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

By Pamela Brown

As the saying goes, ‘You can take the boy out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the boy.’ That statement has never been truer for Gregor McCluskey. “My heritage of spending summers in Scotland as a young boy then visiting our family home there and spending time with friends as I got older gave me a vision,” says McCluskey. 

Inspired by his homeland’s coarse terrain and working class, McCluskey embarked on a mission to create an all-natural performance fabric for sportsmen like himself that offers comfort and durability. “I pulled my aspiration out of my lifestyle. As a kid I’d be out canoeing, building rafts, catching fish. My true love was the outdoors. It sent me on a purposeful life,” he says. 

After a successful career in corporate America, and more than 20 years of fine-tuning his idea, McCluskey created BRÃEVAL (pronounced brave-all), a high-end line of sporting apparel, and then opened a retail shop in 2011. “Scottish people are very outdoorsy. It’s a sophisticated place yet rugged. It’s a unique lifestyle. You can see farmers wearing beautiful tweed coats, but they’re farmers, and that’s what I fell in love with.”   

Aimed at the ‘sporting adventurer,’ a term McCluskey coined, it’s for anyone seeking to wear one outfit for multiple purposes while looking presentable. “I wanted to take American plaid and make it more performance-oriented and sophisticated.” As McCluskey explains it, he owes it all to his great-great uncle, Big Jock, a well-known character in Scotland who was caught hunting grouse on the lord’s property in the 19th century. “He left the Upper River Valley and came to Connecticut, went up to Canada where he traded blankets and shirts in Buffalo plaid, then made his way to Montana where he traded with the Native Americans because they loved that red-black cloth. They thought he used blood from his great enemies to make that red dye, and he did little to dispel that. I’m proud of that story, of our heritage.”

It was only fitting that McCluskey found the name of his store while attending his 106-year-old grandmother’s funeral in Scotland. “I always loved the name of her home, BRÃEVAL House,” he says. “I looked it up and the translation to English was the Upland River Valley between the mountains and rugged brae of the Scottish highland. That’s me—I’m an outdoorsy guy, a little bit of a rebel. It gave me a vision of what the brand would be.”   

McCluskey fused American design with Scottish tradition, incorporating Rob Roy tartan of the Clan MacGregor in his sustainable designs. The apparel is made of proprietary all-natural Tiera fabric of Merino wool and long staple cotton. “You get the soft suppleness and absorption of cotton and the incredible performance attributes of wool, such as wicking and it’s biodegradable and fire retardant,” says McCluskey who is committed to promoting a more natural way of life that can be traced to his roots.     

“There’s no question I was meant to do this,” he says. “I love it because of the connection to my family and Scotland. I’m proud of it and I’ll work harder because of it.” 

3 South Street, Litchfield, 860-482-7260, braeval.net

By Dani Shapiro

Twenty years ago, my family and I decamped from Brooklyn to Bethlehem—two places that have little in common other than beginning with the same consonant. Brooklyn was a literary mecca. I couldn’t walk my dog without running into a half-dozen other writers. Bethlehem? I was more likely to run into a cow.  I was a bit lonely for writerly company. But then I met a handsome, spry, gentleman who changed all that: Joseph Montebello. 

A new generation of writers have since moved to Litchfield County, and if we are bits of fabric in a patchwork quilt, Joseph was the stitching. It was devastating to hear of his untimely death in September. It is impossible to imagine attending literary events everywhere from the Oliver Wolcott Library to the Gunn Memorial Library without Joseph, an elegant, erudite moderator. To be in conversation with him—on stage and off—was to feel attended to. He was a careful listener, with a laugh that was at once easy, and had to be earned. 

Joseph was 80 at the time of his death, though he had such a light spirit that he seemed easily ten years younger. He and Ron Leal, his partner of 49 years, moved to Litchfield full-time when they both retired in 2004. Joseph and Ron married in 2005 when civil unions were recognized in Connecticut. 

