In 2003, Albert Orlando placed the energies of Orlando Development Company, which he formed in 1978, to downtown Greenwich, and began the award-winning, gated community Arbor Rose. This 10-unit condominium is located on East Elm Street, blocks away from Greenwich Avenue, considered by many as the “Rodeo Drive” of the East Coast. Arbor Rose was the first development of its kind to offer Connecticut’s affluent homeowners estate living right in the heart of downtown Greenwich.

Impeccable interior decoration gives each Arbor Rose unit a unique and sophisticated look and feel

Arbor Rose is located at 90-104 East Elm Street. This highly sophisticated and exclusive condominium has aesthetic continuity in that all the homes were built with shingle and stone style exteriors. A solid mahogany front door and an enchanting four-foot wide sweeping staircase welcome owners. All first floor quarters have astonishing coffered ten-foot ceilings, flawlessly finished with broad, formal crown moldings and paneled walls. These homes range from 3,800 to 4,800 square feet, and they were sold for as much as $2,950,00, which resold in early 2009 for $3,800,000. It was his impeccable design and architecture that earned Orlando, and Arbor Rose, the “ Best Small Attached Community” award by the Home Builder’s Association in 2006.

Across the street from Arbor Rose is Lily’s Path; The Orlando Development Company’s second award-winning project. In 2006, Lily’s Path earned the “Best Attached Home”, and in 2007 the “Best Smart Growth Community in Fairfield Country”, given by the Home Builder’s Association of Connecticut. Lily’s Path, named after the Orlando’s first grandchild, is also a 10-unit condominium located at 91 East Elm Street with a breathtaking, picturesque view of downtown Greenwich.

Albert Orlando teamed up with architect Thomas W. Thornton to make his second project come to life. Dianne and Albert Orlando used only the finest materials, no expense spared, to build these suburban-like homes in the hustle and bustle of downtown living , which sold for as much as $6,000,000. Having sold 19 of its 20 homes on East Elm Street, the Orlando’s have begun their final gate community, The Residences, just down the street at 106 East Elm.

Estate-like patios adorn each unit at Arbor Rose

For the architectural features, Thomas Winfield Thornton, joined the team again, and James Doyle Design Associates for the property features and finishes . This four home last installment is unique in the area for its true one story living and for giving owners the option to finish other floors as budget, time, and preference allows. Homes can be as small as $4,500 square feet, or as large as 8,000 square feet, and priced accordingly.

The Orlando’s vision of downtown Greenwich will be complete for occupancy in the spring of 2010, with the completion of the first homes as The Residences. All three projects- Arbor Rose, Lily’s Path, and The Residences- offer homeowners the pleasure of downtown living, with walking proximity to restaurants and shops, but with every luxurious amenities of the backcountry.

A custom chaise for indulgence in the master bathroom

Rockefeller wanted the best, no expense spared, no corner cut for his new bride Nancy Carnegie. The massive steel column framing, 8-inch thick interior concrete walls and slab flooring, and extensive use of plaster walls and moldings, make this a home that is solid and impenetrable and harkens back to the bygone era known as the Roaring 20s. Elizabeth Paradise and her husband John spent the last 18 months lovingly restoring this incredible home, making sure every detail was approached with meticulous historical accuracy.

The Paradises had a stellar team in architect Paolo Vicente of Vicente-Burin and builder Corey Fogg of Better Home Building. Elizabeth oversaw the project herself and contributed the crisp, contemporary interior design of all the rooms. She worked closely every day with Vicente and Fogg to realize this vision and bring the home back to its original state of grandeur. Old World luxury inspires the décor of a fire-lit master bedroom, two extraordinary master baths, and customized dressing rooms. The home’s eleven bedrooms are reached by graceful sweeping staircases and a four stop elevator. Original doors, windows, and slate roof tiles were painstakingly restored, refurbished, and if need be replicated, to beautifully punctuate the charm and accuracy of the renovation. The elegant Georgian home is truly transporting, allowing one to experience the nostalgia and glamour of the Rockefeller legacy.

