Clear Thinking

West Hartford-based architect Joseph Buchek worked with the homeowners to bring their vision to life, using their provided images and sketches as guides. “One of our primary goals was to open the living spaces to the western view,” he said. “This was accomplished by using expansive areas of glass doors and windows on the western façade.”

Outside, the couple desired a traditional New England presentation. “We wanted it to look like it has been here for decades,” Natalie said of their new-old goals. “I’ve always loved gables of brick, and we left the grout a little messy to give the exterior an old-world feel.” The white finish is an homage to the white clapboards on Briana’s childhood home. While the home’s bones communicate tradition, the interiors skew more contemporary. “We call it modern-traditional.”

One of the biggest considerations in the overall design was the glazing. “I sought out the biggest windows we could fit in our spaces,” Natalie said. “I grew up in San Diego, so it was really important to me to have lots of light and a connection to the outdoors.”

The couple worked closely with Michael Altieri of Country Lumber to identify the perfect windows for their new home. After careful research, the Hildts decided on the Marvin Essential collection, a durable, maintenance-free fiberglass window option. With a baby on the way, they were drawn to the collection’s longevity and, as home professionals, were impressed with its clean lines and versatility in accommodating oversized specs.

Before breaking ground, the couple visited the 7 Tide building in Boston’s Seaport District to browse Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances in the Clarke showroom. At the same time, they utilized the Marvin Experience Center to visualize their windows and doors in their actual size and scale. The visit was a game changer. “When we saw our windows on the screen, I knew right away I wanted them to be bigger,” Natalie said. “This step was invaluable—it was so important to the project’s success.”

A purposeful sense of airiness begins in the front entry, where a delicate glass chandelier hangs from a 20-foot-high ceiling. This grandness continues in the two-story great room, with six-foot windows topping sliding French doors. This wall of transparent glass prefaces a porch, poolscape, and the landscape beyond. For Briana, the vaulted living space conjures childhood memories.

“When I was younger, my dad built houses on the side, and my favorite had a catwalk overlooking a two-story living room,” she said. “It was always full of light.”

The kitchen, which overlooks the great room in an open-concept arrangement, anchors the interior design’s prevalence of neutral colors and light woods. Its showpiece is a custom range hood with molding details designed by the couple and executed by finish carpenters. Chef-friendly appliances include a Wolf range and a Sub-Zero refrigerator, freezer, and wine storage unit.

“I wanted the kitchen to feel like a beautiful piece of artwork,” Natalie said. She eschewed anything cold or sterile in her quest for warm and inviting. Woven stools from Studio McGee emit a natural, organic feel. Leather pendant lights add yet another layer of texture. Nearby, a breakfast nook projects out toward the view from the main mass of the home. Its five 42-inch by 78-inch windows create the look of a transparent surround.

Inspired by their time in San Diego, Natalie and Briana valued their outdoor living spaces as much as their interior retreats. A walkout basement opens to an elegant poolscape with bluestone decking, a poolhouse, an outdoor shower, and a fully outfitted outdoor kitchen. “Our backyard is very much an entertainer’s paradise,” they agreed with a laugh.