By Gretchen A. Peck

As 2024’s conclusion approaches, sights are set on the new year to come. A new year holds promise—an opportunity for renewal, reinvention, reinvigoration. In similar fashion, the story of Geoffrey Fairbairn’s and Martine Fairbairn’s investment in Mystic, Connecticut is one of transformation and the fulfillment of long-standing dreams.

Geoffrey Fairbairn is the co-owner of Fairbairn Brothers Builders; his brother, Ron Fairbairn, is also a partner. Before moving to southeast Connecticut 10 years ago, Fairbairn spent decades building and renovating homes in Litchfield Hills, Connecticut.

“I also built high-end spec houses there, known for attracting people from Hollywood and Manhattan,” he said. He proudly showed Welcome Home an example of a project from that era of his professional life—a luxury home formerly owned by actor Walter Matthau that he custom-renovated for actors Téa Leoni and Tim Daly.

A little more than 10 years ago, he met Martine Nolletti and a partnership—in life, love and home development—was born. With a background in interior design, Martine brought another level of expertise to the Fairbairn Brothers enterprise.

“Together, we have always loved creating welcoming spaces that are livable and cozy,” she said. “Our love of hospitality has always been at the center of our work.”

The couple relocated to southeast Connecticut, drawn by the coastal setting and maritime history. Geoffrey’s father and several other family members had made their livings working for the Cunard shipping fleet.

“I am of French descent and grew up on the Arcachon basin in France, where oysters and seafood are the main industry. My husband is of English descent, and his father was a marine engineer that grew up in Wallasey, England across the Mercey River from Liverpool. With this combination, it should come as no surprise that we fell in love with this area. It felt like home from day one, and we moved here 10 years ago,” Martine Fairbairn said.

When a house at 1 Noank Road, Mystic, attracted their attention, they leaped at the chance to acquire it and transform it into something fresh but fitting for the neighborhood. While there was certainly the opportunity to build a new home on the site and resell it, they chose a different path for this project.

During a tour of the property, they shared with Welcome Home how they’d discovered a common interest. When they were children, they’d each daydreamed about owning a hotel. To marry their passion for residential construction, interior design and hospitality, they decided to create a luxury-experience short-term rental on the site.

“Mystic reminds me of Nantucket in the 1960s,” Geoffrey Fairbairn reflected. “When we’ve had guests visit us here, they often say, ‘I feel like I’m in Nantucket.’”

Land records report that the original house dated back to 1752. An addition was put on roughly 50 years later, Geoffrey Fairbairn estimated. The couple’s Realtor, Judi Caracausa—broker-owner of Market Realty at the time and now associate broker with William Pitt Sotheby’s in Mystic—helped them negotiate the deal. They waived an inspection contingency, knowing that the house would largely have to be rebuilt, and settled on the property for $575,000 in 2021. The price reflected the two-family configuration and deteriorating condition of the house. The listing description described it as in need of major renovation and “not for the faint of heart.”

“The scope of construction, from start to finish, was a real labor of love,” Martine Fairbairn said. “It takes a strong constitution and a love for historic preservation to take on a structure in that state of decay.”

Unfortunately, little of the original structure was salvageable. So, they enlisted the team of Jim Moran and Ed Moran of Moran Custom Homes to reframe it, building on the original footprint. Keeping with the character of the community, they selected white cedar shingle siding for the exterior.

The Fairbairns chose simplistic, tasteful design for the interiors, in keeping with the period of the original home and the vibe of the neighborhood. The main level has an open plan, with the kitchen, dining room, living room and access to the outdoor bluestone patio free-flowing and without cumbersome structural impediments.

Sourcing stone is one of Geoffrey Fairbairn’s pastimes. “I’m always in search of stone,” he said. The bluestone used to create the patio was reclaimed from an 1880s-era mansion in Waterford.

The kitchen is spacious and well-equipped for guests who’d like to cook and dine in. The oversized island and glass-tile backsplash add pops of color. They chose 1-by-4-inch white oak floorboards, stained in “walnut,” which contrasts well with the crisp white-on-white walls and moldings. A craftsman-style staircase ascends the home’s three levels, with deep treads designed for comfort and safety.

The 3,300-square-foot house now accommodates seven bedrooms—three with en-suite baths. They’ve furnished and decorated each room with a subtle nautical nod and a curated collection of antique pieces.

In the front yard, they placed an antique anchor—which they believe was likely made in the 1830s-1840s—an artifact salvaged from the former Dock & Dine restaurant in Old Saybrook.

In a nod to Geoffrey’s family’s history with Cunard-White Star shipping fleet, they’ve adorned the walls with vintage Cunard prints, as well as maritime maps and charts. “Steamships are part of our ethos,” he said.

“We wanted this home to exude maritime charm,” she added.

They named the property “Wallasey,” in honor of his family’s legacy in England.

“Wallasey in England sits on the banks of the Mercy River as it rolls into the sea, just like the Wallasey in Mystic sits on the banks of the Mystic River as it rolls into the sea. We just loved the analogy,” she said.

This particular Mystic neighborhood is within walking distances to boutique shopping, world-class restaurants, marinas and the Mystic River Bascule Bridge.

“Like Mystic has elevated its culinary game, we’re hoping to elevate the lodging game,” she added.

The Fairbairns eagerly await their first guests as they launch the business in December 2024.