Connecticut Cottages & Gardens Magazine Helps Preserve Historic Connecticut Governor's Residence with "People's Project" Connecticut Design Community Comes Together to Update Public Spaces of Governor's Residence

The historic Connecticut Governor's Residence has received a meaningful renovation to its interiors with the support of a special design team, organized and led by Connecticut Cottages & Gardens magazine. The vast majority of the work and materials associated with the restoration were donated by the Connecticut Cottages & Gardens project team, which have used many of the furnishings and decorations already in the home, some of which have been repurposed from storage.  Additional items donated to the Conservancy were sourced, when possible, from Connecticut businesses.

The Georgian Revival style home in Hartford is over 100 years old, and welcomes thousands of public and not for profit guests through its doors every year.  To commemorate and preserve the home's historic value and continue its access to the public, Norwalk-based design magazine Connecticut Cottages & Gardens partnered with the Governor's Residence Conservancy, Inc., a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the preservation, restoration and renovation of the Governor's Residence, to help renew some of the interior public spaces of the Governor's Residence, along with the guest house and pool house.

Titled "The People's Project," this initiative enlisted the help of Connecticut native or based interior designers, craftsman and manufacturers donated their services and product to update and refresh eight of the Residence's public rooms including the main foyer, dining room, living room, library, sunroom, and powder rooms, as well as the pool house and guest cottage.

A select group of interior designers and firms were vetted through the Conservancy and selected to support this effort including Jamie Drake, Sandra Morgan, Carey Karlan, Susan Bednar Long, Philip Gorrivan, Catherine Cleare, Paula Perlini, Polly Denham and Glenda Moralee of By Design Interiors, Tricia Izzo and Carolyn Kron of Shelter Interiors and LouAnn Torres and Nick Geragi of Klaff's.   

"For the past seven years, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens has celebrated the best design in the state," says editorial director D.J. Carey. "The opportunity to work in such an iconic house with talented designers and craftsmen is a tremendous honor and is another example in keeping with our mission to deliver to our readers a sense of place."

Award-winning magazine, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens, known for presenting beautifully designed homes and superior photography, will feature the Residence editorially in the November 2011 issue, which will include an insider's first look of the Residence's public rooms, complete with stunning photography, interviews and information from the participating designers and vendors.       

"Connecticut's rich history, the artistry of its residents and the talent of its craftsmen are on display in the Residence, and it is the Governor's and my goal to expand access to the home and these wonderful works of art to the public," says First Lady Cathy Malloy. "We believe that the title of the project-'The People's Project'-is aptly named as so many Connecticut residents have ownership of this state property. From Connecticut 's top interior designers to manufacturers, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens magazine was able to enlist these talents to donate their skills, their time, their services and beautiful furnishings and decorations in order to make the home more accessible to the public for years to come."

"The People's Project" was made possible by the generous product donations of gold sponsors: Bender Plumbing, Christopher Peacock, Duralee, Elizabeth Eakins, Fovama Rugs, Home Boutique of Greenwich, Klaff's, NuKitchens, Paris Ceramics, Ring's End, Rogers & Goffigon and Schumacher as well as many other supporting vendors who have contributed their services and product.     

For more information, visit  

cottages-gardens.com/Cottages-Gardens/Peoples-Project