening connection to the community. Throughout her evolving acting career, Meyer stayed closely connected—supporting local arts nonprofits like the Pilobolus dance company and the Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens, and serving as a trustee for the Steep Rock Association.

That sense of grounding has shaped her work. After stepping back from performing to focus on family, Meyer returned to acting with renewed perspective, drawn to roles that reflect life’s emotional complexities. Since then, she’s built a steady presence in television, with appearances in FBI: Most Wanted, The Blacklist, and Blue Bloods—performances marked by nuance, restraint, and depth.

Most recently, she stars in Art of Leaving—a sharp, emotionally charged comedy running October 10 through December 14 at the Pershing Square Signature Center’s Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre in Manhattan.
Written by Anne Marilyn Lucas and directed by Matt Gehring, the production follows three couples navigating modern love and commitment. Meyer portrays Diana Katzman, a Metropolitan Museum museum curator whose life unravels when her husband unexpectedly requests a divorce—a crisis that brings out family secrets and emotional reckoning.

Meyer infuses Diana with strength and humor, drawing on personal experiences of having witnessed the end of long-term relationships and the transformations that follow. “Living in the moment and feeling the hurt every night” honors Diana’s emotional journey throughout the 90-minute, no-intermission show—one that leaves audiences responding in raw, honest ways that fuel Meyer’s performance.

“It’s so exciting—the rush, the adrenaline, the thrill,” she reflects. “You hear the audience’s reactions in real time, something you never get when filming for television. You have no idea what’s happening in people’s living rooms, but in live theater, every audience is unique. Some laugh immediately, others take time to warm up—but you feel everything. That magic, that visceral energy, is irreplaceable. Even the silence is powerful.”

Born in New Jersey and raised in Pennsylvania, Meyer fell in love with theater at a young age. At age 13, she played Maria in West Side Story, continuing on to immerse herself in the timeless conflicts of Shakespeare and the emotional intensity of Tennessee Williams and Eugene O’Neill. After refining her craft at Penn State, she built a steady, multi-faceted career, ranging from daytime soap operas to a one-woman musical showcase highlighting her folk-rock style and soaring soprano voice. What message does she hope Art of Leaving leaves with audiences? “Have courage,” Meyer says. “To be honest with themselves, to take bold steps in their lives and relationships, to embrace growth—even when it’s uncomfortable.”—artofleaving.com

By Andrea Valluzzo
Photograph by Jeff Holt

A welcoming vibe and curated selections of intentional and often handmade goods are hallmarks of two home-lifestyle shops in Sharon that recently opened.

Dugazon launched at 19 West Main St. in August in an 1830s cottage-farmhouse. The store, which honors the art of entertaining, is filled with the colorful and highly curated brands and items that shopowners Bobby Graham and Matt Marden would choose for themselves.

“We wanted it to almost feel like you were walking into our home, where everything is intentional. It’s not just a store of stuff without any meaning to it. It’s about items that really mean something and are meant to be lived with,” Graham says. The shop has been his longtime dream. After ditching New York City for Salisbury five years ago, they began planning—and found the space that met their needs.

The artfully arranged store is designed to foster discoveries around each corner. Colorful paintings by New Orleans folk artist Alvin Batiste, whose works the couple collects, frame a doorway. An accent wall displays taper candles by Danish candlemakers Ester & Erik in 30 colorways. Vases, bowls, and pitchers by Sharon ceramicist Dana Brandwein Oates of DBO Home are featured. Antiques are liberally sprinkled around, including a collection of vintage Junior League cookbooks. “As a couple, we were always shopping thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets, and online auctions. Even when traveling to Paris or Milan for work, we were drawn to things that reminded us of how our parents and families entertained, and things that reminded us of home,” Marden says.

Driving through Sharon after moving back to Connecticut, Simsbury native Kaleigh Kelley was stunned at the town’s charm, and felt like she was on a movie set. Later, a “for lease” sign proved fortuitous; she moved her home studio to 81 Main St. Last summer, she debuted The McKenzie Shoppe, and an interior design studio, K. Kelley Design, to meet all design needs, big or small. 

“It’s a collection of homeware, custom furnishings, found treasures—and we also offer design services,” she says. “For those that might not want to redesign a full room, the idea is that they can come shop at The McKenzie Shoppe and get a pair of pillows, a custom love seat, or help with window treatments.” All the furniture is designed by Kelley. Locally made artisan goods are also available.

