It Started as a Simple Renovation – Now This 1930s Connecticut Home Has Been Totally Transformed With English-Country Charm Where ‘Nothing Feels Overly Precious’

What began as a simple renovation of this 1934 home in Ridgefield, Connecticut, quickly turned into something much more transformative.

As designer Elana Tenenbaum-Cline of Carta Creatives and her clients dug into the plans, it became clear that creating the ease, flow, and warmth they were after meant rethinking the house as a whole – not just updating it room by room.

The result is a house design that feels timeless yet entirely personal. With nods to English-country charm and New England tradition, each space is designed to be lived in – relaxed, welcoming, and, as Elana puts it, ‘nothing feels overly precious.’

Crucially, this wasn’t about starting over.

The home’s original details, proportions, and wood floors were preserved and lightly elevated, allowing the home's charm to shine through. ‘Our goal was not to erase the home’s history, but to evolve it thoughtfully so the house could support a modern way of living while still feeling deeply rooted in its past,’ says Elana.

From the outset, the clients were less concerned with a defined interior design style and more focused on how the home should feel. Having just purchased the property, they brought Elana on to help shape the interiors, architecture, and landscape in tandem.

'Their brief was more about creating a place that felt welcoming, expressive, and deeply personal. They imagined a home where people would feel immediately comfortable, where spaces flowed naturally from room to room, and where the connection to the landscape was always present.'

The story begins in a gracious entryway that immediately sets the tone.

‘The home dates to 1934 and carries the quiet elegance typical of that era,’ says Elana. ‘It had beautiful bones from the start: generous ceiling heights, traditional millwork, and a sense of proportion that you rarely see in newer construction.’ Rather than competing with those details, Elana's design allows them to lead.

Vintage botanical prints line the walls, a subtle nod to the wooded setting beyond, while warm neutral tones soften the grandeur. The front door itself has been given the star treatment, finished with a floral mural.

What began as a home renovation quickly expanded in scope, evolving into a full reimagining of the home that would better support the client and a sense of flow.

It’s fitting that the kitchen now sits at the center of the home, because in many ways, this is where the transformation began. 'What had originally been a series of smaller rooms was opened up to create a single central gathering space connected to the outdoors,' Elana explains of the remodel.

‘The goal was to shift the energy of the house so the kitchen became the natural heart of the home rather than an afterthought,’ she adds.

Rather than leaning into anything overtly fitted or overly modern, the kitchen was approached with a mix of classic American and soft English countryside influences.

'Nothing feels overly precious. Materials are natural, colors feel grounded in nature, and the room encourages people to settle in and stay awhile,' says Elana.

'The island was intentionally designed with the proportions and detailing of an antique work table to feel more like a piece of furniture than traditional cabinetry, reinforcing the home’s collected and lived-in character,' she explains.

'The architecture provides the order, and the interiors provide the joy,' she continues. 'We leaned into the traditional bones of the house, then layered in color, pattern, and collected pieces to give the rooms warmth and personality.'

Warm wood tones, natural finishes, and unlacquered brass bring a sense of patina, ensuring the room feels timeless rather than newly installed. ‘The palette is intentionally restrained to keep the room calm and grounded,’ while subtle stripes and plaids add a layer of pattern.

'We also incorporated open shelving and a small gardening area where the homeowner can keep herbs and plants, which reinforces the home’s strong relationship to the landscape. Because she is an avid gardener, it was important that the kitchen feel connected to that part of her life,' she adds.

From the kitchen, the house opens out into a series of spaces designed for gathering, with the dining room leading into the adjoining sunroom.

'This room acts as a bridge to the adjacent sunroom, and together the two spaces create a lovely sequence for entertaining. The dining room feels layered and traditional, while the sunroom is lighter and more relaxed, especially during the warmer months when the doors are open to the terrace,' Elana explains.

Wrapped in windows and filled with natural light, the sunroom feels closely tied to the landscape outside. ‘The goal was for the interiors to feel like a quiet extension of the setting rather than something separate from it,’ Elana explains.

'French doors frame the view, and layered window treatments soften the transition between inside and out. The palette draws heavily from the landscape as well, with greens, blues, and natural textures repeating throughout the house.'

'One detail I particularly love is the sunroom ceiling,' she continues. 'The structure and chandelier were original to the house, but over time, the finish had become a bit visually busy, and the lighting no longer felt quite right. Rather than replacing it, we chose to refresh and refine what was already there.'

'Those small adjustments brought the focus back to the architecture of the ceiling and gave the entire room new life while still honoring its original character.'

'Some spaces are meant to feel bright, open, and connected to the outdoors, so in those rooms we leaned into lighter tones, natural textures, and colors that reflect the landscape,' Elana continues.

'Other rooms, like the home library, are designed to feel more intimate and cocoon-like, especially in the evening, so we embraced deeper tones and pattern drenching to create that sense of warmth and enclosure.' In here, the green velvet sofa was discovered in an antique shop and became the anchor of the entire scheme.

'Throughout the house, you see recurring greens, blues, and natural earthy tones that subtly connect the spaces,' she continues. 'These colors echo the surrounding landscape and create continuity as you move from room to room, even as the mood of each space shifts.'

