sleek revival

Vintage houses draw us in with their detailed facades, gracious proportions, and period charm. But let’s be honest: Once inside, we want light and bright living areas with large windows, kitchens with room to gather, bedrooms with big closets, and, ideally, a bath for each member of the family. While we’re at it, we want every modern convenience, too, including mechanical systems that keep us comfortable and, when possible, technology that anticipates our needs. Our 2019 Idea House in New Canaan, Connecticut, does all this and more, while preserving a piece of local history.

By the time developer Arnold Karp took on the project, the Greek Revival house was in need of some serious TLC. With only parts of the 1840s facade and northwest corner salvageable, the rest—much of it haphazardly added in the 1960s and early 2000s—was ripe for reinvention. So, with the town’s blessing, Karp and his team restored and rebuilt the original house’s classical facade (above, on the left), as well as a street-facing addition (on the right). Then they redesigned the rest, adding contemporary design elements and the kind of spaces today’s families crave: an open-plan kitchen/living/family room with a separate “working kitchen” to keep messes out of sight; outdoor space for dining and entertaining; a second-floor laundry room; and a full-service side entry with a mudroom and a second powder room. Every bedroom has generous closet space and an en suite bath. The master suite, which opens onto a private deck, is outfitted with dual walk-in closets