Ridgefield’s Bailey Avenue has a bold new splash of color — literally. Step into Rachel Gedymin Design, the deep teal-fronted interior design studio and shop that’s bringing a fresh, artistic energy to downtown Ridgefield. Opened last fall, the space reflects owner and designer Rachel Gedymin’s love of color, texture, and storytelling through interiors.
Before designing homes, Gedymin was a professional actor — a career that taught her about expression and emotion, qualities that now shape her approach to interiors. “When I moved to Connecticut, I got my real estate license,” she says. “I loved houses but didn’t enjoy the transactional side. I jumped at opportunities to help my clients decorate, and that’s what led me here.”
For several years, Gedymin worked with clients from her home studio in Danbury. Opening her own retail space was always a dream — and when she spotted the available storefront on Bailey Avenue, she knew it was time. “It just felt right. I’ve always loved Bailey Avenue; it’s the cutest little side street,” she says. “When I saw the space, I knew it was the right move.”
Painted in Narragansett Green (a Benjamin Moore hue that’s really more blue than green), the shop stands out — as it was meant to. Inside, you’ll find soft furnishings like pillows and lampshades, framed art by local artists, ceramics, vintage plates, and design books that invite browsing and inspiration. “Everything in here is special,” Gedymin says. “I love every item I carry.”
Her business blends two creative worlds: full-service interior design and a carefully curated retail experience. “The shop and the design studio are symbiotic,” she explains. “Some people come in just to find a pillow or gift, while others want help creating an entire room or home. It all
works together.”
Gedymin describes her design aesthetic as “warm, textured, artistic, and collected.” She’s known for her ability to blend color, textiles, and periods to create spaces that feel personal and lived-in — never overly polished. “The people who hire me want permission to be brave,” she says. “They want their homes to be comfortable, and also to reflect who they are.”
And for those who think they don’t have an eye for design (like this writer!), Gedymin insists otherwise. “Everyone has taste,” she says. “But not everyone knows how to identify it.” She helps clients discover what they’re drawn to by showing them a wide range of ideas — from design books and magazines to in-store items they can touch and feel — and guiding them past the sameness of social media and algorithm-driven feeds. “Taste expands with exposure,” she says. “Sometimes you have to see something a few times before you realize you love it.”
At Rachel Gedymin Design, the experience is as much about discovery as it is about decor. “I want people to know there’s an alternative for treasure hunting in the 068 beyond HomeGoods and thrifting,” she says. “It’s a place to find beautiful, thoughtfully chosen things.”
Rachel Gedymin Design / 5 Bailey Ave. Ridgefield / IG: @rahelgedymindesign / rachelgedymindesign.com / 203-408-2224 •
