Helping Essex couple transform historic home into their dream coastal retreat
ESSEX, Conn. (WTNH) — After seven years of saving and planning, an Essex couple transformed a historic 1839 home into the coastal retreat they always envisioned.
Sally and Tom Riggio, both Essex natives, returned to the shoreline community where they grew up, looking for the perfect place to begin their next chapter as empty nesters. They found it in a historic home dating back to 1839, but it needed significant renovations.
The couple contracted K.P. LaMarco Roofing & Siding to preserve the home’s character while creating the classic nautical aesthetic they envisioned.
“After all the years of dreaming, it was exactly the type of work and aesthetic that I was looking for,” Sally Riggio said.
Kevin LaMarco, owner of K.P. LaMarco Roofing & Siding, said historic homes often come with unexpected challenges, but the goal remained the same: honoring the homeowners’ vision while preserving the home’s charm.
The result is a dramatic transformation that blends coastal New England style with the property’s historic character.
Now settled into their renovated home, the Riggios say they couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
“The only way I’m leaving is toes up,” Sally Riggio said. “We’re not leaving. This is it.”
The homeowners were so pleased with the exterior renovation that K.P. LaMarco Roofing & Siding has since begun additional interior framework.
