Westport’s Design Hub Gets Redecorated
Sconset Square, the boutique shopping center in downtown Westport, CT has long been a magnet for a curated collection of home and design retailers. Now with a full renovation complete, the nautical, New England-style plaza has been transformed into an architecturally striking, coastal contemporary “mini village.” With a roster of ultra-chic tenants in place, you can find everything from furniture, to florals, to accessories and art all in one spot. That symbiosis was all part of developer David Waldman’s design.
Waldman of www.davidadamrealty.com purchased the property in 2018 with partner Roger Leifer. He tells MyDesignport they initially planned to tear the Square down to build apartments. But the market was shifting. He watched the success of Malibu Country Mart (@malibucountrymart), a high-end destination dining and shopping center in California owned by his wife’s family, with a focus on smaller spaces and compatible tenants. Waldman hired architect Rick Hoag of FWH Architects to bring this vision to life. Hoag explains they wanted to keep the small-town, neighborhood feel, but give it a more modern look: “We wanted to unify the signage and the style, while retaining some of the chaos.” The result is a design hunter’s dream, complete with coffee and lunch for when you need a break from the chaos in your own home decorator’s head.
The team started the project with the building that houses Bungalow, the lifestyle boutique for local decor-lovers and meca for in-the-know designers. Founded by Wende Cohen in 1996, part of Bungalow’s irresistible allure is how it brims like a bazaar with beautiful objects gathered from across the globe, including European antiques, pottery, textiles, jewelry (from local shop JL Rocks), and even handbags. But sometimes, the space felt a little too small for its contents. Waldman explains, “we reclaimed a storage attic to vault the ceilings and added skylights. Light flooded in.” The floorplan was also rearranged to free up space so the much adored shop is now even better, and you’ll be less worried about knocking over an antique vase while you hunt for treasures.
The three larger stand-alone buildings in the Square were each given their own unique look. The Tailored Home by John Ortiz and his partner Scott Falciglia signed a lease and the group settled on the “big red barn wall” for the exterior, which gives the entire Square a pop of bold color. Hoag says, “we wanted something that grabbed your eye, and we wanted to play with the whole idea of the barn since that’s what that building was before.” The bright red also prepares you for the explosion of colors and vibrant things waiting to be discovered inside The Tailored Home. They offer custom furniture, window treatments, reupholstery and anything else you can dream up. The Tailored Home also contains The Studio Cafe a gem of a coffee and juice bar featuring Spanish food. Tengo Hambre!
Next door, the latest addition to Sconset Square, and a major notch in Westport’s coolness bedpost, is the trend-setting California-based lifestyle brand Jenni Kayne. Kayne’s world of soft, enveloping neutrals will make you want to live your life in cashmere and pointy flats while sipping latte from a Pacific Mug. It’s hard to describe the level of luxe, but now you can touch and feel this earthy California vibe in Connecticut.
Waldman and Hoag took a chance with an idea for the exterior. “That building was an anomaly from the rest,” explains Hoag. “It was really a square concrete block, so we peeled away the fake stuff on the outside and played with the size of the windows to give the elevations depth.” For the siding, Hoag had his heart set on using Shou Sugi Ban cedar planks. It’s an old Japanese method of curing cedar siding, once burnt, it lasts at least 50 years. They eventually got town approval, then took another leap and clad the entry in cedar louvers. Hoag compares louvers to fish-net stockings: “they add layers and make a building sexy.” Hey now. Jenni Kayne loved the idea, and so do we.
Across the way and up a flight in a pint-sized second floor space Yoya, by recent NYC expat Cristina Villegas, offers adorable European and specialty brand kids clothing and toys as well as a selection of home decor from brands once hard to find locally, like Tiny Cottons, Bobo Choses, Cushendale Woolen, Evangeline Linens and &Tradition as well as one-of-a kind throw pillows and rugs. It’s Scandinavian style meets Morocco. Villegas also runs an interior design business. If you love children, design, or fashion, it’s worth the one-story stair climb.
