Incollect Magazine - Issue 12

Incollect Magazine 65 AMERICAN RUSTIC, FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT Built in the 1960s with salvaged material from two barns, this modern farmhouse had been added to over the years, so when Robert Stilin’s clients purchased the property as a refuge during the pandemic, it had grown to 8,400 square feet. After five decades in the same hands, the house needed a refresh, but not a renovation, and Robert took great care to address his clients’ needs for updates while preserving the patina that made it unique. The décor of the house is eclectic, with pieces selected for comfort and visual appeal rather than adherence to any particular style. A large 1981 mixed-media work by Eugene Brodsky with a vibrant patchwork of images feels entirely at home in this rustic retreat. At left, a chrome-framed velvet sofa is attributed to the prolific California Modern designer Milo Baughman. At center, a custom sofa with mismatched side tables; at left, a 1940s industrial cart on casters; at right, a weathered beauty with a richly patinaed surface. Peaks and valleys in the design composition continue to flow, with mismatched vintage ceramic lamps accompanying each table. A hand-carved coffee table from the African Senufo tribe was originally a ceremonial bed; the shape on top was a headrest. The leather wing chair is by Danish Modern designer Børge Mogensen, designed in 1964. Photo © Tim Lenz Robert Stilin, photo © Tim Lenz