Stamford Chic

According to the founder of JerMar Designs—the award-winning, full-service luxury interior design studio on Connecticut’s Gold Coast—every home possesses a unique energy. Jeanne Collins' portfolio is brimming with dynamic executives and entrepreneurs, driving her commitment to instilling wellness and emotional bonds within a home. The studio’s latest undertaking, the interior of a luxury rental apartment in Stamford, showcases the power of intentional design in sparking rejuvenation, rekindling passion, and offering a sanctuary for new beginnings.

“This apartment was designed for a newly divorced woman who had moved from Florida to Fairfield County, to be where her sister lives,” Collins says. “My client is a stylist for Saks and has a glamorous and sophisticated personal style that she wanted reflected in her new home’s interiors.”

The design palette of choice? A “jazzy” blend of greens, golds, and pink, reflective of the new Stamfordite’s love for Paris, Palm Beach, florals, and luxury accents. As an homage to her client's daring relocation journey, Collins infused the apartment with boldness through patterned rugs, eye-catching window treatments, and accent pillows. 

“I stuck to one primary color palette but varied it based on the spaces and hues of those colors,” Collins says. “For example, in the main living area, the green is a richer, darker green as the

space is very large and can accommodate the more bold green. In the office, the green is

a lighter, almost blue-green color as the space is smaller. Plus, with the large amount of

light and sun, it was designed to be more serene.” 

Aware of her client's penchant for redecorating, the designer selected versatile lights and solid-colored furniture to ensure a harmonious aesthetic, no matter the home’s arrangement. Holly Hunt custom dining chairs, upholstered in mauve velvet with green piping, were set on casters for movability and easy entertaining. However, Collins' design strategy also expanded into wall art—a key element of the project’s aesthetic narrative.

“I sourced all of the artwork,” Collins says. “I needed pieces that were soothing, calm, and glitzy, yet classy and interesting as well. The pieces tap into the use of different materials, canvases, and design styles. The walls are large with high ceilings so I wanted to fill the spaces and create focal walls for every guest who entered. I found pieces that would complement the furniture designs I had already selected, so the artwork became the jewelry for the rooms.”

The designer, well-versed in navigating interior complexities, notes that the project had one primary hurdle: the building's regulations allowing only one supplementary lighting fixture near the dining table. Collins and her team relocated the fixture’s electrical box above the table's center, seamlessly blending it into the ceiling with a coat of paint. Collins adds that her client was very flexible throughout the process, making the collaboration “seamless” for both parties.

“My client was in tears when we professionally photographed the home,” Collins says. “She couldn’t believe it was actually her home after all she had been through with her divorce and the move to Connecticut. She finally had a home that completely represented her style, her passions, and her energy!”