- French Normandy residence -

Description | Video

A French Norman Farmhouse Estate Rooted in Timeless Elegance – A Processional Entry to the Great Room

Nestled within a verdant four-acre landscape, this French Norman farmhouse is the embodiment of old-world craftsmanship and refined country living. Conceived as an extension of the client’s adjacent Georgian estate, the residence reflects both his passion for elegant gardens and his vision for a working organic farm. The design draws inspiration from Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon Hamlet at Versailles, seamlessly blending architectural romance with agrarian authenticity.

French Norman Architecture with Historic Detail

This home’s architectural identity is defined by hallmarks of French Norman design. A steeply pitched graduated slate roof with carved timber dormers crowns the exterior composition. Half-timbered walls with randomly laid terra cotta brick infill nogging speak to centuries-old building traditions, while the New England fieldstone base anchors the home to its bucolic site. A corner tower, crowned with a whimsical cat-and-mouse finial, lends vertical emphasis and establishes a playful counterpoint to the home’s otherwise stately form.

This careful layering of stone, timber, and slate ensures the residence is at once grounded in tradition yet distinguished in its setting by its originality. Visitors enter through carved stone and heavy oak doors that lead directly into the soaring Great Room, a dramatic heart of the home. Rising two and a half stories, the timber-plank ceiling is supported by hand-hewn antique beams and trusses, each one recalling the craftsmanship of centuries past. At one end, a monumental walk-in fireplace of Camargue limestone anchors the space, while an opposing double-height bay window frames sweeping views of the gardens beyond. The result is a room that balances intimacy with grandeur, serving as both a gathering place and an architectural statement.

Interiors Designed for Living and Gathering

Flowing directly from the Great Room, the chef’s kitchen is fully appointed for entertaining and casual living. Generous in scale, it provides both practicality and refinement, allowing culinary activity to become part of the home’s social life. Throughout the residence, solid oak staircases connect the levels, ascending to guest bedrooms above and descending to the wine cellar, root cellars, and garden receiving room below. Each space is designed with both utility and style in mind, reflecting a harmony of form and function.

A Tower Suite with Commanding Views

The primary suite occupies the home’s iconic corner tower, offering an unparalleled vantage point over the gardens and farmland. Large windows capture shifting light throughout the day, while the suite’s refined finishes and intimate scale contrasts with the rustic character and soaring volumes of the Great Room. This balance of private retreat and open communal space is central to the residence’s livability.

Gardens and Grounds as Architectural Extensions

True to its inspiration, the estate is as much about its landscape as its built structures. Formal ornamental gardens, clipped hedges, and orchard rows frame the house, enhancing its presence and grounding it in the pastoral setting. A stone terrace, cascading plantings, and a sculptural fountain create outdoor rooms that extend the architecture into the landscape. The overall effect is one of harmony, where house, garden, and farmland exist as a single, orchestrated vision.

Timeless Design for Contemporary Living

This French Norman farmhouse exemplifies the enduring appeal of European-inspired architecture in an American context. Rooted in tradition yet tailored for modern living, it demonstrates how careful craftsmanship, historic detail, and landscape integration can yield a residence of distinction and rare beauty.

For additional projects in classical residential architecture, historic estate restoration, and European-inspired design, explore our portfolio of new country houses and estate properties at https://www.hiltonarchitects.com/new-homes, and a link to blogs about luxury residential design can be found at https://www.hiltonarchitects.com/blog.

- PROJECT TEAM -

Davenport North | Charles J Stick | Home Construction

“Visitors to the home are sure to feel like royalty”

— CONNECTICUT COTTAGES AND GARDENS MAGAZINE

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“Hilton designed the most beautiful French farmhouse that features hand-hewn timbers framing inside and out… It was one of those sites that was hard to break away from.”

— THE CLASSICIST- TRAVELOGUE: GREAT HOUSES OF CONNECTICUT’S FAIRFIELD COUNTY

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“Very elegant, traditional bedroom with beautifully executed architectural details.”

— DESIGNER NATHAN TURNER – A-LIST JUROR

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“Masterfully built, this French Normandy Custom Home features a granite tower, which is the home to a stunning master bedroom with a spiral staircase that leads to an exquisite pyramid ceiling tower room.”

— CONNECTICUT BUILDER MAGAZINE

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“This is a tour de force, with exquisite craftsmanship, good proportions, and magnificent detailing.”

— AIA CT ALICE WASHBURN AWARD JUROR

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“I have had the privilege to work with Chuck Hilton and his extremely talented team of architects on multiple projects over the past five years. One of the projects has won an architectural award and Chuck took the time to travel with me to a limestone quarry in southern France and hand select the limestone with a focus on color and a variety of textures. Chuck's attention to detail is complimented by his integrity, work ethic and a total commitment to his clients, associates, and friends.”

— BOB CAPOFERRI, PRESIDENT  - MARBLE CRAFTERS, INC.

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“I have had the pleasure of working with Chuck Hilton and his team on a variety of projects; from a high-end home, to an accessory building, to an institutional project. Although the design aesthetic of each of their projects varies greatly, everyone at Charles Hilton Architects is instilled with the same common thread – a dedication to the success of their projects and an unwavering commitment to creativity and quality. CHA engages in a rigorous design process, which includes a thorough analysis of design options, a culture of collaboration with consultants and vendors to explore the best possible solutions, and a tremendous attention to detail to ensure all the trades are working in unison towards the same high goals. The result is stunning architecture at the best value for their clients!”

— HARRY RAYMOND, MANAGING DIRECTOR - BUILDER ARCHITECT DIVISION SOUTHEND RECLAIMED

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“I have tremendous respect for Chuck and his insightful creativity. His projects are always invigorating and fulfilling challenges. Collaborating with him over the recent years has been a pleasure not only because of his professionalism, but because his overall work ethic and creative eye are a true testament to his passion. I look forward to future projects with Charles Hilton Architects and what we can achieve.”

— GERRY FLYNN, M.G. FLYNN CONTRACTING

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“Our design firm, Davenport North, has worked with Chuck Hilton and Hilton Architects (formerly Hilton Vanderhorn) for over 20 years from everything from ground-up projects, to simple updates and major renovations. Chuck’s attention to detail is always impeccable. Whether designing a French Normandy-style chateau for entertaining or updating a brick Georgian for a young family, Chuck has the utmost knowledge of period architecture. Chuck’s work has won numerous awards and has been featured in the most prestigious design magazines. The client is never disappointed by Chuck’s keen aesthetic, and collaborative approach. His entire team is talented and delightful to work with. As interior designers, our partnership with Hilton Architects has always resulted in our very best work. I can’t think of a better architect or firm to recommend than Chuck Hilton and Hilton Architects. ”

— ISABELLE VANNECK – OWNER - DAVENPORT NORTH

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“Chuck and I have worked together for 25 years serving some of the most discerning clients in the world. Chuck Hilton and staff are consummate, classic architects at the forefront of design in Fairfield County and adjoining areas. There is no more thorough and accommodating company I know of and they have my highest recommendation.”

— STEPHEN GAMBLE – OWNER – HISTORIC FLOORS

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“I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Charles Hilton on numerous projects over the past 18 years. Throughout that time, the Firm's dedication to their client’s needs has been exceptional. Charles and his entire team are extremely dedicated and talented, and it shows in their beautiful designs as well as in the documents and plans they provide to me from which to build. Equally important is that they are excellent collaborators; highly available and open to design and construction input. Projects move along at an appropriate pace to ensure the utmost quality in the final product. I look forward to working together again soon.”

— ROBERT J. LEVINE OF HOME CONSTRUCTION