Refreshed. Reimagined. Remarkable!
Remodel accomplishes everything and more for a family of four
Text by Cheryl Alexander | Photography and Interiors by The Design Firm
When Brian and Kelli met 21 years ago as college freshmen, they were aware that it might be a while before they could finally settle down in a dream home. After undergraduate work, Brian went to medical school in Dallas and Kelli attended physician assistant school in Midland. An internship in Roanoke, Virginia was followed by a residency in Seattle, Washington. In each stop, the couple lived in a rental.
After moving to Houston in 2008, Brian went to work as an ophthalmologist at Mann Eye Institute and Kelli began work as a physician assistant for a local gynecological oncologist, and the couple bought their first home together where they lived for eight years. In 2016, they found a home in a gated community with a bigger backyard for their two boys — Dean, 5, and Vaughn, 3 — a pool and an outdoor entertaining area. The home, though large enough – almost double the square footage as their previous home – needed some updates.
The couple decided to remodel their master bath and convert one of the five bedrooms into a media room. They additionally wanted to reimagine the home’s interior aesthetic and outdoor entertaining space.
“We previously had old furniture that we had accumulated from friends and family from moving all over as students without money,” said Brian. “It was time to have our own place with new furniture and make it how we wanted now that we could afford it.”
“We are science and math people without an artistic vision, which is why we put our full faith in The Design Firm,” said Kelli. “Our only instruction to them was to design with livability, durability and ease of cleaning in mind as our boys crawl on everything and love to play hard.”
“Our goal was to give this family something timeless, elegant and one-of-a-kind,” said Kara Wuellner of The Design Firm. “We also wanted to make sure the design spoke to both Brian and Kelli and be a place where they could really see and feel that their work through graduate and medical schools had paid off. As well, with two little boys, the design also needed to be practical. Overall, the goal was to make the home feel warm and inviting with a few surprises around every corner.”
The home’s master suite was an important part of the makeover. Because both Brian and Kelli work long hours in intense jobs, having a tranquil private space was hugely important. The couple felt the original master bath had a strange layout with two toilets and a tiny shower. Now it feels like a home spa with its large double shower with multiple shower heads. Soft colors, curvy furniture, tone-on-tone color and glossy glass tiles make this a cohesive and inviting suite.
Brian and Kelli really wanted a media room. Because they are a family of four in a five-bedroom home, it made sense to convert the fifth bedroom. The couple opted for a vintage theatre theme and began by adding a riser and draping off the window with a lined-velvet drape. They selected a dark trim color to add character and a deep teal tone to complement the dark movie room atmosphere and minimize glare. Too, everyone has perfect seating: Brian and Kelli have red leather reclining chairs in the back, and the boys have a cozy sofa in front.
Color selections played a big role in this home’s remodel. With a young family at home who love pattern and color, redesigning the new spaces presented the perfect opportunity to embrace a spirited sense of fun. The couple embraced the chance to experiment with new color palettes.
“Why live life in black and white when you can surround yourself with a spectrum of colors that deliver youthful, family-friendly style at home?” said Kara. “Brian and Kelli are pretty adventurous, so we derived color inspiration from several of their hiking and backpacking trips.”
The couple successfully conquered Mount Kilimanjaro, so the designers looked to colors that matched how they described the sky once they reached the top. Shades of blues in all directions are balanced by earth tones, whites and crystals in the main living spaces. In the office, a deeper blue gives off a sophisticated, masculine vibe and supports the wood paneling, which can otherwise seem dated. In the outdoor living area, paintings and hanging succulents bring pops of color that complement both the pool and the indoor palette.
Extraordinary finishes were included in reimagining the spaces. A faux finish transformed the dining room, which has a typical flat ceiling. To give it depth and interest, the designers installed a painted replica of a coffered ceiling. In the family room, the media cabinet was made over. Formerly, it was a dark brown and black wooden built-in that spanned an entire wall and completely overpowered the room. Refinishing it with metallic paint transformed it into a masterpiece. In the kitchen, a small design element – a raw-edge – transformed the island.
“By using two different countertops and keeping the edge natural and varied, we brought the outdoors in,” said Kara, “and now it’s an eye-catcher.”
The size of each space is another thing that makes this home special. Each room is expansive either in depth or height. Many windows naturally open the space and create the feeling that each room goes on and on. Ample seating and an area to move about prevent anyone from feeling awkward or stuffy, while warm colors and a variety of soft textures invite the homeowners and their guests to get comfortable and relax.
The remodel is remarkable, and Brian and Kelli love it.
“Our home is gorgeous, and everyone loves it as soon as they step inside the door,” said Brian. “It is also warm and inviting, so that no one was afraid to relax and kick up their feet. Most importantly, it stands up to our young boys. We didn’t think we could meet all of those criteria, but we did.”
They aren’t finished yet.
“We hope to start the upstairs remodel soon,” said Kelli. “We will convert one room to an exercise room, redo the guestroom and guest bath. Down the road, we will do the game room and boys’ bedrooms, but we need them to get a bit older before tackling those projects.”
Right now, the couple is focused on making memories in the home where their boys will grow up and where they will enjoy themselves with friends and family for years to come.
TOP IMAGE: The home’s entry opens into the living room dressed in lilac and baby blue. The floor-to-ceiling windows make it difficult to see where the indoors ends and the out doors begins.Various heights and textures and interest to this inviting space.
The breakfast nook combines traditional chairs with a banquette to mix things up. The round table, round chair backs and round chandelier shade are cohesive design elements.
An accent wall in the living room is accessorized with a mirror, console and accent pieces that transform an otherwise nondescript wall into something beautiful.
The grand entry and staircase immediately draw the eye up towards a tiered chandelier. Apart from a colorful welcoming spot, this space is open, bright and dramatic.
A cocktail area sports royal blue, modernizing the traditional wood paneling. Barrel back chairs in a royal velvet fabric alongside matching drapery harmonize and elevate this sophisticated room. The homeowners’ travel photos give the space more personality.
Custom stonework in the kitchen is brought to life with custom, blue barstools. The design is both inviting to guests and open to all the family areas, making it the heart of this home. The tone-on-tone color scheme allows custom fabrics to pop, artwork to stand out and keeps the “busy” to a minimum.
The large kitchen includes a unique leathered black stone that contrasts perfectly with the white cabinetry.
A stunning vessel sink in the powder bath is accompanied by a backsplash formed of gold metallic square glass tiles. Shade of violet in the acrylic shell art offer complementary colors.
Softly striped walls, low hanging mood lighting and nail head details on the chairs add to the elegant character of this dining room.
Placing a special piece of art above an interesting piece of furniture creates an eye-catching vignette.
The romantic and relaxing master suite is finished in blues, grays and white and is centered around a stunning carved mirror. Spa colors and relaxed living make this private space a true retreat.
The movie room is outfitted for the whole family. Two rectangular, white-washed starburst console tables sitting side-by-side provide storage for the equipment while blown glass artwork adds dimension and whimsy.
Geometric landscape shapes define the backyard pergola. Pops of aqua and a TV make this the perfect space to entertain and relax.
Outside is a quaint area for smaller gatherings or grilling out for a pool party. More intimate and organic, the patio is a great space for lighter get-togethers.
Refreshed. Reimagined. Remarkable!
