Indian Field: A Whole-Home Transformation in Greenwich, CT
What Our Client Wanted - When a family moved into their Greenwich, CT home—a quintessential New England saltbox that had previously been expanded with a rear addition for a new family room and primary suite—they saw both its charm and its untapped potential. The house had good bones, but it reflected an earlier chapter of their lives. Much of the existing furniture leaned toward a very traditional, Stickley-style aesthetic, with lots of straight lines and exposed wood—handsome in theory, but increasingly uncomfortable to live with and beginning to show its age. The home also suffered from a lighting plan that left many rooms feeling dim and heavy.
Rather than approaching the project as a single renovation, the transformation unfolded gradually over nearly five years. Room by room, Luminosus Designs worked with the homeowners to evolve the house into something that felt lighter, more layered, and far more comfortable—without losing its sense of character. From the beginning, the couple’s tastes were not identical: the wife gravitated toward classic, elegant interiors, while the husband imagined something closer to a gentleman’s lounge. What they shared was a deep affection for French style and a desire for a home that felt both refined and welcoming for everyday family life.
The first major phase focused on the main living level, including the kitchen, family room, dining room, and living room. In a remarkable show of trust, the family left for a month-long summer trip to the south of France and put the entire house in Mimi’s hands while the work was underway. That phase set the tone for everything that followed. In the family room, Mimi selected indestructible ultrasuede for the sofa and paired it with a distressed leather ottoman that only improves with age. The formal living room’s soft gray palette nodded to the husband’s lounge-inspired sensibility, while a classic window seat flanked by built-in bookcases created a moment the wife had always wanted.
Throughout the home, Provençal influences appear in subtle, charming ways—from vintage French posters to the bistro-style dining room and the French country kitchen with its industrial-chic breakfast nook. Lighting was completely rethought: three pendants now anchor the kitchen island, recessed lighting was reworked across the first floor, and carefully placed table lamps add warmth and depth throughout.
The transformation extended well beyond the main living spaces. In the basement media area, Mimi cleverly disguised the original fireplace ash pit within a custom media cabinet—turning an awkward remnant into a seamless and functional feature. Most recently, the primary suite was completed as a serene retreat with just a touch of Zen, its upholstered wall wrapped in horizontally pleated silk fabric becoming the quiet, luminous finishing touch.
The project was featured in the April 2013 issue of Connecticut Cottages & Gardens and stands as a testament to what a home can become when it is thoughtfully evolved over time rather than rushed to a finish.
The outdoor entertaining areas at Indian Field were completed in a later phase of the project and can be seen here.
