Packed with possibilities
The changing needs of homeowners was top of mind for builder Jerry Effren and his interior-designer wife, Sandy, when they set out to create a pocket neighborhood in Norwalk, Connecticut, with their longtime collaborator, architect Jim Jamieson. The last 18 months have seen plenty of shifts in housing demand, as people moved out of major cities, embraced working remotely, and reassessed their living situations, perhaps making room for extended family. Factor in the natural rhythms of life that influence how people want to live, with empty nesters eager to downsize and young families looking for space to grow into, and the Effrens were sure that their latest project needed to put a premium on flexibility. The result is our second TOH Idea House of 2021: a duplex of two 3,000-square-foot cottage-style homes that can suit a variety of lifestyles.
On the main level, the homes have identical layouts, with a bedroom suite, an
