Alex Fawcett had been looking for a midcentury fixer-upper for two years before he found this one tucked among the trees in Northford, Connecticut. When he purchased it from the sellers, he learned that it had been designed and built in 1956 by their father, local architect Cyril K. Smith, who had studied at Yale under Louis Kahn. “It’s actually the only residence that [Smith] did, as he was an architect that mostly focused on commercial buildings,” says Alex. “It was like his Case Study home. So, it was of that era and of that time.”

Alex became the second owner after promising Smiths’ children that any changes would uphold the home’s innate design sense. What followed was a hands-on remodel, with the interior designer doing much of the work with help from family and friends. His approach combines new insertions, like IKEA kitchen cabinets and Pella windows, with an embrace of the old. “I really wanted to create something that made it feel authentic, that didn’t feel like it was new,” he says.

Alex’s primary intervention was in the entry and kitchen, the latter of which was “tight quarters.” A T-wall partitioned the entry from the living spaces, and also separated the kitchen and dining area from the living room.

In order to open up those passage points and create a sight line that connects the main living spaces, he enlisted his brother’s help to remove the wall. During demolition, they learned it was providing structural support. After consulting with an engineer, they special-ordered and installed two 32-by-12-foot beams to shore up the structure.

Before: Kitchen and Dining Room

The kitchen would be the most labor-intensive undertaking. To start, it had been remodeled in the ’70s or ’80s, and the floor was raised as a result. “That was kind of a big deal because we had to pick up two layers of subfloor, and then figure out how to get the floor to be at the same level,” says Alex.

The designer opened up the kitchen a bit more by removing a wall and reconfiguring the layout, making sure to keep plumbing in place to keep the costs down. Matte-black IKEA cabinets are another cost-saving measure that delivers a striking counterpoint to the wood-clad interior.

Alex’s design approach is intuitive. “I'm very much moved by a space. When I design spaces, I realize I have to be in them,” he says. “I have to spend time with the space and take it all in, and have it tell me what it wants. And I always knew from the get-go, ‘This house needs a black kitchen.’”

After: Kitchen and Dining Room

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Removing the T-wall also eased the circulation in the entry. There, Alex removed the walls enclosing the stairwell to instill even more airiness, and replaced them with a slatted accent wall.

Before: Entry

After: Entry

In the living room, Alex kept the natural rock that composed the fireplace column, just removing the screen that engulfed it. He refinished the original built-in mahogany unit and the wood floors throughout. “It took me probably a good two weeks to redo all the floors. I rented a sander from Home Depot,” he says. “They were a dark-brownish stain, and I really wanted to lighten the floors up because the ceilings are dark.”

The windows were replaced with new black-framed units from Pella, and Alex changed their pattern so the upper portion is a large picture window that captures views to the trees outside. Furnishings and accessories were collected over time, mixing store buys with auction and Craigslist finds. “I really love collecting; I just have a really big passion for it,” says Alex of the mix.

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

Before: Bedroom

After: Bedroom

The many hours of labor that Alex has put into the home is in deference to his own family, as well as the original architect’s legacy. “As a young child, I was always helping my father with projects,” he says. “He passed away, and this project is like an homage. Not only to him—it’s my first real project that I’m doing for myself. It’s really phenomenal the things that you can accomplish when you put your mind to it.”

Casa Yamagoya is available to rent on Airbnb.

More Before & After:

A Los Angeles Bungalow Opens to a Gorgeous Garden Oasis

An Interior Designer Rescues a California Desert Cabin From Drab Finishes

A Riverside Cabin in Oregon Gets a Blindingly Bright Renovation

Project Credits:

Interior Design: Alex Fawcett / @alcfawcett

Lighting Design: Souda Brooklyn

Cabinets: IKEA

Photography: Sean Litchfield

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Before & After: A Timeworn Midcentury in Connecticut Gets a Moody Makeover