Joseph had been Creative Director and Style Editor at HarperCollins, laudable positions that highlighted his great sense of design and style, but his degree from Syracuse University was in journalism, and writing—along with Ron—had his heart. He was able to fulfill that dream in Litchfield County, writing countless articles and profiles for Litchfield Magazine.  

I will always think of Joseph seated at his large round dining table in the beautiful home in Litchfield he and Ron shared with their six Westies, Amy, Carrie, Emma, Portia, Cate, and Maggie. The entire room was surrounded by immaculately curated books. Consummate hosts, the pair brought friends together and into a world that felt warm, glamorous, safe, fun, and most of all, full of love. “I believe he died the happiest he had ever been, because his love of this community was returned tenfold,” Ron says. 

Here’s to a life well-lived, Joseph Montebello. You have left an indelible mark, and you will be sorely missed by all who respected and loved you.

By Zachary Schwartz 

Along US-7 in Falls Village is John Robshaw’s transportive new interiors shop, an emporium of vintage fabric bolts, furniture, bedding, artwork, and antiques. Unassuming from the outside, this is a secret waiting to be divulged. But John Robshaw’s store is no mirage—it’s truly a little shop of treasures.

Robshaw’s design background burgeoned while studying at Pratt Institute. His professor encouraged him to go on a work trip to Mumbai, where Robshaw discovered block printing. He returned to New York where he honed his craft by block printing yards of upholstery fabric. He later developed his passion into a flourishing textiles business, which now sells hand-drawn and patterned pillows, linens, towels, and more. He’s since worked with major department stores and private clients, designed the interiors for Litchfield County’s Falls Village Inn, and launched a children’s décor line with Crate & Barrel.

Robshaw landed in Connecticut nearly two decades ago in search of a respite from New York City. He was attracted to Litchfield County’s farm properties large enough to hone his block printing craft, its community of designers, and the quick drive from Manhattan. He initially rented from fellow designers Carolina Irving and Daniel Romualdez in Kent, then purchased his own home in Sharon, where he now resides with his wife, photographer Rachel Robshaw, and their daughter.

He opened his first store last year in a former Falls Village farmhouse. “I always thought it would be fun to have a shop in Connecticut because there are so many designers that come up here shopping,” says Robshaw. “People that are around this area are dropping their kids off at boarding school, and they may have a house in Greenwich or Palm Beach or Colorado. It’s fun around here because everybody is jumping all over.”

 To visit John Robshaw’s store is an immersive bazaar experience. His travels throughout India, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and afar are evoked through loud suzanis, vibrant ikats, Gujarati patchwork, indigo weaves, and Robshaw’s signature block print textiles. 

 “It’s an old house, so there are different bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and it has the flow of an old house,” says Robshaw. He uses this layout to his advantage by creating vignettes throughout the store. For example, a downstairs bedroom with Robshaw-patterned bedding, Indian wallhangings, and an upholstered settee give way to a tucked away cupboard full of fabrics. Hostess gifts from lands far away include Myanmarese red dye pots, tables with camel bone inlay, and hand-painted pillows. It’s cacophonous, smashing, and a delicious feast for the eyes.

In the backyard is a barn chock-a-block with wooden chairs, rugs, mirrors, and other Indian antiques. Rare finds include a towering wooden canoe and ornate bajots. “It’s really nice to create this environment that is interesting and lets people wander around and find things. The mix of the old antiques and new projects is fun because it gives more layers,” says Robshaw. 

Robshaw occasionally works at the shop on weekends, so lucky visitors may shop the souk with the designer himself.

By Clementina Verge

The long-standing axiom about a picture being worth a thousand words is proving true more than ever in a culture where images are vital to building brand trust, emotionally connecting with customers, and increasing product visibility and profits.

Zeb Mayer, a Litchfield County designer and illustrator whose art has enhanced countless products, knows this well.

“A visual brand is the best way to truly connect with consumers and customers,” he notes. “It’s about creating identity, a voice, an aesthetic. Something that pops off the shelf, that is fun, but also genuine to the client.”

