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

By Jordan Baron

On October 16, the Five Points Art Center in Torrington celebrated the grand opening of new doors for all to create and explore art. The benefit showcased art labs, workshops, memberships, and future plans for the recently transformed 30,000 square foot facility. Guests were treated to cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, art demonstrations, music, and a raffle for a $16,000 Eric Forstmann painting.

The center had been in continuous renovation since it was acquired in June 2020, and the now finished product is beneficial for artists, curious learners, art lovers, and supporters alike. It houses four operational art labs, with three more in the works, and a plethora of workshops run by renowned artists.

“Five Points Arts is committed to providing artists, regardless of age, ethnicity, or economic status, access to world class exhibitions and fully equipped artist laboratories designed to encourage cross disciplinary artistic skills,” says Judith McElhone, founder and executive director of Five Points Arts.

The State of Connecticut recently awarded Five Points with a $2.7 million grant, furthering the notion that the center will act as a cornerstone to the economic turnaround occurring in downtown Torrington.

fivepointsarts.org
855 University Dr., Torrington
860-618-2167

Turning Your House into a Home

By Clementina Verge

SPONSORED CONTENT

“The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them,” iconic English designer David Hicks once declared. 

From morning coffee, informal playdates, business calls, elegant dinner parties, and cozy family nights, homes help occupants nourish the best versions of themselves. They must be as distinguished as they are comfortable, and nowhere are unique visions and house transformations better achieved than at Middlebury Furniture and Home Design—a truly one-stop shopping destination boasting distinctive offerings, luxurious designs, and impeccable customer service.

“We didn’t want to be a run-of-the-mill furniture store,” owner Dean John Yimoyines notes. “We wanted to be a lifestyle center that offers a broad array of items for all things home.”

Since his father, Dr. Dean Yimoyines, opened the store in 2009 as a luxury furniture consignment destination, Middlebury Furniture has evolved into a 52,000 sq. ft. showroom featuring an impressive and customizable collection.

Traditional. Eclectic. Glamorous. Rustic. Farmhouse. Neoclassical. Minimalist. Will you choose a luxe settee? Avant-garde chairs? An alchemist bookcase? Sconces or an old world chandelier? Captivating rosewood, mahogany, or live-edge walnut? Furnishing possibilities are endless.

From dramatic wingback chairs to gilded dining tables, you will find it all here, each piece designed to make a statement while offering utmost comfort and durability. 

Customers may gather inspiration from meticulously assembled vignettes—featuring legendary crafters including Baker and Theodore Alexander—or browse the consignment selection of like-new furniture ranging from historical pieces to modern art. 

Middlebury Furniture’s interior design experts combine 80 years of experience and stand poised to coordinate projects from start to finish, including furniture and floor plans, color palettes, lighting, rugs, artwork, window treatments, and Hunter Douglas shades. 

Consultations generate information not only about style preferences, but lifestyles and tasks performed in any given room. Customization is available for every decor element, whether it includes tufted or woven rugs from companies like Stanton or Nourison, handcrafted dining sets from Barkman, or Hancock & Moore sofas, chairs, and recliners featuring countless leather options. 

Increase bedroom serenity with the Biltmore Mattress collection and Sferra luxury bedding, while enhancing your living quarters and workspace with innovative technologies. Whether integrating a tailored home theater or listening room, creating a smarter home by adding automation, or strengthening networking capabilities, you will find the latest audio and video trends at Take 5.

Because all services are housed under one roof, choosing textures, colors, wood finishes, and decorative accessories is a convenient and cohesive process.

“The result is a curated aesthetic where rooms blend into each other and create a home that is as beautiful as it is functional,” Yimoyines notes.

If you are looking for a shopping adventure or seeking a specific product, the Shoppes at Whittemore add to Middlebury Furniture’s appeal. Linda and Rachel Yimoyines coordinate and manage the largest MacKenzie-Childs collection in Connecticut, as well as other leading brands sure to impress; the gift shop features a vast display of quality products, ranging from luxury body products, gourmet treats including Bridgewater Chocolate, fashion accessories, housewares, and gifts for baby and pets.

