Walking toward this stately, almost conservative French-style home, you’d never imagine the lush, tropical retreat waiting for you in the back gardens.
The driveway is a gentle curve around a grassy oval dotted with trees. Neat hornbeams hug the house, the front gardens rescued from a mess of overgrown foundation plantings by landscape designer Alice Cooke of Alice Cooke Design & Associates. Celebrated architect Cameron Clark built the home for a French couple in 1939. “They wanted it to feel and look French,” says the homeowner who shares the space with her husband and children. The home is a hint of European splendor, nestled on nearly two acres in Greenfield Hill—complete with sweeping views of the Sound.
Standing in the back gardens, it’s clear that the current owners, who purchased the home in 1996, have a wider, more worldly view. From the tidy gardens by the house to the island-inspired paradise by the pool, the landscape is a journey. From structure to ease. From the banks of the Seine to the shores of the Caribbean. The best of both worlds.
The flow of the garden is unique. The narrow landscape stretches long into the distance, leading through outdoor rooms, past the pool and to the back orchards. The space is arranged in a series of three terraces, separated by stairs, to take advantage of a natural downward slope.
“You want to have that feeling of looking off into the world and not onto a set of steps,” the homeowner says. Which was why landscape designer Rob Wilber, of Wilber & King Nurseries, was tasked with hauling in tons of earth to raise the first terrace by over a foot. No small feat. “The level changes had to be just right, and spaced in scale with the home,” Wilber says. He wanted both home and garden to shine as a duet, neither one overshadowing the other.
The result? The stunning views. The first terrace appears to float above the others. Down a long expanse of manicured grass, separated by hedges and vibrant flowers, the pool beckons. Surrounded by palm trees and cozy lounge chairs, it’s a peek at paradise.
But your journey begins on the back patio, the perfect haven for morning coffee or a quiet family meal. A custom-made fountain in a simple scalloped design is set into the stone tiles. Mandevilla blooms snake up trellises that flank the back door. In the summertime, water trickles down the low native granite and limestone “weeping walls,” engineered by Chris West of Vona-West, cooling the air.
From here, take in the views of the verdant gardens. Tidy without feeling fussy, the outdoor rooms are filled with focal points—a sculpture here, a wrought iron trellis there. A sense of purpose drives the space. “I’m not at all an English gardener,” the homeowner says of her garden’s aesthetic. “I don’t like lots of flowy perennials. I like more of a sense of order and peace—more symmetry.”
When you’re ready, cast your eyes down the terraces. The view of the pool brings to mind a pristine oasis in the distance. “This is our main home, that’s our summer home,” the homeowner says, gesturing to where the sun glints off the crystal waters of the pool. “We only have to walk thirty yards!”
A calming walk through the terraces, or down a shady, almost Zen-like side path brings you to the pool house, plucked right out of an island resort. The cabana walls are painted a cool green, while fabric with bright pops of hot pink electrifies the furniture. The floor of the bar area—complete with TV, bathroom, and kitchen— echoes the river rocks of the driveway.
“We live down here in the summer,” the homeowner says. In the idyllic shade of the trees, it’s easy to see why.
From the side path, gauzy sedum flowers flow over moss-dotted stairs up to the pool. Here, there’s a more relaxed vibe than in the main garden. A certain flow, an ease. “It’s meant to be more your place to relax, your escape,” she says. The area is swathed in greenery and flowers. Huge palms cast textured shade onto lounge chairs. Potted plants and bright hibiscus lend color to the space. Behind the rock wall is a hedge sculpted into a wave. Gently arcing over the hedge are gaura plants, meant to evoke flying fish among waves of creeping Jenny.
When the fronds sway in the breeze, you can close your eyes and imagine that you’re breathing in the warm, flower-scented air of an untouched island. You’ll want to linger all day by the pool, letting the cares of the world beyond the manicured hedges slip away.
Although this private garden feels like its a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of Fairfield County, it’s really only footsteps from its peaceful, stately home. Here is a hidden paradise.