Born and raised in Roxbury, Mayer grew up surrounded by art. He learned how to draw at the kitchen table, taught by his father, Mercer Mayer, a children’s book author and illustrator best known for the beloved Little Critter series.

By 19, Mayer began taking drawing seriously, and enrolled at Western Connecticut State University where he earned a degree in marketing. In between, he has worked in hospitality-driven fields, and today, his functional art blends a variety of styles resulting in uniquely beautiful and intricate designs.

“I am exactly where I should be,” he reflects, “combining the two worlds of illustration and art with that of branding and graphic design, and helping small businesses brand themselves.”

By day, Mayer creates under the auspices of Box 8 Creative, an award-winning New Haven-based, “full-service creative agency dedicated to building powerful brands” across industries; on evenings and weekends, he is a freelancer.

“I can’t stop doodling,” he jokes, “and I try to have as much fun as possible with each project.”

The passion behind the art and the desire to push creative boundaries, however, are taken incredibly seriously. Something as simple as a label sets the entire tone for a business, relates Mayer, a trustee for the Washington Art Association & Gallery for whom he has curated numerous exhibits.

“I meet with clients so I can understand their needs, their style preference for a brand, and what they seek aesthetically,” he explains. “It is very important to create something complex, beautiful, and accurate.” 

Whether a product is chocolate, a restaurant menu, clothing, or an event poster, a visual brand captures personal or corporate ethos, tells a story, and leaves a lasting impression on customers, Mayer relates.

His portfolio ranges from surreal illustrations, to water colors, and ink drawings. His artwork has graced everything from magazine covers, coffee products, event materials, and restaurant merchandise, to more than 50 beer labels for Connecticut breweries including Alvarium, Legitimus, Front Porch, and Snow Republic. He welcomes opportunities to collaborate with new clients, transforming their brands and products into memorable visual stories. 

Having achieved his creative dreams and thriving on continuous opportunities to push boundaries, Mayer encourages young people to “not buy into the ‘starving artist’ mentality,” highlighting the value and need for drawing in design. 

“If it’s commercially viable, your artwork can be very rewarding,” he says. “Get obsessed, get invested in art and your passion.” —zebmayer.com

By Clementina Verge

As you prepare to transition your hair and skin into the winter season, Byrde + the b is making the process easier with streamlined appointment services, added beauty tools, and a new salon manager.

Meet Danielle Torres, the new face and client relations specialist behind the reinvisioned front desk. She stands poised to “make your experience at Byrde + the b graceful, happy, and beautiful,” notes Scott Bond, owner of the award-winning, full-service luxury salon for five consecutive years.

Prior to her recent arrival in Washington Depot, Torres’ career in the beauty industry has spanned 28 years—23 of them in luxury spa management.

“I have a unique perspective in management because I stood on the other end of it, having started my career as a nail and waxing technician,” she relates. “I know what it takes to earn trust in a business and to keep clients returning, and I really love what I do from every corner of my soul.”

Born and raised in Connecticut, Torres has enhanced Byrde + the b’s booking system, enabling clients to email, text, or call for appointments.

“I am able to foresee schedules for the day and adjust client experiences so everything is seamless and on time,” she explains.

Striving to maximize convenience, the salon now also features a client station equipped with the latest Dyson tools: an Airwrap styler that curls and shapes, and a Dyson pro dryer for when a blowdry is unavailable.

“Sometimes, we realize at the last minute that one may be in need of an add-on service—cut, a color—but there is no time for a proper blowout, so this allows clients to get what they need and still leave the salon with dry, beautiful hair,” Bond explains.

Speaking of covetable tresses, just as you’re adjusting your wardrobe to greet impending cold days, do not neglect to adjust hair pigmentation and skin care products, and establish a healthy routine for the season ahead.

“It is important to adjust hair tone for the winter, to play with warmer chestnuts and cool off summer brassiness, for example, and to make sure that the hair complements changing skin as it transitions into fall and winter,” Bond advises.

