Property Week

1920s West Hartford Home Blends Character with Contemporary Style

By Karen A. Avitabile

Modern updates convey a warm, contemporary style in a classic 1920s colonial in West Hartford. This nine-room, 2,536-square-foot home at 10 Westfield Road, is a showstopper with five bedrooms, three full and one half bathrooms and a huge space on a separate third level.

“This home has a lot of character and charm with warm coastal updates,” says the home’s listing agent, Kevin D. Rockoff.

Curb appeal is very inviting with a covered front porch, large enough for dining or lounging on a comfortable couch or chairs. The porch is encased by columns and railings. A sidewalk extends from the road to the front-door stairs. The oversize driveway leads to the two-car detached garage in the rear of the home.

Inside, the home is light, bright and open, perfect for entertaining and family time. Custom touches, including window treatments, ceiling fans, wainscoting, vast millwork, crown molding, French doors and wood floors, give each room a cozy and peaceful feeling. The home has been freshly painted and every room has been updated. More than 100 years after it was built, the home’s original storm windows have been lovingly restored.

The entryway has an open seating area near the curved stairway, spacious enough to sit on a bench and take off your shoes. The first floor features a large living room adorned by Roman shades and a natural gas fireplace decorated by a tile surround and a mantel. The space opens to a roomy dining room that can accommodate guests for a party or a holiday dinner.

Enter an updated eat-in kitchen with lots of windows, a tile backsplash, stainless appliances, a butcher block table and numerous white cabinets, some which have glass fronts and pull-out drawers. A door in the kitchen exits to the back of the home. Also on the first floor is a powder room, a study and a mudroom with a tile floor, built-ins and access to the two-level deck in the backyard.

The offset staircase, with a landing, overlooks the main level. The second floor has three bedrooms and two full bathrooms that are unusually well-sized for the home’s time period. The updated primary suite is the perfect retreat for relaxation. A separate space, adorned by a wall of built-in closets and shelves, could be used as a seating room or as a changing area. The gorgeous bathroom has a seamless glass-door walk-in shower, double vanities and lots of storage. The family bathroom on this level has a shower-tub combination.

Take a back staircase to the third level where two more bedrooms are located. These spaces, which include built-ins, could easily be transformed into a reading nook, a library, a man cave, a game room or an office. The full bathroom on this level has a freestanding claw-foot bathtub. The home has a full basement that can be finished for a workshop, an exercise room or additional living area.

The home is on public water and sewer, and is heated by hot water baseboard gas heat. The exterior consists of stucco and wood-frame tied together by an asphalt-shingle roof. The two-tiered deck is a convenient spot for outdoor grilling or hanging out with friends. The tree-lined, quarter-of-an-acre property was professionally landscaped in 2020. Fencing provides privacy in each direction.

The location of the home is within walking distance of West Hartford’s town center and Blue Back Square. “It’s a wonderful location,” says Rockoff, owner of Rockoff Realty. “You can walk to all the great restaurants and shops.”

Private showings of the home are underway. For property details, a description and photos of the home, visit www.rockoffrealty.com.

Rockoff says his company stands out from others because of its 1 percent full-service listings real estate brokerage, lower than many real estate companies.

“There’s no gimmicks or gotchas,” Rockoff, says, adding that this pricing model has saved home sellers thousands of dollars since it was introduced in September 2017. “So, whether your home is worth $200,000 or $2,000,000, and located anywhere in Connecticut, with our 1 percent full-service listings, we sell your home for a fraction of the commission, and pass the savings on to you.”

Rockoff Realty has established its “Rockoff Realty for the Rescues” fund. For every home his clients either buy or sell, the company contributes $100 to a local animal rescue organization to help cover the costs of a rescue adoption or any medical treatment needed.

Karen A. Avitabile is a freelance writer based in Plantsville.