“All My Children” star Susan Lucci has opened up about her decision to hold on to her longtime Long Island home, even after her husband, Helmut Huber, died—admitting that she loves that fact she still sees her spouse “everywhere” in the abode.
Lucci, 78—whose memoir, “La Lucci” is hitting shelves in February—and Huber resided in the 7,000-square-foot property for over 40 years, and it continues to be filled with many “happy” memories that the actress has cherished in the wake of her husband’s death.
However, she has now admitted that when her spouse died at the age of 84 in March 2022, she debated leaving the property, telling Architectural Digest that she even thought about “moving to the city.”
“After I lost my husband, I asked myself, ‘Am I supposed to sell and buy a condo? Should I move to the city?’ In the end, I realized how much I value this house,“ Lucci, who snapped up the Garden City dwelling in 1978, told the outlet.
Although she toyed around with the idea of leaving the space behind, she ultimately decided to stay in the home—however, she carried out a complete renovation of the space.
“I see my husband everywhere—but in a good way. I decided to redo it and make it a happy place,” she explained.
When she made the decision to renovate the property, she rang her longtime decorator, Betty Barbatsuly, who suggested they involve her daughter, Lisa Richardson, who is also a decorator.
“Susan wanted us to come look at her family room and kitchen, to give it a fresh look, but then we went from room to room and the inspiration just kept going,” Richardson told the outlet.
Barbatsuly and Richardson carried out a complete overhaul of the home, including its exterior.
The facade of the home now boasts blue shutters and white siding, which is also present in the family room.
Inside, the home features an open floor plan with a chef’s kitchen, a charming breakfast area, and a salon.
“I really wanted to freshen everything up, with cleaner lines and no clutter. At the same time, I didn’t want it to look like an apartment in the city. This is a house built in 1927,” Lucci said.
The actress was thrilled when her decorator suggested keeping some of the same antique furnishings in the property.
“She recognized the quality of things. I was about to auction my mahogany Chippendale chairs, and I kept thinking, ‘Gee, they’re so beautiful,'” Lucci said.
“Susan is sentimental about some things, and they were definitely going to stay. Those went into the planning,” Barbatsuly, who has known the Hollywood star for four decades, said.
The exterior didn’t undergo any major alterations to the home’s structure as it had been updated by Paul Rice Architecture two decades ago.
Barbatsuly and Richardson did renovate the bathrooms, and transformed the abandoned attic into a glamorous dressing room.
“It’s the whole third floor, so I am able to store all my gowns in a very orderly fashion. It makes me smile when I walk up there,” Lucci said.
“She’s so lovely to work with. We got to be good friends. I think it was very hard when she thought about selling [this house]. You just couldn’t do that,” Barbatsuly said.
Huber, who tied the knot to Lucci in 1969, died in March 2022 when he was 84 years old.
“A family man, he was a loyal friend, and loved them deeply. With a roaring sense of humor, larger-than-life personality, and a practical problem-solver, he lived his life to the fullest. Mr. Huber who formerly raced motorcycles in Austria was a first-rate skier, and avid golfer, belonging to the Garden City Golf Club and Westhampton Country Club,” a representative for the family told People at the time.
In addition to Lucci, Huber is survived by his two sons, two daughters, his brother, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
“Helmut’s passing is a tremendous loss for all who knew and loved him. He was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, and friend. The family kindly asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult time,” Lucci’s publicist, Jessica Sciacchitano, said in a statement.
Before becoming a TV producer, Hubert served as an esteemed chef.