The right products make it easy to maintain the just-left-the-salon look and feeling, and the experienced stylists at Byrde are happy to recommend what benefits you and the planet.

Besides its own line, Byrde + the b features haircare products free of synthetic additives, silicones, petrochemicals, phthalates, or artificial fragrances. Instead, what touches your hair is infused with natural goodness. Equally essential are hyaluronic acid smoothing treatments that soften and hydrate—especially important during the wintery days ahead.

In addition to fabulous cuts and color, the Byrde + the b and BYRDEMAN team offers services such as hair extensions, balayage, eyebrows, lash work, skincare, light therapy, lymphatic drainage, acupuncture, hot shaves, the most attractive barber cuts around, and much more. Stay tuned for upcoming surprises: new, luxurious, cutting edge technology and great smelling hair products. —byrdeandtheb.com

By Clementina Verge

Home decor has changed through the decades, but the importance of quality products and knowledgeable people has remained, and for more than four decades, Modern Supply has prevailed as a “powerful plumbing and heating wholesale company.” 

“Modern Supply was started by my father in the late 1970s,” reminisces Steve Berger, who purchased the family business with his wife, Rose, 15 years ago, when his father retired. “Over the years, it grew and changed with the times. We are a hidden gem just waiting to be explored.”

“We are not a big box store,” Rose explains, “but a design service specializing in plumbing, offering unique products that are domestically-made, many of which are not seen on the Internet. We have extremely knowledgeable staff and a showroom full of constantly evolving displays.” 

A newly remodeled 5,000-square-foot showroom highlights the newest in plumbing and lighting trends. Additionally, a 5,000-square-foot self-service parts counter features parts, pipes, valves, and fittings for contractors and homeowners. 

“The bath and kitchen world has changed a lot for us in the past few years,” Steve reflects. “We have experienced a much larger demand for luxurious fixtures, to which we responded by increasing inventory, updating displays, and hiring more designers for our sales team.”

The inventory features more than 65 award-winning select lines, including Toto, Dornbracht, Rohl faucets, and Julien sinks, to name a few. Expect to find premier decorative lighting, designer faucets, vanities, wall-hung vanities, tubs, steam showers, lighted mirrors, towel dryers, linear shower drains, and recently-added outdoor kitchens to accompany the large line of indoor kitchen fixtures that Modern represents.

“Customers are requesting more black finishes, as well as unlacquered and satin brass finish, toilets with washlets/bidet seats, and more steam showers,” Steve details. “It seems the bath is becoming more spa-like in the home instead of a place to just wash up.”

For anyone who is building or remodeling, options abound, but the Bergers advise allowing additional time to complete orders for your projects since “lead times have increased, and many products are still very difficult to get.”

Additionally, costs have increased this year, making it important to get the exact desired looks. Working with the Modern designers means knowing what items should or should not be omitted or downgraded, and what products most hold their value. For example, Steve encourages “not skimping on the valves that go behind walls” and to choose kitchen faucets that act as statement pieces since they are sought after by buyers looking for a home. More products that offer return on investment include farm sinks, stainless steel (including black stainless) sinks, modern freestanding tubs, and linear shower drains. 

“Our knowledgeable staff can smoothly guide customers through the process and fears of making decisions, educate them, help them navigate options, and avoid costly overruns,” Steve assures. “We are a business that when you call, a real person will answer the phone and be able to help you or get you to someone who can. We have a full service parts department with knowledgeable staff that can help solve a range of issues that come up during remodel or construction.” —modernplumbing.biz

By Clementina Verge

What unraveled in Washington Depot some 50 years ago is a true story of light coming out of darkness.

“My father, Harry Wright, grew up an orphan in a New Preston shack with a dirt floor and no windows and bounced between foster homes,” Darryl Wright reminisces. “Kind individuals in town helped him pick a trade and he became a union electrician in the 1960s.” 

