Susan Lucci has breathed new life into the Long Island home she shared with her late husband Helmut Huber, creating a bright and welcoming space that honors their decades of memories while embracing a fresh chapter. The “All My Children” legend recently opened her doors to Architectural Digest, revealing how she transformed the 7,000-square-foot Garden City property into what she calls “a happy place.”
The daytime television icon faced a crossroads after losing her husband in 2022, questioning whether she should sell the home they had cherished since purchasing it in 1978. Instead of starting over elsewhere, Lucci chose to reimagine the space they had built together, working with a talented mother-daughter design team to create something both familiar and renewed.
The renovation project began with modest intentions but quickly expanded as inspiration flowed through each room of the 1927 Georgian Colonial. Lucci collaborated with longtime decorator Betty Barbatsuly and her daughter Lisa Richardson, whose combined expertise brought both experience and a new perspective to the ambitious undertaking.
The transformation required a delicate balance between preserving meaningful pieces that connected Lucci to her past and introducing contemporary elements that would brighten her future. Rather than erasing the history embedded in the home’s walls, the design team found ways to celebrate it through thoughtful updates and careful curation.
The property sits on a one-acre lot in a cul-de-sac location and has an estimated value of nearly $4 million, making it a significant investment that reflects Lucci’s deep attachment to the family residence where she raised her two children.
A Designer Partnership Across Generations
Lucci’s decision to bring in both Barbatsuly and Richardson created a unique dynamic that enhanced the renovation process. “Susan wanted us to come look at her family room and kitchen, to give it a fresh look,” Richardson explained to Architectural Digest. “But then we went from room to room and the inspiration just kept going.”
The collaboration proved particularly valuable when deciding which existing pieces to keep versus replace. Richardson, who belongs to the same generation as Lucci’s children, surprised the actress by advocating for preserving several antique furnishings with sentimental value.
“She recognized the quality of things,” Lucci shared with the outlet. “I was about to auction my mahogany Chippendale chairs, and I kept thinking, ‘Gee, they’re so beautiful.'” Those chairs remained in the home, transformed with an off-white lacquer finish and paired with contemporary pieces for a refreshed look.
The design team’s approach created spaces that feel both timeless and current, using white walls, pearl-toned fabrics, and glass accents to bring luminosity throughout the residence. The exterior also received attention, with white siding and cobalt-blue shutters replacing the previous pale yellow color scheme.
Lucci expressed particular appreciation for working with both generations of designers. “I was so happy to have both generations’ eyes on this project and work with both of them,” she said. “They’re both so talented.”
Meaningful Details and Personal Touches
One of the most significant changes involved converting the previously neglected attic into a glamorous dressing room that spans the entire third floor. This transformation gave Lucci the space she needed to properly organize her extensive collection of gowns from decades in the entertainment industry.
“It’s the whole third floor, so I am able to store all my gowns in a very orderly fashion,” she explained. “It makes me smile when I walk up there.”
The renovation also included thoughtful details that maintain connections to Huber’s memory. In the dining room, a burnished silver chandelier with a feather motif holds special significance for Lucci, who believes her late husband sends her feathers as signs of his continued presence.
“When he passed away, a good friend sent me a book called Signs, and in my case, [I believe] my husband has sent me feathers,” she shared. “He was a classically trained chef, so for him to have a presence in the dining room seems so appropriate.”
Barbatsuly, who has known Lucci for four decades, understood the emotional importance of the project. “Susan is sentimental about some things, and they were definitely going to stay,” she noted. “Those went into the planning.”
The completed renovation successfully achieved Lucci’s goal of creating a brighter, more contemporary space while maintaining the home’s character and the memories it holds.
Comments
Susan Lucci Transforms Family Home After Husband’s Passing [PHOTOS]