At Home in Connecticut with Charlotte Barnes

Having happily lived in the same suburban town for 20 years, designer Charlotte Barnes was not even considering a move until a good friend told her about an 1880 carriage house she had to see. It was love at first sight and as it turned out, the timing was fortuitously perfect for a downsize. Please tag along with me and Susanna for a behind the scenes visit with Charlotte at her charming Connecticut home.

If you met Charlotte, you wouldn’t be surprised to learn she started her career in fashion – at Ralph Lauren Womenswear in New York and London and then the US division of Pomellato  (the chic Italian jewelry brand). But it was her years in London where her interest in interiors really began. When her own home was published in British House & Garden in 1995, requests for her design skills came rolling in and Charlotte Barnes Interior Design & Decoration was born.

At Home with Charlotte Barnes

After moving back stateside the demand for her approachable yet sophisticated style continued with projects eventually spanning Connecticut to Colorado, New York to Newport and abroad from London to Spain and Istanbul. And nowhere is her style more evident that in her own home where she has effortlessly married tradition with modernity, and elegance with fun as in her fearless family room above.

Charlotte Barnes family room detail

With a wordly mix of antiques with contemporary art and furniture and a bold blending of color and pattern, Charlotte’s rooms are daring yet still have a timeless sensibility that offer comfort and warmth. Even the smallest spaces are imbued with an understated luxury tempered with a global eye.

Charlotte Barnes dressing room

In her renovation, Charlotte created rooms that creatively do double duty, carving out spaces for practicality that never sacrifice style. And throughout are sprinkled in some of the pieces from her chic furniture collection, created out of a desire to make pieces she could never seem to find.

Charlotte Barnes bedroom corner
Charlotte Barnes bedroom detail

With a love of luxurious materials, great attention to detail and a fresh approach to comfort, Charlotte always manages to strike the perfect balance of old world glamour and modern flair. So thank you Charlotte, we loved getting a chance to visit in your chic Connecticut carriage house!

Charlotte Barnes tented terrace

And a big thank you to our repeat video sponsor Luxury Portfolio! Representing the largest network of premier, locally branded real estate companies, Luxury Portfolio International® annually markets approximately 50,000 of the world’s most exceptional homes. Based in the United States with a global audience, Luxury Portfolio is backed by decades of experience of the most well respected and well-known experts in luxury real estate in markets worldwide.

Luxury Portfolio property in Mexico

22 thoughts on “At Home in Connecticut with Charlotte Barnes

  1. Beautiful spaces w/ great combinations of color, texture, and personal taste,… cozy feeling in each room… love it all, Teresa

  2. What a beautiful home and very different. The combination of traditional with modern really makes it sing!
    Another amazing visit, thank you!
    Tracy

  3. Charlotte Barnes is a Wizard. These rooms are magical. She has created spaces that
    thrill and delight. I want to be in every room with her. This video gave me goosebumps.
    I am watching it over and over.
    Thank you so much for bring me joy,
    Kathleen

  4. Stacey and Charlotte——two friends from my past…I’m glad you both collaborated on this wonderful interview. Such talent! Charlotte, I see the blue and white planters we found on Hollywood Road while at Ralph Lauren! Great memories from many years ago. Susan (Buckingham) Massamillo

    • Susan!! How lovely to hear from you! Thanks for stopping by – isn’t Charlotte just so talented?!

  5. SUSAN! Thank you … Those pots are one of my most favorite possessions! I remember
    the exact day shopping on Hollywood Road, all those little antique shops … oh my gosh such wonderful memories! Really nice to hear from you…Thank you so much! Charlotte

  6. Dear Kathie thank you so much! I can’t wait for you and Tim to see it in person hopefully sometime soon. X

  7. Stacey, habitual watcher of your series, here. I am smitten with the wallpaper in Charlotte Barnes powder room, into which Suzanna ducked in for a brief moment. But I have no idea how to identify the source for the wallpaper. Would you be able to help me? Many, many thanks, both for your videos and for any help you can lend.

    Donna

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