R
ahul Barua and Winnie Wong, a couple based in Los Angeles, decided to leave the West Coast after meeting in 2021. Initially, they looked for a home in Southern California but were deterred by a wildfire that ravaged an area where they'd recently camped. They visited the East Coast on a road trip through the Hudson Valley and Connecticut, where Mr. Barua had grown up.

    The couple spent three to four months renovating a house his parents owned in West Hartford, Conn., while working their full-time remote jobs. When the work was complete, they were given the house to manage, but it wasn't big enough for them to live in permanently. They began looking for a new home with a light-filled design and plenty of space for guests on a substantial piece of land.

    With a budget range of $400,000 to $700,000, they worked with Realtor Michael Truong to find their ideal property. After three years of searching, they considered several options, including:

    A modernist home in Bloomfield designed by Tai Soo Kim, which had a partially open floor plan and stylish original details but also dated ones.

    A midcentury modern home in West Hartford built into a hillside, featuring an expansive feel with glassy facade and natural materials connecting it to the outdoors.

    A prefabricated Acorn Deck House in South Glastonbury, with a huge wall of windows and a wood-burning fireplace in the open living area.

    The couple ultimately chose the modernist home in Bloomfield for its unique design and natural surroundings.