Serenity at Grass Edge: A Quiet Sanctuary in Fairfield, CT

The homeowners came to Vita Design Group with a specific request: They had fallen in love with their property, set against the natural beauty of a marshland in Fairfield, Connecticut, and they did not want to leave. Instead, they wanted to reimagine the Cape that previously occupied the property into a home that did the beautiful landscape justice. Referred to by their landscape architect, David Schiffer, this couple engaged Vita Design Group's architecture, construction, and interior design services to take their existing house apart and rebuild it as their new sanctuary.

Serenity at Grass Edge is the result. Although the original foundation and chimney remain, the project was in every other respect a complete renovation: a year-and-a-half undertaking that produced a Colonial-modern hybrid shaped to the clients' lives, interests, and hobbies.

A Home Designed for the People Who Live in It

The clients are active, sociable and enjoy entertaining. They requested that we plan around their interests and hobbies. The renovated home includes dedicated rooms and spaces for the things they love most: a workshop for woodworking, a wet bar and open areas for effortless hosting. Open areas give the home its generosity for gatherings; quieter, more characterful corners imbue it with warmth.

A primary bathroom opens onto an open-air bridge that links the suite to a gym across the way, just right for a couple honing their pickleball skills. From inside the shower itself, a sliding door lets the homeowners step directly out onto that bridge: an architectural moment that captures the project's particular blend of sophistication and play.

A Favorite Tree, Repurposed and Reimagined

Early in the design-build process, the team identified a tree on the property that the clients carried a personal attachment to. Rather than letting it disappear when construction began, our build team milled it and reused it across the home. It now lives on as a bench in the sitting room, as a feature wood accent wall in the woodworking garage, and as a table inside the home. It is the kind of detail that cannot be specified, only discovered, through close attention to the people and the place. It gives the home a quiet narrative continuity that no purchased material can replicate.

Architectural Moments Worth Pausing For

Within the renovation's restrained envelope, our architects developed several distinct moments. A glass wall with gold inlay and concealed LED lighting was designed to open up an otherwise tight passage: a transparent partition that lends light and depth where a sheetrock wall would have closed off the space. A glass-inlay stair wall extends the same idea vertically. In the sitting room, a wallpapered ceiling turns an often-overlooked surface into one of the most memorable elements in the home.

The exterior brings together a coated copper roof and gutters and a mix of shingle and vertical and horizontal siding. EcoWindows windows and doors were selected for their performance and refined profiles. The front door is finished with integrated siding so that the entry reads as a considered part of the architecture.

One Team, Many Hands

Serenity at Grass Edge is a clear expression of how Vita Design Group works at its best: all three of our studios engaged from concept through completion, each pulling in the same direction and supported by a deep bench of trusted trade partners. Stone Man, our mason, carefully preserved and reworked the existing fireplace. Nukitchens executed the kitchen cabinetry; Plaga handled the carpentry; the appliances were sourced from Aitoro, and the plumbing features from Lyden Reeves; and Lion's Creek designed and installed the gorgeous pool. David Schiffer's landscape work carries the architecture beyond the walls of the home, so our clients maximize outdoor living at the edge of this magical marsh.

The clients wrap up their experience succinctly:

"The team at Vita Design managed our project as if they were designing and constructing their own homes. The extraordinary attention to detail, the stellar creativity, the comprehensive budget updates, and the highest quality construction you find anywhere... We've managed many renovation and construction projects over the years with others, but this project with VDG was a true stand out."

We are so grateful for their trust and collaboration, and wish them many wonderful years in their beautiful home!

Architecture

Construction

Interiors

Architecture, Interiors, and Construction, Unified by Design

Most homeowners planning a custom home or significant renovation begin by assembling separate teams: an architect to develop drawings, a contractor to execute them, and perhaps an interior designer brought in once the structure is nearly complete. The result is a process defined by handoffs, with each firm working from the last firm's output, each transition creating opportunity for budget drift, communication gaps, and decisions that gradually erode the original vision.

Vita Design Group is built around a different premise. As a fully integrated design-build firm led by trusted Westport architects, our architecture, interior design, and construction teams operate as one. From the earliest conversations about a project through the final moments of construction, a single unified team guides every decision. This ensures what is designed is also what is built, and that the experience along the way reflects the same standard as the outcome.

Architecture Shaped by Site, Light, and the Way You Live

Every project begins with the land and the people who will live on it. Our architecture team approaches each site as an opportunity: shaped by topography, natural light, views, neighborhood character, and the distinct way a family occupies a space. The design that emerges is never a template adapted to a new address: it is a unique response to everything particular about that property and client.

The architectural process moves through four deliberate phases: schematic design, design development, permitting, and construction documents. What sets our process apart is the financial discipline built into each stage. We conduct estimating exercises at the close of schematic design, design development, and construction drawings, giving clients a clear and continuously updated picture of how creative decisions map to budget. For those planning a custom home or renovation in Fairfield County, this means no late-stage surprises, and no forced compromises after the design work is done.

A Construction Team That Carries the Vision Through Completion

The distance between a thoughtfully designed home and a beautifully built one is the construction process. At Vita Design Group, our construction team is not a contractor receiving a completed set of documents from an outside firm. They are part of the same team that created those documents, which means design intent is not something to be interpreted. It is something to be honored.

This continuity shows up in the details that matter most: the way materials meet at transitions, the precision of built-in millwork, the quality of work at every stage of the build. Our long-standing relationships with top regional subcontractors and suppliers allow us to source materials and expertise that add lasting value to every project.

