Connecticut Teardown Rescued and Rebuilt with Raised Roof

This CT-focused blog post follows Al and Sue Ravitz as they transform a neglected 1929 country house in Wilton into a modernist retreat. The place now blends personal art, midcentury design, and a real respect for preservation.

The renovation turns the space above the garage into a bright studio and office. At the same time, it honors the home’s history and landscape, letting the place breathe as a lived-in sanctuary that nods to Connecticut’s design culture.

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From neglect to a modernist retreat: A Wilton renovation that honors its past

Al and Sue bought the house in 2018 as a weekend escape and a spot for their grandchildren. For years, a previous owner had focused on landscaping but let the interiors sit untouched.

Instead of tearing it all down, they went for restoration. They preserved key exterior and landscape features, but rethought the interior flow to match their artistic lives.

Above the detached garage, they built a new studio and office with a soaring cathedral ceiling. Custom timber framing defines the space, and sunlight pours in—it’s become a daily highlight.

Professional church restorers handled the plaster work, using traditional smoothing techniques for a finish that feels both refined and lasting. That attention to detail is everywhere you look.

Design philosophy: art, craft, and a curated collection

Al Ravitz, a painter and psychiatrist, and Sue Ravitz, a self-taught fiber artist, display their own work alongside a carefully chosen collection of modernist and midcentury pieces. Their taste leans toward evocative, pared-down forms and objects they’ve collected over decades—think Achille Castiglioni and pieces from the Dutch design collective Droog.

Sue’s knitted and woven rugs wind through the rooms, tying the home’s textures together in a way that just feels right. The renovation kept much of the house’s spirit—stained-glass panels, those distinctive red kitchen cabinets—while adding thoughtful touches like penny tile in the bathroom.

The landscape is mostly untouched, with a pool and a wild field of hostas softening the architecture and rooting the house in its place. There’s a sense that every decision, big or small, was made with care.

A Connecticut-inspired journey: from Wilton to nearby towns

The Ravitzes’ project channels a kind of Connecticut vibe that winds through towns like Wilton, Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Westport, Fairfield, Danbury, Bridgeport, and New Haven.

Design communities in Hartford, New London, and Mystic also pick up on this blend, where old homes butt up against modern life. Even in Wilton itself, or nearby places like Norwalk, Bantam, and Branford, you’ll spot that same urge: keep the soul, but let in new materials and fresh ideas.

Studio above the garage with a cathedral ceiling
Custom timber structure supporting open, airy spaces
Plaster ceiling restored with traditional smoothing techniques
Original stained-glass preserved
Red kitchen cabinets kept as a bold historic detail
Penny-tile bathroom as a refined nod to period detail
Sue’s textiles integrated throughout the home
Landscape retention, including a pool and hostas, grounding the design

The Ravitzes chatted with local artists and collectors, transforming a neglected structure into something like a gallery, but still warm and personal. Now, it’s a modernist retreat—distinct, lived-in, and honestly, pretty enviable for anyone in Waterbury, Bridgeport, or Old Saybrook who’s dreaming up their own version.

Here is the source article for this story: They Rescued a Connecticut Teardown and Raised the Roof

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