
NEAR & FAR AID ANNOUNCES ANNUAL GRANTS
Near & Far Aid Makes Million Dollar Impact on Poverty At Monday’s Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors, Treasurer Paige Fairbaugh announced a final grant total of $1,151,500 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2018. Recipients include 106 of the county’s most effective agencies serving the impoverished and working poor. “Our granting guidelines and mission are designed to fund the programs that can make the biggest impact on the lives of individuals and families who struggle to make ends meet in Fairfield County, home to one of the largest income gaps in the nation,” said Joan Panagos, Chairman of Grant Reviews. Of the 106 agencies receiving funds from Near & Far Aid, 46% service Bridgeport where the largest population of under-served individuals reside in the county. Stamford and Norwalk follow closely receiving 16% and 14% of grants, respectively. Funds are directed across the spectrum of poverty to assist families and individuals at risk or in crisis, educational opportunities for children and adults, job training and community health efforts. With an eye toward the upcoming year, President Kim Meier encouraged board members to renew their commitment to the large volunteer base on which the organization depends. “Embrace and empower this talented force of volunteers,” she urged. “Our volunteers are […] Read More

Near & Far Aid Golf Classic September 24th!
This year’s annual Near & Far Aid Golf Classic will take place on Monday, September 24that The Country Club of Fairfield. Presented by long-time Title sponsor, Fairfield County Bank, the event attracts golfers of all levels to enjoy a day of friendly competition. Join us in our effort to “CRUSH POVERTY”! New Leader sponsor, Canoos, will gift all participants with a new pair of golf shoes. The New England-based company produces high-performance golf shoes that offer practical style on and off the course. Following a BBQ lunch, courtesy of the Citrone Thirty Three Foundation, golfers will enjoy 18-holes of gorgeous greens and spectacular views of the coast line, as well as having bragging rights for the various competitions such as the Putting Contest sponsored by Joan & Steve Panagos, “Beat the Pro” sponsored by Emily Gordon, Women’s Longest Drive sponsored by Modern Dermatology, Men’s Longest Drive sponsored by Northern Trust, Closest To The Pin sponsored by Bitsy & Mitch Higgins and Straightest Drive sponsored by Blow Dry Southport/Westport. Upon completion of play, golfers and guests will enjoy post-tournament cocktails, a buffet dinner in the Clubhouse sponsored by George Comfort & Sons and a chance to bid on two Live Auction packages that includes local and away Golf Courses. […] Read More

Designer Q & A Series #5
Near & Far Aid Designer Q&A Series: t h e m a r a i s While you didn’t begin your career in design, you are clearly both incredibly talented! Tell us a bit about how/why you decided to make the switch from life in corporate America to collaborate together in the interior design world. First of all, thank you so much for paying such a nice compliment. It means the world to us. To answer your question, in a nutshell, we both started families soon after leaving our former positions as a lawyer and as a c-suite executive. We had different journeys in the years proceeding and after our babies’ births, but our postpartum search was identical. As forever changed women, we wanted a leading role in the day to day responsibilities for our children, but we also wanted a career. The never ending debacle. No doubt, we were looking for more than a hobby, a friend or busy work. We both wanted to build something. Today, that is exactly what we are doing together. Our vision stretches far. Hopefully, our process gives like-minded women a forum for empathy, camaraderie and inspiration. How would you describe your design esthetic? The Marais is a casual, collected and seriously cool lifestyle brand. Curating a collection of home furnishings that blends clean lines of Scandinavian design with natural beauties reminiscent […] Read More

Designer Q & A Series Part 4
Near & Far Aid Designer Q&A Series Part 4: Ariane Mermod Tell us a little bit about your design style? My husband says “I am very Swiss (I am in fact half Swiss) when I design our houses” because I need the rooms to be arranged in an orderly and logical way, and for the spaces to be balanced with lots of light and long sight lines. The Colonial vernacular really resonates with me. As far as decorating goes, we like to let our houses speak for themselves, so we try to keep the interiors pretty neutral. I am a big fan of the paint color “Snowfall White” by Benjamin Moore. The furnishings are a combination of family pieces that we move from house-to-house, mixed with upholstered pieces that we buy specifically for each house, which above all, need to be comfortable. You and your husband “saved” the Gideon Wakeman Home from demolition. Tell us more! We were in the process of renovating the Charles Bedford house on Greens Farms Road and I would drive by this house all the time and it intrigued me. It was on four acres, which would have been perfect for my horses, but by the time we had finished and sold […] Read More

