Stamford builder recognized for Smith Ridge residence
as published by The New Canaan Advertiser, 03/27/2003

New Canaan resident Randy Salvatore, president of Stamford-based RMS Construction, received a special recognition award for a custom home 10,000 to 13,000 square feet recently completed in Smith Ridge in the 2002 HOBI Awards Competition. The annual awards competition is sponsored by the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Fairfield County to recognize the area’s most outstanding new construction and remodeling projects.

“This year we were proud to receive a record number of entries for consideration up 25 percent from last year,” said JoAnne Carroll, publisher of Connecticut Builder Magazine and a judge for the design competition. “The quality of the work submitted for award consideration was exceptional, making it very difficult to choose just one winner for each category. As an exception, we awarded special recognition to RMS Construction for overall excellence in craftsmanship and detailing in a custom home 10,000 to 13,000 square feet. We were particularly impressed with the three-story center hall spiral staircase in the front entrance of his Smith Ridge house, as we were by the design of the built-ins throughout.”

Ms. Carroll said the overall quality of the construction in the home was outstanding and merited a special award, the only special recognition award allowed in the competition.

The custom designed 12,000-square-foot Smith Ridge home uses of fieldstone from the four-and-one-half acre site and was custom-designed with a growing family in mind. Living quarters include seven full baths, four half-baths, and six bedrooms, plus a guest suite and nursery. A handcrafted mahogany kitchen opens up to a great room, outdoor pool/patio area and a dining room. The formal living room, graced by a hand-painted barrel ceiling, Brazilian cherry floors and French doors, opens to a gracious covered porch. Additional touches include five fireplaces, a lattice-trimmed breakfast room, a threestory stairway in the front hall with selfsupporting circular staircases, meticulous architectural detailing throughout and ground floor playrooms.

Outside there is an in-ground free form swimming pool with a vanishing edge. A hot tub, outdoor beehive pit with sunken seating and a custom designed playground with a built-in sandbox are additional outdoor touches.

Among the special features which attracted the special recognition by contest judges were the upstairs sleeping porches, built-ins in the kitchen and bedrooms and the unique children’s custom-built playhouse, built to replicate a traditional shingle-style country home. The two-story playhouse was built into the wall of the finished playroom, making use of existing space in adjacent sub-floor area. Pint-sized proportions cater to the space needs of the 12 and under set and feature both a downstairs living area, and second floor bedrooms with a miniature staircase and a fireplace.

The Smith Ridge home was one of five New Canaan homes featured on the Newcomers Club’s 19th Annual Traditions of the Season Holiday House Tour.