A traditional home in West Hartford gets a modern, vibrant makeover

Karen and Steve Sack loved their house in West Hartford and its idyllic neighborhood.

Moving there prior to having their four children, they became good friends with their neighbors. But as they were about to embark on a house renovation, Karen’s father died. So they pivoted. This family of six needed a bigger house: Grandma Lucy was moving in.

For their initial renovation plan, the Sacks tapped builder Bruce Daigle of Daigle & Son, based in Farmington. Once plans changed, he pivoted right along with the Sacks. Daigle knew of a 5,500-square-foot, circa-1928 Colonial on the market with a lot of potential; it would be perfect for them. However, Karen, a local Realtor, had already seen it, and couldn’t imagine moving her family into an outdated house across town. While only seven minutes away, and located in a beautiful neighborhood, it meant changing school districts and making new friends. But when the price dropped, she took another look.

“I couldn’t visualize anything,” she says. “I was hoping for a more California vibe and didn’t want a historic house. I just couldn’t see past the wallpaper and the choppy layout. But Bruce kept saying, ‘I’m telling you, this is your house.’ ”

Upon seeing the modern architectural work of Stacy Millman, owner of West Hartford-based SKM Design, at a few of their mutual friends’ houses, Karen decided to give her a call. She wanted Millman and Daigle, who had both worked together on numerous renovations, to see the house with her before she and her husband bought it.

“If she could make me a modern house, I thought, maybe this house could work. I had remembered what some of these houses looked like before Stacy worked on them, and I was blown away,” says Karen.

For colors, Karen kept showing Millman images of kitchens with white cabinets, except for one gray kitchen. While Karen was drawn to the gray, she told Millman, “I like it, but I don’t think I have the courage to actually do it.” Fortunately, Millman pushed her out of her comfort zone, choosing a grayish-blue-beige stain color, which allows the warmth of the walnut cabinetry to come through.

“A home full of color was the goal,” says Millman, who shopped with Karen to buy new furnishings and accessories from the third floor all the way down. “We chose all new, fun and playful items. Every room in this house was touched. Every wall was painted. Every fixture replaced.”

With individual hangout spaces for the kids and a lounge area for grandma, the living room, which already had great proportions, is a space where everybody comes together.

The house has seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and Grandma Lucy worked with Millman in designing her spaces.

“My mother and I are very close,” says Karen, the youngest of four. “So when we moved in, it felt like we were on vacation every day. We’d pour wine, order takeout, play cornhole in the backyard. I never wanted to leave.”

This article originally appeared in Connecticut Magazine. Follow on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag.

Jane Beiles/ Contributed photo The color-splashed living room is where the large family comes to relax, play games and simply be together.