Just below Casa Yoya lives Bespoke Designs by creative visionary Shari Lebowitz. Bespoke offers all things entertaining, from formal invitations for weddings and parties, to bridal registry and tabletop, including vintage Hotel Silver. They’re a go-to spot for hostess gifts, like their gorgeous lacquered candles.
The aptly named Swoon is a fine art gallery occupying one of the largest frontages. Owned by Sue and Mike Appleton-Webster, the white-washed space is arranged in vignettes to help people see the scale of a work. They represent 22 artists including locals Stacy Bass, Yvonne Claveloux, Tracey Kafka, and Laureen Vellante. They also offer a selection of accessories and furnishings and a new outpost location at The Collective West by Christian Siriano, just down the road. Prices start at $250 for a small watercolor and go up to $8500. This is art within reach, check it out.
Because you can’t have a finished home without fresh flowers, Blossom + Stem Floral Design by local florist Michele Sinacore moved in next to Bungalow. The modern jewel-box of a flower studio offers striking custom arrangements for the home or special events.
Just upstairs and barely noticeable to the everyday shopper, The Brady Collection, by Maggie Brady, is a to-the-trade shop curating custom fabrics and wallcoverings - so designers can skip a trip to New York City’s D&D Building. Lust-worthy brands include Rosemary Hallgarten, Rena Levine, Castel, Trowel + Paper and Studio Art Wallcoverings. Fun fact, many of these brands originate from local founders, proving that Westport really is its own design ecosystem.
Because we also need accessories for ourselves, Up North by Allison Daniels Jewelry came back in a new spot due to popular demand. Inside you’ll find a collection of Allison’s fashion-forward designs. We love that her range offers jewels for every budget. The shop also carries a great selection of coffee table books and other accessories for the home.
Finally, in the former Le Penguin space, a new anchor restaurant, Casa Me is still getting finishing touches, but we can already tell they nailed the decor. Rick Hoag designed the layout for the space, and co-owners Mario Fontana and his wife and partner Pina Ferlisi, owners of Bodega, brought their vision. Ferlisi worked as creative director in collaboration with Westport-based residential and commercial designer Megan Zwick, of MZ Interiors. A fluted bar, sage green tile, and our all-time favorite Pearl sconces in green from Cedar & Moss are just a few highlights. Have we mentioned we love green? An awning will soon be added to the outdoor seating area which should give the entire Square a more, dare we say, Parisian flair. OK maybe that’s extreme, but the whole situation is a huge upgrade. Even the green paint on the exterior is the perfect shade: Lichen, by Farrow & Ball, chosen by Ferlisi. We’ll get more details on the interior soon.
While we can not control the economy or the traffic, we can tell you that if you live in or near Westport, CT, you will not want for a decorative basket again. Essentially, this is “DesignPort.”
If you’re planning to visit Sconset Square, here’s a recap of current retailers and restaurants:
Bespoke Designs
8 Sconset Square
Mon-Fri 10am-6pm
Sat. 10am-5pm
Sun. 12pm-5pm
203-557-6777
Blossom + Stem Floral Design
15 Myrtle Avenue
(203) 293-4275
The Brady Collection
5A Sconset Square
www.thebradycollection.com
(203) 822-8781
For trade appointments only
Bungalow
4 Sconset Square
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm
203-227-4406
Casa Me
7 Sconset Square
Casa Yoya
8A Sconset Square
Tues-Sat: 11am - 4pm
Jenni Kayne
15 Myrtle Avenue, Store #1
Mon - Sa 10am - 6pm
Sunday 12am - 5pm
203-635-8202
Swoon
9 Sconset Square
https://www.swoonwestport.com/
203 557 0997
The Tailored Home
15 Myrtle Avenue
203-292-9111
Up North
16 Myrtle Avenue #10
917-903-7264
Architect: www.frederickwilliamhoagarchitect.com/