Beyond the cozy atmosphere of the library, the house opens up once again into the great room – a space defined by light, openness, and its connection to the backyard.

'The great room is where the home truly opens up,' Elana explains. 'That room, in general, became a very special space in the house. It has a beautiful sense of openness and light, so we leaned into natural materials like a large custom jute rug to anchor the seating area and create warmth underfoot.'

'One bespoke element that feels especially meaningful is the large coffee table in the room. The base was actually an existing piece the clients already owned, and we designed a new stone top for it in Taj Mahal quartzite with very soft creamy tones and subtle hints of pink.'

'It’s a place for gathering, reading, and spending time together while still feeling connected to the landscape outside,' she adds.

After the richness and contrast of the main living spaces, the bedrooms are designed to feel quieter and more restorative.

‘Upstairs, the bedrooms shift into a softer register,’ says Elana. ‘Gentle palettes, layered textiles, and patterned wallpapers make these spaces feel calm and intimate, almost like a retreat at the end of the day.’

Here in the primary bedroom, a neutral palette is lifted by an accent ceiling, soft blue tones, and a delicate pattern, creating a space that feels fresh and inviting. Built-in cabinetry and a window seat add both practicality and charm.

Just beyond the primary, a compact dressing room continues the story. Wrapped in a soft, all-over leaf-patterned wallpaper, the space feels like a perfectly serene spot for getting ready. Though modest in scale, it reflects the same thoughtful approach to color seen throughout the home.

'Color plays a major role in shaping the emotional experience of the house,' Elana adds. 'Rather than applying one consistent palette everywhere, we thought carefully about the intention of each room and allowed the color to support that feeling.'

In the guest bedroom, a deeper, more enveloping palette sets the tone for a good night's sleep. The walls are painted in a warm green tone that creates a backdrop for layered textiles in earthy browns, creams, and subtle patterns.

Pattern is introduced gently through the upholstered headboard, roman blind, and bedding, while vintage-style wall art, a woven pendant, and classic furniture sit comfortably together, creating a bedroom that feels layered and entirely at ease.

In the guest bathroom, pattern drenching takes center stage.

All five walls are wrapped in a delicate, geometric print, creating a sense of softness and cohesion that elevates the bijoux footprint. Rather than breaking up the surfaces, the continuous pattern enhances the feeling of space by drawing the eye up and softening the angles of the room.

'Pattern plays an important role,' Elana adds. 'In smaller or more enclosed rooms, we leaned fully into pattern drenching to create moments of surprise and personality.'

'In larger spaces, pattern is layered more gently through textiles, wallpapers, and upholstery, so the rooms feel expressive but still balanced,' she adds.

Against this decorative backdrop, a sculptural stone vanity introduces a sense of drama, while patinated brass fixtures and a softly shaped mirror add a more refined note.

'Natural materials and patina were important threads,' she adds. 'Rattan, unlacquered brass, woven textures, and vintage pieces appear throughout the home. These materials age beautifully and reinforce the sense that the house has evolved over time rather than being designed all at once.'

It’s often the smallest details that give a home its personality.

In the kitchen's eat-in spot, the homeowner's vintage dish collection is thoughtfully displayed. 'It’s a simple gesture, but very personal, and the display can shift with the seasons or with different gatherings. Moments like that help the house feel lived in and evolving rather than overly fixed,' Elana notes.

Throughout the house, that same approach repeats. 'Many of the pieces in the house have lived other lives before arriving here. Chairs were reupholstered, tables were adapted, and vintage elements were layered alongside new pieces.'

'Antique furniture sits next to contemporary lighting. Patterns and textiles reference traditional English interiors while the architecture remains distinctly New England. Those subtle contrasts create a richness that reveals itself slowly as you spend time in the house,' she adds.

Of all the changes made to the house, the kitchen wing was the most ambitious – and the biggest risk. 'It required rethinking the structure and circulation of the house, but it ultimately transformed how the home functions.'

That sense of ease extends into even the most practical corners of the home. In the mudroom, thoughtful detailing from the paneled walls and integrated hooks to the layered textures elevates a functional space into something that feels just as considered as the rest of the house.

'The goal was for the house to feel dynamic as you move through it, with each room offering its own atmosphere while still feeling part of a cohesive whole.'

Beyond the interiors, the outdoors was carefully considered, too.

'The home sits on a historic street in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and is set slightly above the road on a beautiful, wooded property. From the beginning, the relationship between the house and the landscape was an important part of the conversation.'

'One key decision was working together to locate the new pool along a strong axis to the house so it felt integrated with the architecture rather than simply placed in the yard,' Elana adds.

'The idea was to create a home that feels timeless but also deeply personal, with rooms that reveal themselves slowly through color, pattern, and collected pieces,' Elana adds of the vision.

'It’s the kind of home where nothing feels too precious. You can sit down anywhere, pour a glass of wine, and settle in. The goal was never for everything to feel new or overly coordinated. Instead, we wanted the spaces to feel collected over time.'

What makes this home feel so compelling isn’t any single room or statement moment, but the way everything works together.

That sensibility draws on a mix of influences – 'English country houses, classic New England architecture, and the relaxed warmth of Nancy Meyers interiors' – coming together to create something that feels both familiar and deeply personal.

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