Jerry and Pat – Natural, Peaceful, Home
Persona:
Retired couple – love art and natural elements, need an updated and peaceful space with an outdoor retreat.
Problem:
Entire home looked dated and tired. Needed an outdoor retreat.
Solution:
Inside: Re-finished kitchen cabinets, changed the color scheme throughout the house, added custom-made armoire, columns, furnishings, art by Angelique, remodeled all three, full bathrooms featuring two-person Kohler spa tub, walk-in rainshower with body jets and sand-textured tile, heated tile and hardwood flooring, utility, task and mood lighting.
Outside: Created a welcoming entrance to the front door, with a drive and walkway that look like natural stone. Lighted staircase, column and knee wall. At the back of the home, created a large deck and screened porch, making an open and inviting outdoor retreat.
Tips:
Create a clear path from the drive way or the curb to the front door. Unify the look of the house carrying the same natural elements from the outdoors to the indoors. The back of the house is still part of the house, so make sure it ties in nicely with the rest – it doesn’t look like an after thought even if it’s an addition.
Fun Facts:
Think big and in color!
Deck
Initially, the couple thought it would be a good idea to simply pour an extra couple of feet onto their existing 8 x 12 concrete pad to make a nicer deck area. When Angelique asked them how they planned to use the space, she discovered that they had many needs which could not be fulfilled by that plan. They wanted to walk straight out from home onto deck, no steps for safety and bad knees, enclosed area away from bugs, some areas shaded or somewhat shaded from sun, but not covered. Their original thought would not accommodate these needs. As you can see, the results are far more beautiful and effective than anything they could have imagined on their own.
Sitting Room
After learning that Jerry enjoys coffee and sunshine in the mornings, Angelique suggested a ‘sitting room’ adjacent the kitchen that would bring in the morning sunshine by adding an extra-large window. Traditionally, this area was used as a dining room, so the area would require rearranging. They were almost certain that they would not use a sitting room and that it would go vacant. Angelique understood their lifestyle, and asked them to trust her, saying, ‘you’ll be surprised how much you like having this room here!’ As you can see, they decided to add the sitting room and window. Each of them have called Angelique while sitting in that room, in the morning sunshine, sharing coffee and conversation, proclaiming how much they love that room and how they can’t believe they almost missed it!
Color
The couple lived with white walls for 25 years. Pat wanted to experiment with color but was paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong choice. Angelique suggested neutral pastels in complementary colors, and now the couple can’t imagine ever living with white walls again!
