A Charming Connecticut Home Filled with Heirlooms and Color

In the charming river town of Essex, Connecticut, interior designer Kaitlin Smith has spent the last 14 years transforming a 1939 Dutch Colonial into a colorful family home filled with collected treasures, cherished heirlooms, and layers of pattern.

What began as a fixer-upper on her dream street has evolved alongside her growing family, with thoughtful renovations that honor the home's history while making it work for modern life.

From a lacquered blue dining room ceiling to blooming backyard gardens, every corner reflects Kaitlin's belief that the best homes tell the stories of the people who live in them.