PHOTO: STEFEN TURNER
Memories of seaside summers and picturesque East Coast dwellings live long after Labor Day through celebrated architect Charles Hilton‘s new book, Classic Greenwich Houses.
Set for release September 15, the expansive visual diary highlights nine of the design professional’s residential projects in the idyllic Connecticut town. Showcasing homes with good bones and ground-up ventures, Hilton’s tome zeroes in on the marriage of classic design with elements unique to the experiences and passions of each of his clients.
Here, Hilton shares tidbits about the projects—with a homey stone townhouse and a grand French Normandy residence among the impressive designs—his process, and how the compilation came to be.
What’s your favorite thing about working on residential projects?
Designing people’s homes is a very personal endeavor. Clients care deeply–even more so in the age of COVID–about the environments where they raise their families, work from home, relax and entertain. I love the one-on-one personal interaction.
Do you have any standout memories from your time working on one of the featured residences?
The Lakefront Georgian home in the book is our largest residential project to date. It involved six years of work on our part, from conception through punch list. I remember standing on the rooftop midway through construction, inspecting the cupola and surveying the four buildings on eight acres of land and seeing the entire job site all simultaneously buzzing with construction. It was a very impressive and slightly nerve-wracking view to behold.
If you had to spend a weekend in one of the nine homes from the book, which would it be?
The main house at Sleepy Cat Farm. It is one of our most unique works. The spaces are simultaneously expansive and cozy, the materials are warm and comfortable and the 14 acres of picturesque gardens are a paradise to enjoy throughout the four seasons.
What do you hope readers will learn about your style after browsing through the publication?
That great architectural design is not simply about replicating a favorite style or assembling a collection of their favorite design elements. Efficient planning, scale, proportion, the control of light and views, the craftsmanship of materials, and turning your client’s visions into a reality are all essential ingredients to great design.