In the 1970s, Harry “broke a piggy bank,” removed all $800, and with support from his wife, high school sweetheart Darby, took a chance on establishing his own company: Wright Electrical. The risk paid off and the company flourished. 

“He is literally a ‘rags to riches’ story,” reflects Darryl, who joined the family business after graduating high school in 1984.

For decades, Wright Electric has come to the rescue in many ways, from restoring power following storms, to installing generators, replacing panels and lighting systems, and servicing  swimming pool wiring.

Recently, the company has responded to the increasingly popular trend of smart homes. Remotely-controlled features are becoming standard among new luxury construction, but can easily be incorporated when remodeling or just updating appliances, Wright explains. Ranging from smart thermostats, to refrigerators, garage door openers, and even water leak detection, such technology has become less expensive, more convenient, and offers opportunities to conserve energy and interact with a home.

Whether building or remodeling, electricity should not be an afterthought and everyone should consider future infrastructure needs and “not just wire for 2022,” he advises.

“Don’t start building until there is a strategic plan in place,” Wright cautions. “Bring the electrician in early into discussions with architects, to mitigate with the design team when you’re deciding the chandelier over the kitchen island or where the art wall goes. It’s an intricate process and it is cost-saving to stay ahead of the game.”

Wright’s love for electric work is twofold: he enjoys the technical aspects and mental challenges —annual license renewals and continuous knowledge of code changes—but also the service aspect.

“It gives you a warm feeling knowing that it was in your power to help someone and hopefully, someday someone will be there who can help you,” he states. “I’m trying to instill in my sons the importance of giving back.”

Wright beams with pride at having raised three boys: Luke, the oldest, pursued another career, while Jack, and Owen, the youngest, work alongside him. He fervently credits his wife Donna, an art teacher in Region 12, with “holding down things at home” and caring for their children especially while they were young, while he tended to town responsibilities, serving on various boards, and helping at charity events. Further following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the Washington Volunteer Fire Department, serving 17 years as an officer and three as chief. 

“Watching my parents’ struggle to succeed is what drove me, but I also really enjoy helping people,” he explains.

The next time you call Darryl Wright and his crew, know that the person brightening your day is someone deeply wired in the community. —wrightelectric.com

By Clementina Verge

For more than a decade, whether seeking laser treatments, Botox, dermal filler, or topical skin care, clients have consistently turned to LaFrance Medical Aesthetics for natural, subtle results that enhance their beauty and self-confidence. Unlike many medspas, LaFrance Medical Aesthetics is a physician-centered medical practice, with Dr. Jeffrey LaFrance performing or directly overseeing all procedures.

In keeping with high standards and cutting-edge technology, Dr. Jeffrey LaFrance now offers a new treatment option called Sofwave. Rapidly becoming a highly sought-after treatment in many top cosmetic practices from New York to Los Angeles, synchronous ultrasound parallel beams denature proteins and promote new collagen formation, rejuvenating the face and neck for a revitalized appearance.

“Many different devices and treatments try to accomplish this,” explains Dr. LaFrance. “I extensively research these devices and techniques, seeking out those that provide the greatest benefit and consistent results for my patients. Surgical facelifts are the definitive treatment; however, many patients are not there yet, or do not want surgery at all. Other aggressive options can cause significant damage to the skin surface, leading to a long healing period and a high risk of side effects. Gentler, non-invasive solutions have shown only limited efficacy and require multiple treatments. Sofwave’s unique technology enables the controlled delivery of energy, while protecting the skin surface with an integrated cooling mechanism, resulting in no downtime with an extremely low risk of side effects.” 

Usually only one session is needed to produce lasting and effective results.

Ideal Sofwave candidates are men and women of all skin types, with mild to moderate sagging brows, face, and neck skin. Benefits include tightened, firmer skin, and reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Topical anesthetic cream is applied prior to treatment and ProNox (nitrous oxide) can be administered during the procedure. Patients will feel some discomfort on the skin with each pulse. The treatment takes about 45-60 minutes and patients can resume their daily activities immediately afterward.

