Design and Build: The Experts Behind Stonington’s Dreamiest Homes
Whether you’re redecorating, restoring a classic New England cottage, or building a modern coastal retreat, finding the right design professionals can make all the difference. Fortunately, the Borough is home to a talented community of architects, interior and landscape designers, and renovation experts who bring vision and craftsmanship to every project.
Read on for five standout firms — C. Kramer Interiors, Grand & Water Re-design, Julia M. Leeming Architect, Michael McKinley & Associates, and Water Street Design Associates — each known for their unique approach to transforming spaces. From stunning interiors to seamless renovations and innovative architectural solutions, these experts are shaping the homes that make Stonington (and beyond) a truly special place to live.
Interior designer Cindy Kramer is meticulously transforming this Stonington home into a masterpiece. What started as a living room and breakfast lounge renovation in 2021, has morphed into a multi-year endeavor that includes interior architecture, custom cabinetry, finishes, and furnishings for the foyer, powder room, mudroom, dining room, and master bathroom. Next up: the guest house.
Follow C. Kramer Interiors on Instagram / Call (860) 287-2927 / Email design@ckramerinteriors.com / Visit her website
Photos: Jared Kuzia Photography
At Grand & Water Re-design, due to the booming short-term rental market, partners Deborah Norman and Karen von Ruffer Hills, often collaborate with investors, who utilize their design services to stage and style their properties to attract ideal tenants. Their approach is both practical (ie. durable fabrics and furnishings) and elevated (ie. antiques, artwork, etc.). A recent project, in Stonington Borough, included a full kitchen and bathroom remodel for a loft space where every inch mattered. They advised on the entire design scope, including paint colors, fabrics, floor plan, appliances, kitchen hardware, bathroom fixtures, furnishings, placement of artwork, etc.
Follow Grand & Water on Instagram / Call (917) 743-4884 / Email kvruffer@me.com or deb@grandandwater.com / Visit their website
An independent architect, Julia M. Leeming specializes in simple, elegant design solutions that foster intentional connections to their exterior landscapes. Licensed in both Connecticut and Rhode Island, Julia focuses her practice on large-scale residential and commercial renovations, as well as custom-built homes. Julia considers every project to be a collaboration between her client, the contractor, and herself as the architect, and she truly enjoys working together as a team to create meaningful spaces.
Follow Julia on Instagram / Call (917) 400-4272 / Email jmleemingarchitect@gmail.com / Visit her website
When Stonington Borough Architect Michael McKinley designed his own home, he created a progressive and efficient architecture respectful of historic form but with an aesthetic of its own. Peeling away outdated ornament and trim allowed the surface texture and the window pattern to be the key expressive elements.
The use of geothermal heating and cooling, solar energy, and natural daylighting eliminated reliance on fossil fuel and significantly reduced energy costs. Further reduction in the carbon footprint was achieved by using recycled material for both the roof shingles and exterior vertical board siding.
The interiors received the same level of design refinement as the exterior with a special effort to arrange the spaces along the east-west path of the sun and to have a very social kitchen.
Follow Michael McKinley and Associates on Instagram / Call (860) 535-4532 / Email info@mckinleyarchitects.com / Visit their website
Photos: Jason McGrail and TJW Photography
This property overlooking the Mystic River is the owners’ dream home re-built to share with extended family. The design includes a series of garden rooms furnished for outdoor dining, casual seating, a fire pit and riverside terrace. Significant earthwork was required to accommodate steep slopes and allow for access to the water.
Extensive plantings compliment the many exterior spaces. Mixed perennial borders wrap the serpentine play lawn, providing everchanging views of color and texture to the river backdrop. A woodland walk with shade perennials and ferns and a restored coastal wetland are additional features of the property.
Materials for the project include walls built from New England fieldstone, organically shaped terraces with planted joints and the incorporation of natural rock features from the site. Boulders were intentionally re-purposed in the design, including two stones set into walls to frame river views and create a sense of entry into the garden.
Follow Water Street Design Associates on Instagram / Call (860) 415-9913 / Email contact@waterstreetda.com / Visit their website
Photos: Caryn B. Davis Photography