Four Shades of Grey: A Carefully Considered Restoration

Jun 27

After years of living in Singapore, a well-traveled couple and their three school-aged children returned to the States and landed in Westport, Connecticut. The Fipps rented for two years, holding out for just the right house.

Eventually, they found it: a weathered timber-framed house from the mid-1800s that had served many lives—a barn, a golf clubhouse, even a fashion model’s home. The structure had good bones and a rich past—but it needed a lot of love. Still, they saw potential—and a story worth continuing.

Determined to honor the home’s history while making it fit their family’s busy lifestyle, they assembled an all-star team:

Together, they spent over a year carefully reimagining the space, blending historic character with functional updates.

The Grey Area: Choosing the Perfect Exterior Shade

The couple turned to painter Frank Ball at Pennington Painting & Restoration to help them land on the perfect paint color—a bigger challenge than anticipated.

After testing and debating a range of greys from Benjamin Moore, including:
– La Paloma Gray (BM-1551)
– Ozark Shadows (AC-26 / Grey Huskie BM-1473)
– Silver Fox (BM-2108-50)

…they almost went with La Paloma—until Frank suggested going just one shade darker. That led to the winner:
River Reflections (BM-1552)—a richly toned grey that anchors the home without overpowering it.

The perfect grey aside, architect Peter Cadoux helped rework the home’s flow while preserving its original spirit. See the before-and-after transformation and some of the key architectural updates below:

A new portico over the front door
A custom solid wood door with glass panes to bring in more light
A reworked back roofline finished in copper
The removal of a boxed-out rear window seat

They also removed a dated greenhouse addition and rearranged and replaced a dozen windows with the help of Hayes.

The Inside Scoop

For Hayes, this was a dream collaboration: bold clients with great taste, a deep appreciation for the home’s legacy, and an incredible art collection. The result is a design that balances classic New England architecture with rich textures, modern details, and plenty of personality. Check out the before and after below!