With Sofwave, stimulation of new collagen and elastin is occurring, and that process always takes 3-6 months. Most people will begin to see changes around 4 to 6 weeks post treatment, but these will be small compared to the end result, which is typically seen in 12–24 weeks.

“Many patients prefer this kind of natural and discreet result to a quick change because it’s not noticeable to others that they have had something done,” Dr. LaFrance observes. “Depending on the individual, most are satisfied after only one treatment session. Others may need an additional session after a few months.”

“Sofwave is not meant to replace any of the existing treatments we offer at LaFrance Medical Aesthetics; rather, it complements and works synergistically with other modalities. To successfully address the changes associated with aging without surgery,” Dr LaFrance notes, “It typically requires a comprehensive approach combining Botox and dermal filler, along with skincare and energy-based treatments.” In the hands of a skilled aesthetic physician these tools too can create a more natural, younger appearing YOU! —lafrancemed.com

By Charles Dubow

Walking into the George Champion Modern Shop is like walking into the home of your coolest friend. The eclectic array of stylish, eye-catching, and whimsical décor has a distinct Mad Men vibe. From the next room, amid the chrome and primary colors that define what was best about mid-century modern design, you half expect to see Jon Hamm or, for that matter, Michael Caine or Sean Connery emerge shaking up a Martini while bossa nova plays in the background.

That is, if you could find a Martini shaker. “We sell out of them almost as soon as they come in,” says Champion with a puckish smile. “We sell a lot of Martini shakers. It’s not a museum, after all. Customers come in and they see what they like and they buy it. It makes me happy that they like the same things I like.”

Located along Woodbury’s Antiques Trail, Modern Shop is actually two shops. There is the original showroom that opened in 2002 and then, a few years later, right next door, a larger clapboard house that has been decked out like a home by Champion and his assistant Dedee Mathieu. There are Eames chairs and Saarinen tables and Arredoluce lamps in the living room, a Danish modern table in the dining room, and colorful bowls and plates in the kitchen. Even the bathroom has vintage accoutrements.

Champion is not your typical antiques dealer. “My father had an industrial appraisal business and he taught me how to appreciate quality. Later we became partners but ever since I was a little kid I was curious about how things were made and what made them special. When I started collecting, I did it out of love, not necessity. Because I have another job I don’t need to follow trends or cater to the market. The shop is a representation of my eye and my mind in a way that a lot of shops aren’t.”

Still, he doesn’t consider himself a collector. “I’m a dealer who collects a little,” he says. “I get enthusiastic about things and what I enjoy most is educating customers or finding customers who share my interests.” 

Most of these customers come from New York but he has clients around the country. “I get people coming in or calling from California, Texas, Florida. But I don’t advertise. People find me through word of mouth or social media.” 

He sources his finds from all over. “I go to auctions, estate sales, trade shows. I get tips from friends. Before COVID I went regularly to Milan. It’s a constant challenge but I love doing it. I’m obsessed with finding new things. See these toy cars?” he asks, holding up a beautiful miniature replica Ferrari. “I bought a bunch of these from a collection that had belonged to Igor Sikorski’s son. I’ve probably sold more than half of them now.”

In addition to vintage furniture, Martini shakers, espresso pots, groovy kitchenware and toy cars, there are two other things that seem to hold a special place in Champion’s heart: Godzilla and classic audio equipment. “Godzilla is sort of our unofficial mascot,” he says. “He’s not a scary monster but he is post-war, like so much else here. People kept wanting to buy him but I said no. Eventually I had to find more to sell.” He also has a passion for music and he exclusively sells McIntosh amplifiers and tuners, which begin at $3,000 and go up from there.

“We’re only open on weekends but a lot of my customers have become friends. They come and hang out. Drink a little wine. Listen to music. I try to offer an experience where they might see something they haven’t before or hear a tune they didn’t know. I’m just trying to make it fun.” —championmodern.com