Designer Q & A Series Part 3
Near & Far Aid Designer Q&A Series with Denise Davies, Founder & CEO, D2 Interieurs How you would describe your design style? In our seven years of doing business, we have developed a niche by moving young families from New York City to the suburbs. We create environments that are fresh, modern, livable and current. With that being said, we do work with clients of all different backgrounds; for example, we were hired to completely renovate and decorate this midcentury modern house, which is owned by couple who live in NYC and use this home as their weekend getaway. All of our work is carefully tailored to suit each client, using influences of European design and a mix of eclectic styles from around the world. We really work hard to give each client a unique home and I do not use the same things twice. I would say our style is fusing modern sophistication, timeless style and a dash of rock and roll attitude. D2 projects are easily identifiable (for fans!) thanks to your love of color and playful pattern. Is there a color palette you would consider a D2 signature? We don’t have a signature color palette per se, color is a very tricky thing to get right. […] Read More

Designer Q&A Series Part 2
Near & Far Aid Designer Q&A Series: Rich Pinto Design What inspired you to make the leap from the Automotive Industry to Interior Design, and how did your experience there prepare you for your career today? Design has always fascinated me since a young age. Good design, regardless of genre (cars, homes, structures, product), all follow the same fundamental rules. My educational focus on art history and design, coupled with my work in automotive design, has given me a unique tool set to approach projects. How would you describe your design style? While I do naturally gravitate toward more modern and midcentury aesthetics, at the core of my design style I focus on objects and spaces that pay careful attention to relationships of scale and proportion of elements, and their use of color, material and texture in harmony with their scale and proportions. What was your biggest challenge in renovating the Captain John Osborne House (the oldest home in Fairfield)? Renovating the Osborne house presented a lot of challenges, but I think the unifying theme with any challenge faced was determining the line with how far to go when approaching any aspect of the renovation. Restoring the fireplaces, how much work should be done before they […] Read More

Designer Q&A Series Part 1
Near & Far Aid Designer Q&A Series: Amelia Johnson Design 1) How would you describe your design style? Colorful, fun, eclectic, livable and of course, family friendly. 2) Do you have a signature color or palette that you tend to gravitate towards? Blue, for sure! I’ve always loved blue — and as a mom of three boys — our house just naturally evolved into a house of blues. I also love white as it provides a blank canvas for me to infuse any color into a room. 3) Where do you draw your inspiration from when approaching a new client project? When beginning a new project, I like to focus on the “bones” of the space I’m designing to stay true to its original form and location. It’s also essential to ensure my client’s lifestyle and taste are reflected in the space as it’s truly a collaborative effort. 4) You lived abroad in London. Tell us how this experience helped shape you as a designer? Living abroad provided me with the opportunity to see and learn from many different cultures and their unique design styles. I always loved shopping in the boutiques and flea markets during my travels and still source from many of these places […] Read More

NEAR & FAR AID ANNOUNCES 2018 DESIGNER HOUSE TOUR
Near & Far Aid announced its 2018 Designer House Tour will feature six spectacular homes throughout Fairfield, Southport and Westport. New this year is a Champagne Brunch at The Patterson Club featuring an interactive presentation from award-winning architect Greg Tankersley of McAlpine in New York. The 2018 Designer House Tour will help kick off Mother’s Day Weekend and will be held on Friday, May 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets for the Designer House Tour cost $65 if purchased in advance ($75 at the door), while tickets to the Champagne Brunch are priced at $75. Patrons may also purchase both tickets in advance for $125. 2018 Designer House Tour Offers Something For Everyone In the months leading up to the House Tour, Near & Far Aid’s all-volunteer committee carefully curates a selection of unique properties to ensure that no two homes are alike. The six homes on this year’s tour have been recently reimagined by local designers and architects, many of which are are the designer’s own home. “This year’s tour showcases architectural and design trends that can be appreciated by everyone,” said Jen Agne, co-chair of the 2018 Near & Far Aid Designer House Tour and Fairfield resident. “Patrons can expect antique homes, new construction dazzlers, […] Read More