[BPt111]

You might fall in love with Fairfield nice town. Wilton and Weston would be more laid back in wood setting.

[Raider111]

Unfortunately in lower FFC, the market for the 2 fields of employment you mention is over-saturated. There is a gym or crossfit place practically around every corner.
Any town there is going to have all the shopping, amenities, ice rinks, etc all at your fingertips just like Brooklyn.
Even the nice shoreline towns east of New Haven should have enough of that to suffice. People who live there seem to survive just fine.
If you can somehow manage to survive in a more modest home without spontaneously combusting (you will have to live without a grand foyer and a giant chandelier, a 3 or 4 car garage, and a master bedroom and bath the size of some smaller homes), you should look at Westport as well. They have a town pool, a winter outdoor NHL size ice rink (both at Longshore), and the Levitt Pavillion for concerts/shows.

[allanny13]

For the interior design business you want to be as close as possible to Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien or Westport.

[hvexpatinct]

I like Ridgefield slightly better than Fairfield for its proximity to second home territory in Bridgewater, Roxbury, Kent etc.

[oliverthecat]

Originally Posted by willow wind

These are a couple of design showrooms that cater to the designers only, not the general public. Is this what you are looking for ?

Wakefield Design Center- Stamford

Schwartz Design - Stamford

Would save you a trip to NYC and you could take the train from Fairfield to Stamford.

Hi! yes! thank you!

[oliverthecat]

thanks again. Wilton and Weston were on our list because they look so beautiful, but may be lacking the 'stuff'?

Raider111, I think I can manage without combusting. I don't want a formal or fancy huge house-- we're coming from Brooklyn for crissakes. But it still seemed like we were priced out of Westport, which does look beautiful. I'll take another look!

Thank you allanny13 and hvexpatinct!

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by hvexpatinct

I like Ridgefield slightly better than Fairfield for its proximity to second home territory in Bridgewater, Roxbury, Kent etc.

Fairfield is closer to the eastern shoreline, which is another amazing area...

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Raider111

If you can somehow manage to survive in a more modest home without spontaneously combusting (you will have to live without a grand foyer and a giant chandelier, a 3 or 4 car garage, and a master bedroom and bath the size of some smaller homes), you should look at Westport as well.

I think you're understated the "modest" a bit. $700k in Westport is a downright small home for a family, and likely pretty dated and needing work. You're not sacrificing luxuries at that price point, you're sacrificing a lot more.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by oliverthecat

If the 15-20 minute drive to stuff is unreasonable, though, then I accept having to change that expectation.

It's not at all. I'm a 5 minute drive to every imaginable shopping option and amenity where I am (Milford). And it's similarly dense as Fairfield.

[oliverthecat]

thanks Stylo-- that was my interpretation of the houses in Westport, too. I don't need fancy, but we would like 4 bedrooms, a yard, and to not have to renovate.