The shop is awash in colors and patterns. Her brand color—a pinkish brown—carries from the logo on the front door to a pair of chairs in the dining area. The front room set up as a living room is mainly decorated in browns and blues, with pops of warmer colors such as yellow.

“I want it to be a place in Sharon where people can come and that can spark joy for them, whether that is just coming in and meeting new neighbors and community members, or taking something home that brightens up their space,” Kelley says.

—dugazonshop.com and themckenzieshoppe.com

By Wendy Carlson
Photographs by Wendy Carlson

Some of us will do anything to avoid spending Thanksgiving morning in the kitchen. Running in the Goshen Turkey Trot is one way out. 

For others, the 10K run is a way to earn the calories they anticipate consuming later in the day.

The course, which is famous for its challenging hills and beautiful scenery, is billed as the best, most authentic, small-town Thanksgiving Day running event in northwest Connecticut. This year marks the 48th year of the Goshen Turkey Trot, which was first organized by a group of local friends in the 1970s. Rain, snow, and sleet have failed to prevent this race from taking place during those nearly five decades.

The 2024 run was a case in point. It couldn’t have been a more miserable day for a road race—downright raw and rainy. Yet hundreds of people braved the elements, with smiles and lots of  community spirit. Some wore costumes (orange garbage bags, turkey-head hats) as they splashed through puddles and battled the downpour.

Each year, the race starts and finishes at the Goshen Fairgrounds, looping along back roads through a combination of forest and farmland. Cow bells and cheers welcome the runners over the finish line, where they can look forward to hot cider and locally baked fresh donuts by a blazing bonfire.

Race director Roger Kimball and his parents became involved in the race shortly after it started. In the early days the race included about a hundred participants. Last year, more than 500 runners registered.

When it started, Thanksgiving races in Connecticut were a rarity, Kimball says. “It was basically just us and the Manchester 5K. Now there are many more races all over the state. But our race here in Goshen is different, and remains a very special tradition; it might also be the only 10K. 

“On a good day the sun is shining and the course is gorgeous. When Mother Nature throws us a curveball, I’m blown away by the grit people demonstrate just to show up and do it. It’s a testament to their character and makes me proud to be a part of this community.” 

Proceeds help support local organizations.

First-place male and female winners are awarded a turkey from Nodine’s Smokehouse. The overall winner receives the Adam R. Laschever Memorial Cup, which honors a Goshen native and distance runner who died of melanoma in 1997 at the age of 36. Other prizes include a chocolate turkey from Milkhouse Chocolates at Thorncrest Farm in Goshen; and pies baked by parishioners at the Congregational Church.

The best reward for all those who cross the finish line is, undoubtedly, the doughnuts. As for the rain in 2024, Shelley Maffucci from Lakeville, who runs the race every year, shrugged. “It’s hard-core awesome; I say, embrace it.”

Runners also earn bragging rights at the Thanksgiving table. Diehards Tammy Grella and Scott McCarty of Litchfield look forward to the challenge each year no matter the weather. But,Tammy says, “We don’t have to cook the turkey!”

—goshenrunningclub.com

With more than four decades of experience, Craig Longhurst leads a full-service interior design practice specializing in residential projects in New York City and Litchfield County. Blending antique and vintage pieces with contemporary art and furnishings, he creates layered interiors enriched by local artisanship and global inspiration.

Who is your ideal client?
My ideal client is curious, open-minded, and eager to create a home that reflects their life and values. Whether it’s a young family settling into their first house, a couple downsizing to something more manageable, or a business owner reimagining a commercial space, I thrive on collaboration and trust.

How would you describe your design philosophy or aesthetic?
I believe interiors should be both beautiful and functional, evolving gracefully over time. My aesthetic blends classic structure with modern ease, always with an emphasis on proportion, comfort, and detail. I aim for spaces that feel as though they’ve always belonged to the people who live in them.

Can you share a recent project you’re especially proud of?
I’m particularly proud of my new office and gallery in Kent. It’s both a creative studio and a destination where clients and visitors can experience my design philosophy firsthand. Curated with furniture, art, and objects I’ve collected or commissioned, the gallery is a place for conversation and discovery, showing how design and decorative arts come together in real life.