When you are finished debating decor choices or completing a successful shopping spree, you can drive less than three miles to Vyne, one of the state’s highest rated and most beautiful restaurants and bars, which the Yimoyineses opened in 2018.

From fine furnishings to vibrant artwork, gifts for all occasions, and outstanding cuisine, the Yimoyines family offers an exceptional experience in their hometown of Middlebury.

middleburyfurniture.com
1101 Southford Rd., Middlebury
203-528-0130 

Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection, introduces Garden Gastronomy, the first program to explore unique culinary pairings that highlight locally sourced vegetables. From a specially curated menu by Chef-in-Residence April Bloomfield, to Fresh Aire picnics and fermentation classes in the La Grande Dame Chef’s Garden, each moment highlights vegetables at their peak and Veuve Clicquot’s La Grande Dame cuvee.

Chef Bloomfield’s fall menu integrates a variety of vegetables and herbs, from crisp kale and velvety squash to piquant peppers and fragrant thyme.

“The idea of Garden Gastronomy became a constant source of inspiration, changing the narrative of vegetables and herbs as a supporting role,” says Chef Bloomfield.

Each dish includes vegetables and herbs fresh from local farms and the Mayflower Inn & Spa’s La Grande Dame Chef’s Garden. Chef Bloomfield’s signature Garden Gastronomy dish features kohlrabi-rosemary velouté, granny smith apple, puffed quinoa, and porcini mushroom hollandaise.

“La Grande Dame and Garden Gastronomy are intimately linked. Both remind us of the cycles of the seasons, the apprehension before harvest, the emotion of tasting the raw crops, feeling the characters of the soil as well as the year we call ‘vintage,’” says Didier Mariotti, Veuve Clicquot Chef de Caves.

Chef Bloomfield’s curated menu will be available daily in The Garden Room, priced at $250 per guest inclusive of a bottle of La Grande Dame. 

aubergeresorts.com/mayflower/garden-gastronomy

Building Bridges Between Businesses and Clients

By Clementina Verge

SPONSORED CONTENT

“Social media is not just a repository for your thoughts or what’s on your camera roll. It is an art that should be practiced very deliberately, especially in business,” advises digital marketing expert Elisabeth Spinnato, whose extensive career has focused on strategic communication and social media strategy. “Everything must be authentic and showcase what a business is doing and what it stands for.”

Like many New Yorkers, propelled by the pandemic, Spinnato recently exchanged Greenwich Village for Litchfield and fell in love with its charm. The relocation inspired not just a change of residence, but a new professional venture. In July, she launched The Bridge Wing Group, dedicated to helping businesses and individuals develop digital marketing strategies that can generate profitable results.

“I was oscillating for years about starting my own business, but I was fortunate to work at major agencies and companies, and among people I’ve respected and enjoyed being with,” she details. “I’ve always been interested and intrigued by small businesses, like the many mom-and-pop shops in Greenwich Village that not only survived, but thrived. After moving here, I discovered so many independently-owned companies and businesses, and it is clear how important they are to the community. I wanted to support them because they are what makes this area so unique.”

Digital advertising is especially pivotal for small businesses in active communities due to small budgets but greater need, explains Spinnato.

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, websites. No platform is exclusive and each depends on what optimizes a business. It is crucial, however, not to become complacent or to overlook the importance of an audience. 

“Social media is an incredibly powerful tool because it can reach almost anybody, anywhere. It is limitless,” Spinnato advises. “But it is not just an extra appendage, just like print platforms aren’t. People must be deliberate about how they spend their budgets, time, and energy.”

Spinnato, a former vice president at WE Communications in New York City, guides clients to expand their potential to increase brand awareness, engage existing and new audiences, and focus on conveying their personal identity. 

Whether individuals or businesses seek specific strategic support, assistance with a project or campaign, or ongoing retainer work, Spinnato creates plans with clients that meet their goals.

“The reality is that we are living in a more virtual, digital environment,” Spinnato affirms. “We live in a world where if you are not on social media, you’re missing out. There are brands that everyone knows, but for small businesses and up-and-coming entrepreneurs it is a way to reach people when brick-and-mortar stores do not exist or are limited by restrictions.”

Spinnato’s varied experience—including traditional advertising for nonprofit and for-profit agencies, and in-house ad agency work—provides a unique vantage point.

