- Interior
Tucked into the woods of Westport, Connecticut, sits a house that barely distinguishes itself from its surroundings — and that's exactly the point. Interior design studio The 1818 Collective transformed an aging midcentury ranch into a lush, rambling "treehouse" of nearly 5,000 square feet. With a palette drawn from the seasons, artisanal materials, and a lacquered green library that comes alive after dark, this home tells the story of a family devoted to gathering friends, slowing down, and exploring the world. Discover how light, nature, and personal history come together here to create a home full of character.
Perched on a rocky outcrop, wrapped in protected forest, sits a house in Westport, Connecticut that its owners are in no hurry to show off. What was once an expanded midcentury ranch has, after a thorough 2025 renovation, been reborn as a rambling, modern "treehouse" — designed by The 1818 Collective, founded by Kristin Fine and Analisse Taft-Gersten.
For the duo, the starting point was clear: not to erase what already existed, but to build upon it. The family who lives there — two parents, two school-age children, and a beloved dog — wanted a home that matched their curious, worldly lifestyle and their love of hosting. The result is a residence of roughly 5,000 square feet, unfolding across four to five staggered levels that step down the hillside. 
The interior follows the movement of daylight, shifting mood as you move through the house. A deep green lacquered library, doubling as a dining space, shimmers at night and was quickly nicknamed "the treehouse" by the children — a place for game nights and the kind of conversation that only happens when a room feels a little enchanted. Further along, the kitchen basks in sunlight, with walnut cabinetry and marble echoing the earth outside, while the living room and primary suite hold quieter, neutral tones. 
Materials play a leading role in the story: wood appears in both architectural forms and furnishings, richly veined stone brings organic drama, and waxed plaster lends the walls a soft glow. Bronze, artisanal tile, woven textiles, and richly patterned wallpaper add a tactile, collected layer that makes the house feel both grounded and cosmopolitan. 
That same care extends to the smaller spaces. In the mudroom, a Gio Ponti mirror and hand-finished millwork add an unexpectedly refined touch, while the adjoining powder room, with natural stone and handmade tile, takes on an intimate, almost sculptural character. Throughout the house, vintage finds — from a nineteenth-century console to contemporary artworks — mingle with custom pieces by present-day designers, reflecting the homeowners' worldly, collected sensibility.
Each space is shaped by nature, family, and the gentle push and pull between openness and intimacy
Over two years, the team reimagined the layout and landscape from the ground up, treating the steep hillside and the existing footprint not as constraints but as a creative roadmap. Kristin Fine sums up the result: "Each space is shaped by nature, family, and the gentle push and pull between openness and intimacy." 
It's a house where every detail — from the sculptural lighting to the vintage and contemporary finds — contributes to a sense of wonder. As Kristin puts it: "It's a jewel-box in the woods, where every night feels like the beginning of a story.”
Photography by Nicole Franzen
Text by Manou Raeves