How do you incorporate innovation, sustainability, or craftsmanship into your process?
Sustainability often begins with what already exists—restoring historic structures, refurbishing millwork, or reimagining heirlooms. I also explore eco-friendly products for furniture, finishes, and hardware that reduce environmental impact without sacrificing beauty or durability. Collaborating with local craftspeople who combine traditional methods with modern technology ensures every piece has integrity, longevity, and a story worth telling.

What’s the most rewarding part of your work?
The greatest reward comes when a client refers me to a friend or family member. A referral is the highest compliment—it means they value both the outcome of their project and the experience of working together.

What trends are you seeing in design right now, and how are you responding to them?
I avoid trend-driven design, which dates quickly and rarely feels authentic. Instead, I embrace the shift toward meaningful spaces: homes that use natural, sustainable materials, and incorporate antique, vintage, and handmade pieces, all while prioritizing well-being.

What advice would you give someone considering hiring an interior designer?
Choose a designer whose work resonates with you, but also someone you feel comfortable collaborating with. A strong relationship is the foundation of any successful project.

What’s next for your business?
I’m beginning construction on a full renovation of a 1920s Manhattan apartment, and expanding the reach of my Kent gallery as a space for design, art, and community.

Anything else you’d like readers to know?
That I love what I do—and I’m grateful to call Litchfield County home. My husband, Greg Ruggeri, and I moved here after leaving Sydney for New York 15 years ago. We’ve found both inspiration and community. 

27 N. Main St., Kent—craiganthonylonghurst.com

By Sarah Belzer

It was a warm New England summer in the 1970s when a 15-year-old girl, barely 4 feet 11 inches tall, found herself balanced on rough wooden planks 20 feet off the ground, brush in hand. The staging swayed as her brother Dan bounced beside her, making her laugh as she tried to paint a straight line. 

By the end of the day she was covered in paint and sun, exhilarated rather than exhausted. 

“It was fun, not work for me,” she recalls. That girl was Marge Parkhurst, and what began as an afternoon helping her father blossomed into a five-decade career that has transformed homes and landmark properties across Litchfield County. Today, her rebranded Cottage & Country Painting Company carries the same spirit of artisanship, community, and grit that first put “Painting by Marge” on local trucks so many years ago.

Marge’s training began at home. She grew up on a small farm in Woodbury, surrounded by horses, chickens, and the rhythms of country life. She remembers watching her father build houses, and her mother constantly reinvent their home. That summer when her father left Marge and her brother to paint one of his buildings defined the course of her life. By 17, she was running a small landscaping-and-painting venture with a neighbor, painting when the sun was out and gardening when it rained. At just 20, she bought her first house—an early milestone in a career built on tenacity and vision.

By the late 1970s, word had spread. Neighbors and friends called, and Marge soon had more work than one person could handle. She began hiring help. Many were mothers like herself, balancing family life and work. Her reputation grew almost entirely through word of mouth. Soon her clientele included celebrities of every stripe—from sports heroes to actors, musicians, and television personalities.

Marge will tell you trust is built by hard work. “There’s only one way to do a job, and that’s to do the job right.” That begins with sanding, priming, puttying, and caulking—what she calls “the work behind the work,” a discipline most people don’t see but one she says can nearly double the life of a finish. 

Whether restoring the peeling clapboards of an 1800s farmhouse or applying gold leaf behind the altar of a church, Marge brings what she describes as museum-level attention to detail to every project—and her clients have come to expect nothing less.

“Prep work is a lost art, because of the time, skill, and expense it demands. But for me, that’s what it’s all about—the smile on a client’s face when they see their house come back to life.”

After 50 years, Marge reimagined her business as Cottage & Country Painting Company. The new name, she says, “fits my clientele, and speaks to the rustic charm of cottages and the refinement of country estates.” Each summer, she mentors a new generation of painters, teaching them to take pride in their work. “They drive around just to look at the houses they’ve worked on. That’s real pride.”

Today, Marge lives on a country estate in Colebrook, where she still delights in rural life—and where she sees herself as a neighbor first, not just a business owner. “I’m really lucky to be able to drive through the country to go to work every day,” she says. “Sometimes I take the back roads just to enjoy the beauty.”

For Marge, every wall tells a story, every finish carries a piece of her history. With Cottage & Country Painting Company, she has given Litchfield County more than a coat of fresh paint—she has left a legacy of resilience, beauty, and trust. —cottageandcountrypaintingcompany.com