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Showcasing Litchfield County’s Design Professionals and Creatives

In this special section, we highlight some of the region’s design professionals and artists, whose creativity and craftsmanship shape the unique architectural and interior landscapes of Litchfield County. Read on to get an exclusive glimpse into their innovative work.

Samantha Gale Designs

With a Fine Arts background and a lifelong passion for design, she founded her namesake studio and shop 12 years ago. Since then, she has been creating interiors and collections that reflect both her artistry and her deep connection to the place she calls home.
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Dobson Pools

“The choices people make for their pool and surrounds are such an expression of personality,” Julie told me. “Not just style, but generation, cultural background and values.” In other words, your pool is a lot like your wardrobe, only larger and much, much wetter.
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Craig Longhurst

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.
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Modern Supply

For more than four decades, Modern Supply has been a trusted name in Litchfield County. What began as a family plumbing business in the 1980s has evolved into the area’s premier bath showroom—a place where luxury, practicality, and seasoned design expertise come together to transform homes.
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Eleish Van Breems

For nearly three decades, Rhonda Eleish and Edie Van Breems have been creating homes and spaces that are thoughtful, personal, and profoundly inspiring. Their boutique design firm, Eleish Van Breems Interior Design, specializes in holistic, full-service residential projects, guiding clients from the ground up with an approach that values collaboration, intuition, and trust.
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Slatted

After two decades of working alongside some of the world’s most innovative architects and designers, Michelle Meadows and Andy Kjellgren launched Slatted, a certified women-owned business based in Bantam, with a clear mission: to provide heirloom-quality recycled hardwoods, world-class production, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability.
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Hearthstone & Co

With tailored services and a highly selective guest network, Hearthstone helps second-home owners unlock their properties’ hidden potential, transforming any-duration time away into opportunity, and keeping homes vibrant in their absence.
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Olson Twombly

Olson Twombly is a husband-and-husband design firm rooted in both Litchfield County and Nantucket, with clients nationwide. Known for a warm, layered, and eclectic approach, their work blends antiques, textiles, vintage finds, and modern elements.
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Ellsworth Home

Ellsworth Home is a residential design studio dedicated to creating homes with soul—whether restoring historic gems, reimagining spaces, or building from the ground up. Guided by restraint, natural palettes, and the ever-changing influence of light, their work balances beauty with atmosphere, crafting serene, timeless environments across New England and beyond.
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Ground Breakers CT

We meet on a quintessential late-September morning at a blasted-out hilltop in Kent, one of two sites he’s shaping along the same private road. Standing beside a poured foundation with mountains of displaced earth around us, the 56-year-old paints a vivid picture of what’s yet to come for his clients: main house, garage, breezeway, westward views, gym, infinity pool. Lee’s so detailed, I can’t help but picture myself living here happily ever after.
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Denscot Pool & Spa

Scott and Heather Meeker of Denscot Pool and Spa were a little skeptical when I suggested we collaborate on a pool personality type quiz. “C’mon, it’ll be fun,” I promised. “I used to edit women’s magazines in the early aughts, back before I started doing TV. They used to call me the Quiz Master.” (I lied about the Quiz Master part, but that’s not important right now.) Get ready to plumb the depths of your psyche, folks!
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Sonia Bodie Designs

From interior architecture to landscape design, Sonia Bodie specializes in crafting holistic environments that honor beauty and meaning, bringing a deeper sense of relevance to the places we call home, and reflecting the people who inhabit them.
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Litchfield County Pools

Serving residential properties, Litchfield County Pools creates custom solutions for both full-time homes and weekend retreats. The company’s family-oriented approach ensures attention to detail at every stage. “We treat each project with care, no matter the scale,” Devon explains. “Building a pool isn’t just construction—it’s craftsmanship.”
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Woodbury Antiques Dealers Association

Woodbury has long been known as the “Antiques Capital of Connecticut,” a reputation built over decades by dealers who recognized the town’s history, charm, and ideal location for their trade. In the 1980s, the Woodbury Antiques Dealers Association (WADA) was founded to promote this thriving hub.
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Washington Supply

At Washington Supply, design isn’t just about beauty—it’s about balance. The Kitchen and Bath Design team at Washington Supply focuses on creating spaces that are as functional as they are stylish, offering thoughtful design solutions that enhance everyday living without sacrificing comfort or cost.
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By Jamie Marshall

As luminaries in the design world, Sharon residents Heide Hendricks and Rafe Churchill (the husband-and-wife team behind the architecture and interior design firm Hendricks Churchill) are known for their ability to breathe new life into historic structures—residential and commercial. “One of the things we set out to do when we merged our businesses in 2017 was to push the boundaries of finding projects that we could renovate and resuscitate and update for contemporary living,” says Hendricks.