“There are so many businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs in this area who have unique talents and products, and are doing really incredible things,” she notes. “I hope my experience and knowledge can help contribute to the strength of this vibrant community I now call home.”

bridgewinggroup.com

Designer Darren Henault: It’s not just about looks 

By Linda Tuccio-Koonz 

When it comes to interior design, enriching people’s comfort and sense of home is essential, says renowned designer Darren Henault, who is involved in everything from fabric to furniture. 

The son of a New England textile manufacturer, he comes by his talents naturally. But Henault didn’t start out in the business. His first career was in advertising; a chance conversation led him to switch gears. 

“I was on a trip to the south of France with a friend and her family,” he says. “Her father was an architect and he said, ‘You know, the way you talk about design, color, scale, and texture, you should really be an interior designer.’” 

Initially, Henault thought he was crazy, but it was just the nudge he needed. For 30 years, he’s been among New York’s top interior designers, with clients including Paul Shaffer (David Letterman’s bandleader), and rock star Meat Loaf. 

Henault and his husband have a Manhattan apartment, but live in Millbrook with their teenage daughters. It was a weekend retreat. They moved up when the pandemic hit.

“Most of the stuff in that house that’s not antique is stuff I’ve designed—lighting, furniture, upholstery…” Other items he’s designed and had created to his specifications are in his Amenia shop, Tent, which opened last December.

“Everything I’ve designed for us, which has ended up at the store, is about comfort and family.” Tent is an eclectic shop where you never know what you’ll find, but you know it will be special, unusual, and fun. “I’ve got stuff from all over the world.” (Think everything from Portuguese pottery to flatware from France.)

“For years I’ve been designing custom things for clients… so there’s upholstery pieces for jobs I’ve done, say in Rhinebeck, so there’s the Rhinebeck collection, and furniture I designed for my house in Millbrook, so it’s the Millbrook collection…”  

His custom-designed furniture features fabrics from three high-end companies, Bennison Fabrics, Holland & Sherry, and Rogers & Goffigon Ltd. “I’m giving people access to something that’s exclusive—that’s really luxurious. It makes the furniture more special. 

“I know what beautifully-made fabric is,” adds Henault, whose childhood memories include climbing around massive piles of fabric while playing hide-and-seek with his brothers in their dad’s textile mill.

By the time he was 16, he was using powders and chemicals to dye greige (unfinished fabric) to specific colors. “Different fibers require different chemicals. I was good at it.”

Henault hated working summers in the hot, dirty mill, but enjoyed determining what was needed to create and match hues. “It was complicated. You had to have an eye for it.”

Today, this self-described “color and texture geek” has an expertise which allows him to easily style and create ready-made, coordinated swatch sets. His talent is greatly appreciated especially by those who find it challenging to mix and match fabrics with confidence.

While Henault knows which patterns and colors work well together, he says it’s not just about looks. They have to feel good, too. “And it’s not just feeling good with your fingers. It has to feel good emotionally.”

When not working, Henault enjoys the Millbrook area with his family. “It’s so beautiful. We have horses and we fox hunt and play tennis. We are very much enmeshed in Millbrook life. COVID was an excuse to stay in that life, and it’s fantastic.”

New Documentary Focuses on His Litchfield Period

By Joseph Montebello

Drive down North or South Streets in bucolic Litchfield and you will see some of the finest examples of classic architecture—from Victorian to neoclassical to Greek Revival. And while many of these houses have been renovated and adapted to the needs of new owners, the integrity of the structure and its place in history have been maintained. But on the nearby cul-de-sac and on the other side of town are houses of a totally different style and era created by one of the masters of mid-century architecture—Marcel Breuer. How he came to this New England town and managed to inject his, at the time, avant-garde ideas about houses into the landscape is quite the tale. In his latest film Breuer’s Bohemia, director James Crump brings to life this fascinating, talented, and occasionally decadent, group of creative people who made their way to Litchfield County. It all began with Rufus Stillman, president of the Torin Corporation in Torrington.