Precisely placed stones provide an exquisite walkway to the pool

If you build it, they will come–That’s the premise that developer Jason Schlesinger, his real estate development company Ceebraid-Signal, and Investcorp International, have undertaken to launch their version of city living right here in Stamford, Connecticut. According to Schlesinger, “The concept for Highgrove was originally a loft condominium like the quintessential Tribeca or Soho apartment. Then we saw the real market had a need for a high-end residence for people that are regionally located in Stamford that could accommodate families, in-laws, and guests,” adds Schlesinger. When asked about the duration of the process, he mentioned that it has been five years in the making due to the zoning process, the design, and contractor search. The design process was a dream come true for Schlesinger, however, due to his partnership early on with one of the most accomplished architects in the business today.

Highrove is an 18-story residential property designed by the famed Robert A.M. Stern Architects, led by the internationally known Dean of the Yale School of Architecture whose 220-person firm has designed commercial and residential masterpieces for close to 40 years. Stern’s residential philosophy is one that is quite ethereal.  “I like to think that building houses is building dreams for people. Of course different people have different dreams.” Stern has always known and loved Stamford, fondly recalling its early identity as “a nice old industrial town” and was eager to design this project. He adds, “The development of all these cultural activities is really turning Stamford into a city once again, a true city where people actually walk to all these activities.”

State of the art appliances provide residents with a true cook's kitchen

Two bedroom, three bedroom, townhouse, and penthouse, these residences are the height of luxury living, and consist of 92 elegantly appointed residences including three guest suites and 230 indoor valet parking spaces. The amenities at Highgrove are the height of luxury–private climate-controlled wine cellar designed and constructed by Wine Enthusiast, 24-hour doorman, concierge, swimming pool with retractable roof, and full spa including sauna, steam room and fitness facility.

The residences feature such exquisite finishes and appointments as ceiling heights that soar 10-feet and higher, hardwood floors, outdoor terraces, fireplaces, state-of-the-art designer appliances and pre-wiring for cable and high-speed internet. Kitchens are outfitted with granite or marble countertops and Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. Bathrooms feature marble countertops and flooring and custom-designed vanities and cabinetry.

Highgrove’s centralized location on Forest and Grove streets in Stamford’s central business district will provide residents with direct access to the immediate neighborhood’s many restaurants, retailers, and cultural and entertainment venues, as well as the nearby Stamford Transportation Center, which offers a short commute into Manhattan.

Highgrove combines contemporary and traditional detail to create a residential tower that is at once both classic and modern.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Highgrove marketing strategy is their partnerships with luxury companies like Miller Motorcars of Greenwich (Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, and Rolls Royce), Chopard Geneve, Zachy’s Fine Wines, charities like Multiple Sclerosis and non-profit organizations. Director of Sales and Marketing, Pari Kreutter Hirsch, is the driving force behind these unique partnerships. The MS Fundraiser featured distinguished speakers like James Amann, former Speaker of the House for the state of Connecticut. “At Highgrove, we believe it’s important to support organizations working in our community and we’re deeply touched by the efforts of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society,” says Schlesinger. Hirsch was actually honored by the Chapter with the Georgina B. Davids Award on April 23rd at The Greenwich Country Club for all her efforts on behalf of Multiple Sclerosis fundraising.

Stern and Schlesinger have collaborated beautifully on Highgrove right from the start. The development is generating a lot of buzz here among the well-heeled, and many visit the model unit exquisitely decorated by Interior Designer Leslie Schlesinger. True city living has come to Stamford. And as Stern eloquently puts it, “This is individual identity, as opposed to corporate identity.”

Family rooms should be comfortable, inviting, and definitely reflect a strong sense of your personality by featuring themes that make you feel good. In this particular case, my clients are passionate sailors. Therefore, I created a nautical theme throughout the design of the room by choosing an elegant and subtle aqua color palette, reminiscent of the sea, carried through in the choice of upholstery, window treatments, accessories, and rugs. My client’s boat models are features in the room’s décor, punctuated by custom made solid cherry furniture imported from France and reminiscent in color of their classic 1950’s yacht decks.

The subtlety of the two-tone distressed solid cherry cocktail table completes the color palette and invites the visitor into an environment of comfort, leisure, and relaxation. The light gold color of the walls, inspired by the color palette of the stunning hand-made Persian rug, is echoed in the soft silk throw pillows and the custom made two tone lampshades. Even though I wanted the room to have a monochromatic feel, I thought it necessary to vary the palette by upholstering the chairs with exquisite dark brown distressed leather, framed by beautiful antique brass nails, adding necessary casual touch to the room.

