Kensington, CT

Gracious entry and layered garden spaces connect guest house to natural landscape.

A 1960s brick ranch was thoughtfully reimagined into a charming English cottage and gardens, echoing the character of the adjacent estate it now complements as a guest house. Drawing design inspiration from the main residence, carefully selected materials and architectural detailing create a seamless visual and stylistic connection between the two properties.

An inviting entry court sets a gracious tone that continues throughout the landscape. A series of stone walls and stone steps navigate the sloping grade down to the South Lawn Terrace and Overlook at the rear of the house. Continuing further down the hillside, curved stone steps lead to a native meadow and woodland, providing a connection to the natural surroundings. This transformation elegantly creates a layered, site-sensitive environment in harmony with the surrounding landscape.

The Willows

  • Client:
    Confidential

    Size:
    1.5 acres

    Markets:
    Residential

    Features:
    Cobble Entry Drive; Stone Retaining Walls; Granite Steps; Millstone Water Feature; Overlook Terrace; Lawn Terrace; Wildflower Meadow; Fern Glade; Pergola

    Design Collaborator:
    Bray Architects