Judy Ostrow grew up in a family with more than a few builders and architects, and that’s one reason she has a deep interest in home design. “I’ve always loved looking at beautiful houses and learning how they’re put together,” says Ostrow, who wrote our cover story (page 54) on a remodeled New Canaan Colonial that’s owned by Malia and David Frame and decorated by Melissa Lindsay of Pimlico. Ostrow has been writing on this subject for twenty years, and she knows design trends. In fact, her sharp eye for the next big thing found many forward-thinking decorating ideas in this home. “Natural materials are used alongside pieces that shimmer and shine, and the combination makes for spaces that are glamorous and comfortable,” she says. Other details that caught her interest were lighting fixtures. “People fail to recognize the power of light, and the importance of choosing these accents thoughtfully. They’re like good jewelry with a great dress—they complete the picture.”
On the subject of a great picture, our staff is excited about the spring release of the film The Big Wedding, a romantic comedy about a modern family trying to survive a weekend nuptials celebration turned full-blown fiasco. The all-star cast includes Topher Grace, who spent a few months with his parents in his childhood home in Darien while portions of the movie were being filmed in the area. Stephen Sawicki had the opportunity to interview Grace for a feature in this issue (page 80). Sawicki, a former correspondent for People who has been crafting celebrity profiles for a couple of decades, says he thoroughly enjoyed working on this piece. In between phone calls, research and writing, he’d kick back and take in a few good movies: He watched eight of Grace’s films. “The more you watch Topher, the more you appreciate him,” says Sawicki. “He and Anne Hathaway stole the show in Valentine’s Day and he was great in P.S.”
Grace is sure to draw rave reviews with his wry brand of deadpan humor in The Big Wedding. Yet even with the critical acclaim he’ll receive, it seems this film star is as down-to-earth as they come. “My sense is that he is who he puts out there,” says Sawicki. “If there’s anything surprising about him it’s that he seems so unaffected by being famous.”
If there’s one thing Grace made clear in the interview, it’s his affection for his home and family. “Topher loves his hometown of Darien and loves New England. I think he misses it and misses being around his family,” says Sawicki. “He told me the summer he spent doing The Big Wedding was probably the best summer of his life, making the work he loves and being with the people he loves.”