Property of Mr. and Mrs. Willis N. Mills, New Canaan | Architects: Sherwood, Mills & Smith

9/01/2025 01:19:00 AM

Rocky crags, tall trees, a precipitous slope would seem to compose an impossible building site, but this house proves otherwise. Indeed, the drawbacks are now a delight as the owners view them from various rooms and outdoor decks. They give the house unique quality. But this delight, to be sure, had to wait on the successful solution of many problems. Only one part of the land was comparatively free of rocky ledges and tall trees, but it sloped steeply. The house was edged onto this area with the south end cantilevered out over the hill. The garage was located at the north end where the land was level and a road could be brought in at the hilltop. The living room was built a full two stories high with windows to the roof on three sides; tree tops and rock ledges create a mural summer and winter. An outdoor terrace, flanking the living and dining rooms, runs along the east and there is a secluded deck on the west side sheltered by rock boulders. A third terrace, on the lowest level of the property, is partly covered by the cantilevered living room and terrace above. Well apart from the general rooms and insulated from them, the bedrooms and study are on the top level, which is the house entrance.

The interior of this house is as dramatic as its site on the side of a cliff.

The stairs lead down from the entrance hall at the top level to the living room below. From great windows on three sides the wonderful views for whic the house was designed can be fully enjoyed. On the lower level, the dining area.

right, has warm natural colors which combine well with the surrounding outdoors. This is the decorating approach throughou the house. Floors are red oak; the redwood of exterior walls is used for the entrance gallery balustrade. In the living room, below, walls are white, the ceiling is painted Cerulean Blue and curtains are blue and off-white. Furniture is largely Scandinavian in warm walnut. The long sofa is a deep blue and rugs are off-white.