Trish Regan, the host of Trish Regan Primetime on Fox Business Network, recently relocated from Manhattan to Fairfield County. She invited us into her home—which she designed on her own—and opened up about her design sensibility, her success as a broadcast journalist, and why she treasures the time she spends in Connecticut.
What brought you from Manhattan to Fairfield County?
We had rented a weekend home in Fairfield County and fell in love with it. Before we knew it, we were spending as much time as we could here, including the entire summer … and at some point, we just knew that we didn’t want to go back to the city! So we made the move—and we are thankful every day for simple things like fresh air and a yard. My husband and I both grew up in the country so this really feels like home. It is everything we expected and more.
Talk about your new home and your role in designing it.
We bought a home that was already built, but there was structural and cosmetic work that needed to be done to make it ours. I have a wonderful project manager named Bill Delsener [of Delsener Designs] whom I’ve worked with before, and he manages the teams and the flow of the project. The decorating is all me. I’m the kind of person that wants to see everything. I’m extremely decisive and know immediately when something is going to work or not, but I like having those options and wouldn’t want anyone else to do that for me. I have an art and music background, in addition to finance and business journalism, so decorating and design comes pretty naturally.
Describe your own design aesthetic and how it’s carried through in each room.
I love casual, comfortable elegance. I wanted my home to be soothing—and I accomplished that with a neutral color palette. Everywhere you look, you see a lot of white. I interwove various shades of blue, another favorite of mine, because it reminds me of my children’s eyes.
Which room do you especially love?
I love the family room—it’s super comfortable. We really live in this room. The kids play piano here, we watch Saturday night family movies here and our new puppy spends most of his time in this room with us, as well.
Tell us about some of the changes you made in your new home.
One of the biggest challenges was the paint. You can have the most exquisite moldings and detailed woodwork in the world, but if you do not have a great paint to highlight that, you won’t be able to fully appreciate the detail in the carpentry. I used a high gloss brilliant finish on the moldings and some ceilings in the formal rooms, and it really helps bring the rooms to life. But it took a long time. Oil paint is challenging to work with, and a brilliant finish can be unforgiving—but quite rewarding.
What other challenges did you face with this project?
The other biggest challenge was finding a light fixture for the foyer. The ceilings are extremely high and it’s a rather vast space so I needed something to appropriately fill it. I went through about five different fixtures (thank goodness they were returnable!) before finding the light fixture that I found through a company in Texas.
You’re the only female host in the 8 p.m. hour of cable news. Can you tell us about the show and your path to getting there?
The show is very different than anything else in television—it is a show that covers the news of the world as it relates to the U.S. and global economy. We are breaking news and I’m able to tap into unrivaled sources, securing interviews with some of the biggest influences around the world in business and politics. So, whether I’m interviewing the president of Venezuela [in Spanish!] or whether I’m discussing the trade war with China live with a Beijing state TV host [something that caused a recent international uproar] my goal is to present all sides of every issue.
How have you found balance being a mom and a career woman?
I have three children and they mean the world to me, my husband means the world to me, and I love my job. So balance is tough, but there are little things I do to try to make it all work. On Fridays, I take one of the kids to work with me, and when I travel, I try to bring one of the kids. I’m not going to sugarcoat it; it is a constant challenge. I miss them and they miss me, but we FaceTime a lot before I go on air and they’ve really gotten to know their way around a newsroom. One of my daughters came with me to the State of the Union and was so excited—she helped out by printing my research, reading every bit of it herself, and then drilling me on it! It was a win-win.
The large soaking tub is the focal point of the bathroom and Regan chose pretty
lighting, mirrored walls and white marble to augment it
Regan chose a warm white palette for the bedroom, allowing for the texture of the fabrics to be showcased.
Your mom worked for TheBoston Globe. How did that influence your career?
As a child, I always looked forward to those days when my mom didn’t have anyone to take care of me and I got to go out with her as she worked on stories. Mostly it meant going to the library where she did her research, but sometimes it meant tagging along on interviews. My mother talked a lot about her work at dinner and even when she wasn’t working, she was (and is) keen to discuss current events. My father was also very politically engaged and all of this meant that dinner conversations revolved around world events. When I was trying to figure out what my career path would be, journalism felt like the most natural thing in the world. I had grown up around it. I had a mother who taught me from a very early age the values and the ethics that a journalist should have—so, it all fell into place rather seamlessly for me.
What would you like to pass along to your kids?
The most important thing I believe my husband and I can give our children, outside of unconditional love, is confidence. Confidence is really a game changer because so often in life and in careers, you’re met with adversity…and the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t often comes down to willingness to get back up and try again. The career I have is not an easy one—it’s a competitive profession and everyone wants the big interview. It means constantly trying, never giving up, and never getting discouraged. I want my kids to know that they should approach every day with optimism and confidence in themselves.
Speed Round
Favorite food: Anything spicy
Favorite museum: Dalà Theatre-Museum in Catalonia, Spain
Favorite local activity to do with your kids: Picnics on the beach
One word that describes you: Determined
Your top design tip: Go with white. You can always change the color of the pillows, but if you have a neutral palette it allows for flexibility!
What you’d be, if not in your current career: An opera star!
Your next trip will be:This summer, to Switzerland
Favorite restaurant in the area: Saltaire Oyster Bar in Port Chester, NY
Favorite cocktail: Mojito
People would be surprised to know: I learned to read music when I was 4 years old, before I could actually read. Which meant, all I knew were the letters A through G.
Your guilty pleasure: Hagen Dazs ice-cream
Your style icon: I’m going to go out on a limb here. I have a very specific style, I always have, and I never looked to anyone for that.
Story by: Judy Koutsky
Photography by: Jane Beiles