Stillman and his wife Leslie commissioned Breuer to build a house for them after viewing his work at the Museum of Modern Art. Stillman I, as it became known, was a 2,400 square-foot house with a flat roof, expansive floor to ceiling windows on ball bearings, taking advantage of the view. So enamored with this new style, Stillman convinced his friends Andrew and Jamie Gagarin to follow suit. The difference: Gagarin I at the top of Gallows Lane, was 12,000 square feet, with a pool and an indoor garden. 

Stillman became Breuer’s greatest advocate and he then began spending time in this area and its unique social circle where the Stillmans and the Gagarins vied for title of best host and hostess. Invitations to their parties were coveted as they knew everyone, including Alexander Calder, who figures prominently in this social whirl. Additionally, he created an impressive mural facing the swimming pool at Stillman’s first house.

Joseph Mazzaferro, a friend of Stillman’s in his later years and once an owner of Stillman I, garnered many stories from him. “The frequent dinner parties thrown by the Stillmans were ‘Bohemia on crack.’”

Breuer went on to design Stillman II on Clark Road, just outside the main part of town, followed by Stillman III, just down the road from its predecessor. Gagarin commissioned Gagarin II, a much smaller structure just down the road from the original massive house.

Breuer’s Bohemia features not only the collection of unique houses Breuer designed and the thinking behind them, but explores the lives and antics of his highly progressive clients between 1950 and 1970—described as a sometimes hedonistic community that included a Who’s Who of postwar-era artists, thinkers, and visionaries. Imagine a party with the likes of Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, William Styron, Philip Roth and countless others who have shaped the arts. Calder’s parties were sometimes all-night affairs that occasionally went on until the next day. Crump has captured a period that was both highly productive in terms of creativity but also spawned a cast of real characters who would be challenging to create.

Morrison Gallery offers new space, plus state-of-the-art storage

By Linda Tuccio-Koonz

“I’ve just always loved art,” says Billy Morrison, longtime owner of Kent’s Morrison Gallery. “The art world is exciting. It’s fresh.” 

Morrison Gallery features contemporary works from around the globe. There’s paintings, sculpture, and mesmerizing kinetic objects. “It’s great when someone gets a piece of art they really love, because it just has so much meaning,” says the entrepreneur, who is also a musician.

His latest project is a new 25,000-square-foot art storage facility and gallery space. The facility, with its state-of-the-art security and climate control, sits just behind the gallery; a breezeway connects them, making it especially convenient when rotating exhibits.

MASF (Morrison Art Storage Facility) is popular with collectors as well as artists. “The biggest thing for art storage clients is privacy,” Morrison says. Aside from total security, MASF offers private rooms clients can use for events from photo shoots to viewing parties.

“We’re excited to get back to exhibitions every four to six weeks,” Morrison says. “We’ve picked up a lot of new artists from overseas, who’ve never shown in the states before. We found a lot of great new artists during COVID, and even before COVID.”

You’ll find MASF in a contemporary building at 60 North Main St., just across from Kent’s Fife ’n Drum Restaurant. Rainscreen siding gives the hemlock-wood exterior a natural look. The north side of the structure features a smooth outdoor wall for eye-catching projection art. 

Morrison had MASF built “from the ground up, with all the bells and whistles, and top-notch security.” Although it’s certainly a large, multilayered project, he says it came about quite naturally. 

“It just kind of happened,” says Morrison, who’d been using another storage space before this one. “That was for my roster of artists, and we were able to keep a large inventory.” Between all the artists and art handlers he knew, word of mouth sort of took over. “That space was working so well without even trying, so we figured, let’s just go for it and build a big beautiful one, so we did.”

Morrison enjoys his role as a gallerist who keeps things fresh and fun. The new exhibit space is about 6,000 square feet with 20-foot ceilings—perfect for experiencing innovative creations. Its soaring, white walls give everything an open, airy feel, providing a modern museum-like setting for pieces of all shapes and sizes. 

He especially loves that the gallery is a gathering spot—a place for people to connect. Looking ahead, he’s excited to offer a major sculpture exhibition with works outside, as well as indoors. The new gallery lends itself to that because the doors are large enough to really go big.

“I never really wanted to be an artist, but I always wanted to learn more about art history and the things people do,” says Morrison, who grew up in Danbury. “I moved my family to Kent in 1999 when I bought a small art studio. I expanded it into what is now Morrison Gallery.” 