Many of these projects are featured in Distinctly American: Houses and Interiors by Hendricks Churchill, the couple’s second monograph published by Rizzoli this past September. Filled with beautiful photos and evocative prose (as well as floor plans), the book offers a behind-the-scenes look at ten of their favorite collaborations, ranging from rural farmhouses to an apartment in a New York City high rise and an historic brick building in Brooklyn. Though each project was different in size and scope, what they all have in common is a sense of place and style that feels effortless—both inside and out. 

“Each one showcases our holistic approach to interior design and architecture, as well as great landscape designers,” says Hendricks. “What our clients like is that when we do a home—whether in a country setting or an urban setting—the goal is for it to feel safe and comfortable and casual, with tactile layers and color and pattern that lets you forget about the backdrop and sink into ease and comfort and begin living your life.”

One of their most cherished collaborations is their own home, Ellsworth House, a renovated 19th-century farmhouse and dairy barn in the Ellsworth section of Sharon. It is the subject of their debut book, Our Way Home: Reimagining and American Farmhouse (Rizzoli). “When our publisher originally asked us to do a monograph of our top ten projects, we said yes on one condition. We wanted to do Ellsworth house first,” recalls Hendricks. “We told them it was important to start with who we are—just us, without a client, so to speak.” For Hendricks and Churchill, Ellsworth House is a showpiece for their passion for and commitment to designing houses that never feel formulaic. 

“We try to design for the long term, and provide a vision that transcends the moment and current trends,” says Churchill. “Life evolves, and the house has to accommodate these necessary changes.” At its core, Ellsworth represents a pared-down traditionalism with Shaker tranquility, Arts & Crafts practicality, and bohemian chic—no surprise, considering both Hendricks and Churchill made their livings as artists before turning their talents to architecture and design. They have won numerous accolades and awards over the years including this year’s prestigious ICAA Bullfinch Award, for their sensitive renovation and design of an 1830s Greek Revival in Salisbury, which they bought in 2023 and turned into their office and showroom. They sold the space this fall (now the home to the Geary Art Gallery) and have relocated to a new studio that Churchill built at Ellsworth. “As a design firm you kind of have to be flexible and improvise a little bit,” says Hendricks.—hendrickschurchill.com

By Mary Beth Lawlor

For more than two decades, designer Philip Gorrivan has been creating interiors that transcend beauty and function to embody something more enduring: a story. With the release of his new book, Authentic Interiors, Gorrivan reflects on the philosophy that has guided his work and shaped countless spaces over the years.

“This book isn’t just a portfolio,” he explains. “It’s a reflection of the philosophy I’ve developed over time: that rooms should tell the stories of the people who inhabit them. After so many projects, it felt like the right moment to pause, take stock, and share that point of view.”

At the heart of Gorrivan’s work is storytelling. Every client brings with them a history, memories, and aspirations. His role, he says, is to weave those elements into interiors that feel layered, personal, and true. Whether it’s integrating heirlooms, displaying collections, or choosing materials that resonate, Gorrivan’s approach ensures that design is never generic—it’s narrative. “Authentic. Narrative. Layered,” he says, distilling his process into three guiding words.

Drama and livability, two often competing ideals in design, coexist harmoniously in his projects. “For me, drama comes from creating impact,” he explains. “It could be a lacquered entryway or a bold patterned fabric. Livability, however, is about comfort and ease. It’s knowing where to provide visual rest so that a home feels both exciting and welcoming.”

The projects featured in Authentic Interiors reveal the breadth of his talent and the evolution of his vision. A Park Avenue apartment, for instance, balances modern and antique furnishings with contemporary art, all set against a backdrop of bold colors. The result reflects Gorrivan’s belief in the dialogue between past and present, and the power of color to define a space. 

In contrast, a Connecticut country house highlights craftsmanship, architectural detail, and pattern, completely transforming the spirit of the home. Together, these projects illustrate his ability to adapt while remaining grounded in authenticity and narrative design.

Gorrivan’s roots in Washington, Connecticut, where he has had a home for more than 25 years, continue to inspire him. “Litchfield County has a special rhythm and sense of history that I deeply value. The community of creatives, the natural landscape, and the slower pace—it all offers balance to the intensity of city life.” That balance, between city energy and rural grounding, is often mirrored in his interiors.

He emphasizes timeless values over fleeting trends: quality craftsmanship, proportion, and authenticity. “A well-made piece or a room that feels true to its inhabitants will always outlast the latest fad,” he says. 

His advice to those looking to create meaningful spaces is simple. “Start with something personal: a piece of art, a chair with history, a color that speaks to you. Build from that anchor point, and don’t be afraid to edit. Homes should evolve; they don’t need to be finished all at once.”

Looking ahead, Gorrivan is excited about the blending of disciplines—art, craft, technology, and sustainability—and how they are shaping new ways of living. He is also pursuing hospitality projects and product design collaborations, always with authenticity and storytelling at the core.

Ultimately, Gorrivan’s interiors, like his book, remind us that great design is not about decoration alone. It’s about creating places where stories are lived, remembered, and shared.

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