Champalimaud Design amongst those behind new boutique in Litchfield
Belden House & Mews has opened its doors, bringing a new boutique hotel offer to Litchfield, Connecticut.
Situated atop the Litchfield Hills, the hotel comprises a restored 1888 mansion and a Modernist addition introduced to the estate in 1959, which have now been grouped together with the historic Litchfield Firehouse.
The property has been envisioned by Champalimaud Design, PBDW Architects and landscape architects Reed+Hilderbrand, as well as a host of local artisans and businesses.
Upon arrival to Belden House on North Street, an expansive front porch leads into a central reception, anchored by a large fireplace. To the left is the Living Room, which features its original curved bay windows, window seats and a fireplace. The space flows into the Dining Room, where banquettes, warm lighting and elegantly lit tables set a comfortable yet chic tone. The sequence culminates in the verdant jewel box of the bar, into which natural light streams. Nearby, the cosy, textured Library, lined with books, art and Litchfield historic ephemera, doubles as a private dining room for up to ten.
Of the total 31 guestrooms, ten are housed in the original 1888 Belden home. Averaging 400ft², each unique floorplan echoes the home’s historic framework and carefully preserved details. All guestrooms enjoy views of Litchfield’s architectural treasures or – as a result of the property’s position at higher elevation – across the treetops. Available amongst rooms are suites and guestrooms with fireplaces, balconies and soaking tubs.
“For too long Litchfield has been without its guest house, one which reflects the curiosity, temperament, refinement, eccentricities, ambitions and values of this exceptional place,” says Anthony Champalimaud, one of multiple investors behind the project. “We welcome our guests into a residence restored – a home, as it once was – principled in our approach to hospitality, lacking pretense and prescription. Belden House & Mews is a natural sister to Troutbeck, sharing in its values and aspirations to be both the destination in and of itself, but moreover, to enable and encourage the rediscovery and enjoyment of inspiring surroundings.”
Alexandra Champalimaud, founder and President of Champalimaud Design, comments on the design: “Belden House & Mews has been lovingly restored with young energy and its soul intact. Belden House is gracious, airy and exciting. It tells a story. Wonderful light streams into every room. Through unusually large, curved windows, visitors will enjoy wonderful views, both urban and rural, nicely suiting the town of Litchfield as the stately center of bucolic Litchfield County.”
The Mews, the modernist three-wing structure set behind the Belden home, houses 21 guestrooms and suites averaging 430ft². Seven Mews rooms are accessible via their private, lushly planted terrace gardens. All of them spacious and serene, with a palette that relates to those in Belden House, punctuated with splashes of yellow, red and blue and furnished in a modernist vein.
“We wanted to embrace the locale throughout our design, collaborating with local makers and craftsmen to create a colour journey full of warmth and curiosity,” explains Courtney Brannan, Principal Designer at Champalimaud Design. “Four poster beds, artisanal lighting and grasscloth wallcoverings sourced in Litchfield establish a genuine connection to place, elevated by historical details like the building’s ornate original fireplaces and original moldings. We highlighted the contrast between Belden House’s traditional spirit and the modernism of the 1950s-era Mews building, where furniture silhouettes inspired by midcentury art and architecture bring splashes of colour to tonal room envelopes.”
The property features a designated wellness area, named Bathhouse. Here, facilities include fitness equipment and space for self-guided or accompanied Pilates, as well as a wet area complete with a dry sauna, steam room and a 225-gallon Japanese Ofuro tub.