Over the years, Morrison Gallery has operated from different locations, showing works by renowned artists from the late Wolf Kahn to Ugo Rondinone and Michael Steiner, as well as the late Cleve Gray, who lived in Warren. Morrison and Gray, known for his Abstract Expressionism, were friends.

“Kent has been an art destination since the mid ’80s, with the opening of the Caboose Gallery, by Jacques Kaplan,” Morrison says. “It seems like more and more people are coming to visit, with all the B&Bs, restaurants, great shopping, and wonderful private schools. And now, with the art scene growing into surrounding towns, it’s making the art scene in Kent even stronger.”—morrisongallery.com

Eartha Kitt’s Most Treasured Role: Being a Mother

By Joseph Montebello

From her childhood in a dirt poor town in South Carolina to her rise as one of the most renowned performers in show business, Eartha Kitt stood firm in her beliefs and never forgot her roots. She fought hard and today is known as much for groundbreaking stances on racial equality, women’s rights, and LGBTQ rights as she is for her unique and seductive performances as a singer and actress. In 1960 she married a white man and gave birth to her only child whom she named Kitt. 

Kitt Shapiro has written a poignant testament to her mother called Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter’s Love Story in Black and White. Eartha married Bill McDonald, who was white, in 1960. Kitt is the product of that marriage and she and her mother formed a bond that was never broken. Blonde and light skinned, Kitt followed her mother to every club, movie set, state, and country in which she performed. 

“I was the little girl who never got in trouble,” says Shapiro. “An only child who learned to entertain herself while her mother was busy entertaining the rest of the world. We were a team. Inseparable. From the very first day of my life to the very last day of hers.” 

Shapiro shares her most personal feelings and gives the reader a glimpse into the real Eartha Kitt, who left us a treasure chest of songs including the perennial holiday favorite “Santa Baby.”

Matthew Patrick Smyth Shares His Design Secrets

By Joseph Montebello

Matthew Patrick Smyth exudes many of the same virtues that make his interiors so very special. He is elegant, tastefully dressed, worldly wise, and has impeccable taste, with just a shot of whimsy when called for. His work is represented in spectacular houses and apartments around the world. His latest book Through a Designer’s Eye: A Focus on Interiors features some of his recent work, ranging from a traditional Park Avenue apartment, a unique Tribeca loft to waterfront houses in Florida, New England, and Long Island. He also shares his philosophy and approach to interior design. Making this book even more special is the fact that Smyth took many of the photographs himself.

“I hadn’t picked up a camera in 20 years,” he explains. “But with the popularity and importance of Instagram I started shooting again and became inspired to include some of my own pictures in this new book.”

Smyth did not start out to be a designer. It wasn’t until he heard about David Easton and the field of interior design that he decided to apply to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and try to enter the field. 

“I went home, took some photographs, made a few drawings and pulled together a rather slim portfolio to take to FIT,” recalls Smyth. “There were dozens laid out. When the judges came to mine they said it was weak but there was something in my photographs they liked, so they gave me a chance. I finally knew this was the career I wanted.”

Smyth was fortunate to get a job with Easton and that’s where he learned how to see the intrinsic value of any given piece and to successfully mix furnishings with similar lines, materials, and forms even when they are products of different centuries. It is that innate instinct that is key to Smyth’s work.

In addition to supplying some of his own photography, another special aspect of Through a Designer’s Eye is that it includes Smyth’s new house. 

“I had lived in an 1890s house in Sharon for many years,” he says. “Then I saw this ‘70s ranch house in Sharon and thought I could turn it into something special. I wasn’t sure I was going to live there once it was renovated.”

But last August when the house was done, he did indeed move into it.

“I went from a 19th century house in the middle of Sharon to a 1976 ranch house in the woods of Salisbury,” Smyth laughs, “and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve always lived in old houses, but life is easier in this new one. Since the pandemic I have been working from home and have been able to fully enjoy country life.”

In his own home Smyth employed his genius of combining pieces from other periods and places, collected over the years and placing them in fresh surroundings. He and his partner Jean have settled in nicely.

“This house is about us right now. It is different from our last house, which was about us then. We all evolve.”