Our philosophy is simple: there are no problems, only challenges we are prepared to meet. Every project is managed with individual attention, proactive communication, and a commitment to delivering the final result on time and with integrity.

Interior Design as Architecture, Not Afterthought

Interior design at Vita Design Group is not a finishing layer applied once the architecture is resolved. It is woven into the design process from the beginning.

Our in-house interior design team works alongside our architects throughout every phase, ensuring that material selections, millwork proportions, lighting strategy, and spatial detail are developed as part of the architecture rather than in response to it. The result is a home that feels genuinely cohesive: not decorated, but conceived as a complete environment from the first sketch to the final installation.

This integration is especially consequential for home renovation projects in Fairfield County, where existing conditions carry their own constraints and opportunities. The most successful renovations are those where architectural decisions and interior decisions are made together, by a team that understands how each choice affects the other.

One Team. One Process. One Standard.

The design-build model is not simply a more convenient way to organize a project. It is a fundamentally different way of thinking about what a home should be and how it should come to life. When the architects, interior designers, and builders who share a vision also share accountability for its execution, the gap between intention and outcome closes.

For homeowners planning a custom home or renovation in Westport or throughout Fairfield County, Vita Design Group offers the integrated expertise, transparent process, and creative rigor to move a project from concept to completion with clarity and confidence.

Begin with a Conversation

Whether you are in the early stages of thinking about a custom home, ready to begin a significant renovation, or simply exploring what is possible for your property, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Our team is ready and excited to listen.

Custom Residential Architecture for New Homes & Renovations

At Vita Design Group, every custom home begins with the client's unique vision, lifestyle, and the specific character of the site it will occupy. Whether the aesthetic is modern, traditional, or something in between, our Westport architects craft a design that is not only visually compelling but deeply personal. It's one that emerges from careful listening and close collaboration.

Our four-step design-build process transforms that input into cohesive, meaningful architecture.

Schematic Design begins with a thorough understanding of your land: optimizing layout and orientation to make the most of the site's potential, followed by floor plans and building massing models. At the close of this phase, we conduct our first estimating exercise, giving you a clear picture of how your scope aligns with your budget. This early financial insight allows us to fine-tune the design without compromising your priorities.

In Design Development, ideas take form through 3D renderings and models that refine exterior forms and interior layouts, bringing the design to its final resolution. A second estimating exercise concludes this phase, ensuring that our creative decisions remain grounded in your financial goals.

Next is Permitting, which puts Vita in charge of all municipal communications and approvals, bringing confidence and clarity to what can otherwise be a complex process. Especially on challenging or coastal sites, our experience as Westport residential architects streamlines approvals while maximizing what your property can deliver.

Construction Drawings translate the completed design into detailed documents for building. Simultaneously, our interiors team works with you to finalize materials and selections. A final estimating exercise ensures the project is ready for competitive bidding. Our architectural team remains actively involved throughout construction, serving as your design liaison and ensuring that your vision is fully realized during the build.

Vita Design Group's integrated design-build approach provides exceptional transparency and control at every stage, giving clients the freedom to dream while we manage the process behind the scenes. The result is a home that is not only beautiful and functional, but genuinely your own.

Design-Build Construction Rooted in Collaboration

Rooted in craftsmanship and driven by your vision, our custom home construction process is seamless, transparent, and collaborative. Through our design-build architecture approach, with design and build under one roof, our team manages every detail with precision, anticipating challenges, maintaining timelines, and honoring your budget to bring your dream home to life, beautifully and confidently.

Our commitment to excellence begins in pre-construction and extends through move-in and beyond. With a strong focus on client relationships, every custom home build or renovation is approached with individual attention and managed by our experienced project management team.

Our fully integrated approach streamlines communication, enhances efficiency, and ensures a seamless transition from concept to completion. This close collaboration allows us to refine details in real time, address challenges proactively, and deliver a cohesive, exceptional final product on time and with maximum efficiency.

Thanks to our long-standing partnerships with top regional subcontractors and suppliers, we're able to source the highest quality materials and services, adding lasting value to every project.

At the core of everything we do is a simple philosophy: there are no problems, only challenges we embrace. We take pride in delivering award-winning custom homes while building lasting relationships with our clients we proudly call family.

Interior Design That's Personal, Thoughtful, and Refined

A home is a narrative: an authentic reflection of its inhabitants, uniquely personal, truly one-of-a-kind, and undeniably stunning. We have crafted numerous custom home interiors rooted in the conviction that the objects and environments we inhabit should evoke deep emotional resonance. We believe every space we design and every piece placed inside should carry a sense of wonder, capturing moments of beauty that go beyond fleeting trends and time itself.

Our Westport-based interior design team infuses every project with creativity and enthusiasm. We are always exploring innovative approaches to material selection and manipulation. Our process begins with concept development to establish a clear vision. We then progress to space planning to optimize layout and functionality, ensuring each area flows harmoniously. From there, we work directly with materials, honing each detail as the design takes shape. We add finishing touches through styling to bring the space to life, creating a cohesive yet personalized environment.

As a design-build firm, our interior designers collaborate with our architects from the very beginning. It is precisely this integration that defines our work at Vita Design Group. We are convinced that every detail in a room holds significance, whether it is the art, the rug, or the sofa, shaping the way one experiences and feels within their sanctuary. Our creativity flourishes through hands-on engagement with materials and close client collaboration throughout the entire design journey.