When a couple decided to start from the ground up instead of renovating their Westport property, they knew exactly whom to call. Having completed a project—an apartment in Chicago—for them previously, Chicago-based Steve Kadlec, of Kadlec Architecture + Design, was top of the homeowners’ list. “Our previous home had been much more traditional colonial clapboard, and now that we had the opportunity to start from scratch, it was very exciting to get something that we wanted,” says the homeowner. “My vision was something that would still be appropriate for a New England setting but feel contemporary, fresh, and comfortable for a family with three boys. Kadlec came on board after the couple had hired Connecticut-based, architect-led, design-build firm Vita Design Group. “VitaDesign had done the layout and exterior elevations, and we tweaked some of the planning and specified the interior finishes and millwork details,” explains Kadlec. “We had done contemporary for the client in Chicago, and they liked that and wanted to avoid some of the trappings of an East Coast home without it being out of place.” While the exterior of the home has a distinct East Coast vibe, the interior shifts to a more contemporary feel. Details like door profiles and trimwork have all the elements of a traditional home but are rendered in a simple way so that it seems less fussy and ornate. A limited color palette allows rooms to flow quietly from one to another, while varied textures and materials add depth and warmth. (See more.)