The Dionne twins have worked their magic on a West Hartford cape that will be featured on their national TV show.

By Ronni Newton

A West Hartford home owned by two sisters has been renovated by two brothers – with the striking results filmed as part of a home renovation show to be broadcast on a national TV network.

Christopher and Michael Dionne were in West Hartford over the summer renovating a Hunter Drive home, and the twins are back, and have now put their skills to work on a Fern Street cape that Liz Murphree Kerrigan and her sister Julia Murphree inherited from their father, Bruce, who passed away last year.

The Dionnes contacted realtor Carl Lantz after seeing the listing for 624 Fern St. The rest was history, Lantz said.

“They saw this house and though it would be perfect to renovate! It’s not a cookie cutter, it’s a Crabtree-designed cape so it has some cool details and is built extremely well … good bones,” Lantz said. Walter Crabtree, who died in 1962, was a noted Connecticut architect, and some of his works appear on the National Register of Historic Places.

The four-bedroom, two-bath home includes just over 1,700 square feet of living space, with the master bedroom on the main level.

Key changes to the home include modernizing the kitchen, which initially featured an avocado green electric stove and outdated cabinetry of a similar vintage. The new open-concept kitchen boasts high-end stainless steel appliances and pristine white cabinets and counters.

Bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as the exterior landscaping, have also been updated and modernized as part of the Dionne’s renovations.

Kerrigan said she thrilled with the renovations to the home, for many reasons. “The transformation is wonderful because of the way it looks, but it’s also easier to make the transition,” Kerrigan said about parting with her father’s home.

An open house was held on Oct. 1, as part of the filming for the yet-to-be-scheduled show. More details will be available regarding that broadcast.

There will be another open house on Sunday, Oct. 8, from 1-3 p.m. The home is also available for private showings.

Before and after photos, courtesy of realtor Carl Lantz, can be found below.

For more information about 624 Fern St., click here or contact Lantz at 860-463-9955

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