Waldemere

Waldemere, a turn-of-the-century gem overlooking Long Island Sound, is where UB President Neil Albert Salonen and his wife Rebecca greet heads of state and other dignitaries who often visit this international university. In January, the Salonens asked Kandalaft to have Interior Design students undertake a renovation of the house as a class project. The students were divided into teams and spent months preparing detailed designs of the first-floor rooms under Professor Kandalaft's direction. Mrs. Phillips generously added her resources and the use of her studio. The student designers were: Janet Jimenez and Abisai Rodriguez from Bridgeport, Kimberly Allen from Boston, Tadami Yoshida and Maiko Tanaka from Japan, I Ching Chiu from Taiwan, Anna Sidorova from Russia and Katerina Djinovic from Yugoslavia.

Students get first look at living room

Kandalaft has been expanding the Interior Design program, drawing on his many professional affiliations, to give the students critical experience. He has more than 25 years of design experience in corporate offices and hotels nationally and internationally, working with the Sheraton Corp., GTE and other major corporations. He's a graduate of the Ecole des Beaux Arts et d'Architecture in Rouen, France, and has his master's degree from the University of Montreal School of Architecture.

Students get first look at living room

"The president and Mrs. Salonen love UB's architecturally significant buildings, and Waldemere Hall in particular. Their vision is to return this stately home to its original beauty. The fund-raising campaign for capital improvements to the older buildings on campus, which were once private residences, is an important undertaking by the university," says Mrs. Phillips. Her husband, E. Cortright Phillips, also a UB alumnus, is the grandson of the university's founder, Everett Cortright.

The 2-story hall, mapping the rooms

Mrs. Phillips specializes in residential and commercial interior design at Fairfield Interiors, which offers space planning, fine furniture, fabric, window treatments and accessories. Mrs. Phillips has provided interior design for homes throughout Connecticut, Greenwich Village, Martha's Vineyard and Boston.

John Kandalaft, visiting professor of interior design, with Mrs. Gilbert Larson, a UB Life Trustee

"I'm so happy to be helping to restore Waldemere Hall to its original splendor. Working with the students has been exciting, and it is gratifying to watch young designers put the theoretical knowledge they acquired in design classes to work in a real world situation. It has also been gratifying to work with the members of the professional staff at UB," says Mrs. Phillips.

Guests at the tea where students' designs were presented

"Together, we all have a love and clear vision of the importance of restoring and preserving this important landmark overlooking Long Island Sound."

Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Salonen at the award presentation

Students working with Ellen Hyde Phillips at her Fairfield Interiors studio.

Measuring the floors

Rebecca Salonen showing students the view from front door onto Long Island Sound

Junior Janet Jimenez presenting the winning design she and senior Anna Sidorova developed.