My client’s impressive collection of rare nautical instruments, collected from their many voyages at sea, are another feature in the room; to display them I found the center cocktail table to be a perfect stage.

Sample Family Room

I believe rooms should feature objects that remind you of happy experiences and should be displayed because they are part of your identity. As for the layout of a family room, try to place your furniture in a way that naturally creates conversational spaces. That arrangement immediately creates a more intimate setting. Also, try to accommodate comfortably at least eight seated people, as it will probably be your first room of choice for entertaining.

Small details, such as not adding crown moldings to the walls, not adding trim to the curtain panels, choosing distressed finishes and distressed leathers are great ways to keep your family room casual even if, as in this case, you want to create an elegant setting by using silk curtain panels, silk throw pillows, hand-made Persian rugs, and a tufted settee. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but remember that you do not have to sacrifice elegance for comfort. And consider this thought from Paul Valery’s citation: “A Poem is never finished, just abandoned….” I like to think of a room in those terms.

Mr. Gandhi started laying the path for his career at a young age.  He was eager to learn the ins and outs of the architectural world from Dinyar Wadia, the well known owner of Wadia Associates. Wadia was like an uncle to young Gandhi. He took Gandhi to his job sites, providing him with a first-hand look of a house under construction or restoration.  When Gandhi was old enough to ride his bike, he took the initiative to ride to the job sites and help where he could.   During the summer months, he would complete random tasks around the building sites.  He went on to work full time with Wadia.
This is when the “real work” began.  He was the rookie of the site and fell in charge of cleaning, working with the excavator, filing, and sending out invoices.  He acted as everyone’s helper.  Wadia insisted that they should “ride him like a bull.”  He worked  a minimum of 80 hours a week at a laborer’s rate. In 6 years, Gandhi advanced in the company from laborer to project manager assistant.
Although Gandhi received a salary rate for his work, he still found it hard to make ends meet. To augment his income he started Painting Plus, a company specializing in high-end painting and  finishing. He made simple flyers at Kinko’s and left them at local stores.  Gandhi continued to act as Project Manager for Wadia Associates, juggling an 80 hour work week and the responsibilities of running his own business. Finally, he decided to focus his attention entirely on his fast-growing company, Painting Plus.  Today, the business has been running for over 12 years
Although Gandhi had a successful painting and repair company, his real passion lay in building homes. Unfortunately, very few people were willing to allow him to build their homes.  His newly established building and renovation company, G.C. Construction, lacked a formal portfolio showcasing his former experience. He would bid for the construction of a house, be accepted, and then fall short at the end for lack of examples to show clients.  In the end, Gandhi took on a huge risk, one that would jump-start his business.

After being rejected numerous times, Gandhi worked with a Sotheby’s Real Estate Agent to bid on a project for a Greenwich-based architect.  To earn the chance to prove his skill in the market, Gandhi offered a price that excluded all profit for himself. In exchange, the agent would provide him with five more leads for building projects in the future.  The project was successfully completed, gaining him raves from the client.  Gandhi finally had his first project under his belt, earning him a place in the market.
Since then, Gandhi has built and renovated over 13 homes.  One of the unique qualities of his company is his ability to provide services that most builders hire sub-contractor to complete.  This can drastically cut down the time needed to complete a project by cutting out the scheduling conflicts potentially associated with using a middle man.  The company offers wiring, plumbing, special finishes, custom cabinetry, framing, painting, and library construction.
Another unique quality with G.C. Construction is the exceptional bond Gandhi develops with his customers.  He prides himself in maintaining very close relationships with all of his clients. “We are not just builders, we are friends. I’ll always warranty everything for as long as I live.”  He has even gone above and beyond his duty to check during storms on homes he has built to ensure that nothing has been damaged.
For now, Gandhi continues to operate both Painting Plus and G.C. Construction, working with ten painters, ten dry wall installers, two master carpenters, and two site overseers.  His life experiences have molded him into a master designer and builder, allowing him to take on projects most builders shy away from.  To start from scratch or to renovate property, Ruhshad Gandhi puts all of his efforts into his projects, ensuring top-notch results for everyone of his clients.