15 Photos Of A Connecticut Georgian Colonial, An Old House Lover’s Dream
When Justin Reis and Mark Schwindenhammer first stumbled upon their Hampton, Connecticut foreclosure, they didn’t see peeling paint or uneven floors—they saw whispers of history begging to be heard.
The Georgian Colonial’s faded frescoes, creaking staircases, and wavy glass windows weren’t flaws but treasures waiting for appreciative eyes. What others dismissed as a money pit, this couple recognized as a time capsule worth preserving.
1. Morning Light Through Wavy Glass
Sunbeams filter through centuries-old windowpanes, casting rippled shadows across the wide-plank pine floors. Each imperfection in the glass tells a story of colonial craftsmanship—bubbles frozen in time when glassblowers poured molten silica into wooden frames.
The distortion isn’t a flaw but a fingerprint of history. Mark often sits here with coffee, watching how the light changes through glass that’s witnessed over two hundred winters.
2. The Dining Room’s Secret Frescoes
Beneath layers of 1950s wallpaper, Justin discovered faded frescoes depicting rural Connecticut landscapes. His fingertips traced the outline of a forgotten stream, a bridge, and apple trees that once grew on the property.
Rather than restore them to pristine condition, the couple chose to preserve their ghostly presence. Dinner guests often lean forward, squinting to make out the shadowy figures that dine with them each evening.
3. Hearth and History
Blackened with centuries of fires, the main hearth still stands as the home’s beating heart. Cooking hooks hang at different heights—evidence of generations who warmed stews and baked bread here.
The couple found a child’s shoe hidden in the brickwork during minor repairs, a colonial superstition meant to ward off evil spirits. They returned it to its nook, continuing its protective watch over the home.
4. The Sloping Hallway
Place a marble at one end of the upstairs corridor and watch it gather speed as it rolls toward the staircase. Two hundred years of footsteps have worn a gentle valley into these floorboards.
Mark jokes that the slope helps guests find the bathroom in the middle of the night. Justin loves how the uneven surface forces visitors to slow down, much like the home itself encourages a different relationship with time.
5. Hardware That’s Weathered Centuries
Hand-forged hinges creak a different tune on each door—no two are alike in this house. The front door’s thumb latch bears the smooth depression of thousands of hands that have pressed the same spot since Thomas Jefferson was president.
Justin refused to oil the squeaky hinges. “They’re like an alarm system from another era,” he explains. “The house tells you who’s coming and going.”
6. Attic Treasures
Beneath the rafters, generations left their mark. Penciled notes record snowfall depths from 1834. A child’s height measurements climb up a beam, stopping abruptly in 1872.
Newspapers used as insulation reveal advertisements for horse-drawn carriages and remedies promising to cure melancholy. The couple carefully preserved these fragments when adding modern insulation, keeping the whispers of former residents alive in the house’s highest space.
7. The Eyes That Follow You
They’d been searching for ages—busts were everywhere, but none felt quite right. Then, in a slightly dusty antique mall a few towns over, they spotted her: a sculpted figure with a delicate bow perched on her head. It was odd, a little whimsical, and oddly tender. That tiny detail softened her features just enough to feel like she belonged.
8. Instagram-Worthy Shots
In the evolution of their aesthetic, the couple found themselves captivated by the creation of bumpy vases. There’s something instinctive about the form—each protrusion a small, sculptural decision that transforms the piece into something unexpectedly alive.
What started as a simple texture experiment has turned into a signature he can’t seem to abandon. When the vases emerge from the kiln, they feel like curious little creatures, each with its own attitude and charm.
The bumps aren’t just visual flair—they’re evidence of a playful, hands-on process where intuition leads and the clay responds.
9. Bedroom Under the Eaves
The smallest bedroom cradles visitors in architectural embrace. Sloped ceilings follow the roofline, forcing tall guests to duck near the walls. A dormer window creates a perfect reading nook where generations have likely escaped into books.
Handprints of a child appear faintly on one wall—perhaps from a feverish night when worried parents applied mustard plasters. Mark and Justin left them uncovered, honoring whoever pressed against this same shelter centuries ago.
10. You’re Welcome To Stay Over
In a lovingly restored bedroom in Hampton, Connecticut, designers Justin Reis and Mark Schwindenhammer craft a soulful blend of rustic heritage and playful storytelling. Original timber beams anchor the space, framing twin antique spindle beds that speak to early American craftsmanship.
A worn vintage trunk between them acts as both table and time capsule, topped with a taxidermy duck and a satirical “Thank You” bag that adds humor without disrupting the historical gravitas.
Rich textiles—a boldly patterned rug and layered linens—infuse color and softness, grounding the room in comfort. The result is an intimate retreat where past and present live in easy, artful conversation.
11. The Wallpaper Makes It All Better
A jewel-box powder room wrapped in inky floral wallpaper, this space feels like a romantic secret. The curved ceiling draws the pattern upward in a soft cocoon, while olive-toned wainscoting and cabinetry ground the whimsy with earthy charm.
Vintage-style globe sconces cast a golden glow across the marble counter, where a black faucet and playful details—a golden goblet, a ceramic bird, a potted spray of red foliage—turn everyday function into theater.
Even the view through the open door hints at warmth beyond, making the room feel like a whispered invitation to linger.
12. The Formal Hideout
A room that hums with character and clever layering, this cozy study balances global curiosity with fireside charm. Midnight-blue bookshelves cradle worn volumes, perched birds, and oddities that double as conversation starters.
A classic world map anchors the space above a linen sofa strewn with textured pillows—one boldly marked with a red cross, another stitched with a solemn llama. Below, a Persian rug adds warm soul, grounding the brass-and-glass coffee table topped with art books and sculptural brass.
Stacked firewood beneath the shelves hints at crackling evenings, while plaid and velvet touches whisper old-world academia through a thoroughly modern lens.
13. Garden Of Dreams
The household includes ten spirited chickens, each with a regal name and plenty of personality. The first six were named after the six wives of Henry VIII—a nod to history with a wink. When four more joined the flock, they followed suit with names fit for queens: Marie, Elizabeth, Victoria, and Mary.
Add in two dogs and a very tolerant backyard, and the result is a lively, joyfully chaotic menagerie. It’s a full house in the best way—part royal court, part farmyard, and entirely loved.
14. Webster’s Spot
In the sunlit breakfast nook, Webster—the more opinionated of the couple’s two Italian greyhounds—has claimed the velvet settee as his throne. It’s an unexpectedly elegant perch beside an industrial table on casters, where soft upholstery meets utilitarian edge.
Anchoring the space with a touch of personal history is the ‘289 Main’ pennant, handcrafted and gifted by a friend. More than just décor, it nods to both the couple’s address and the name of their shared business—a symbol of home, partnership, and creative collaboration woven into the fabric of the room.
15. The Last Retreat
There’s something undeniably satisfying about being able to just plop right into a low bed—it feels effortless and grounding in the best way. The bed once sat against the wall, but shifting it into the middle of the room changed everything.
The space instantly felt cozier, more intentional, and most importantly, it brought the bed closer to the fireplace. Now, falling asleep next to a crackling fire has become part of the nightly rhythm—a small shift that made the entire room feel more like a retreat.