Home for the Holidays

Written by Ashley Rockamann

The holidays are a time when dreams come true, and what could be better than getting to decorate for your favorite holiday in your dream house?

Looking through magazines or watching popular remodeling shows, we all tend to imagine our picture perfect home. Acustom designed dream house or at least a redecorated version of our current residence. For a local business owner and his wife, Shelli, these ideas were turned into reality.

Shelli spent time flipping through magazines looking at designs, colors and decorations of home interiors. Her interest soon became a hobby as she found herself cutting out pictures from magazines and saving them in a folder. These were more than just scraps of paper she would never use. They were visions of her dream home. “I loved to go look at display homes. When it came time to build here I just took a lot of my wish list and my dream pictures to the architect,” says Shelli.

Because of her passion for decorating, practicality was important to Shelli when designing this home. Instead of stashing decorating supplies wherever she could find room, like in her previous house, Shelli has a closet specifically for storage. Her closet of creativity holds seasonal décor for the main floor of the house. The holiday season is a time that Shelli’s interest in interior design can be used to its fullest potential. She has more decorations for the holidays than any other season, with a Christmas tree for almost every room in the house. Each tree is decorated to match the color and theme of the room that it is in. For example the tree in the basement is colored with decorations that match the hunting feel along with pheasant feathers to bring the tree and the room all together with a flowing style. The tree on the main level is very formal and colored with the warm red and gold found throughout the living room. Along with the trees in many of the rooms, Shelli has nutcrackers, holiday scented candles, and greenery to bring the winter, holiday feel in her home.

Custom built three years ago by Fisher and Fritchel, the home is positioned so when guests walk in the front door they are greeted with a panoramic view of the picturesque backyard. A stunning arrangement of the trees and a peaceful lake are complimented in the spring by dogwood and rose bud blossoms.

Warm and inviting no matter what the season, the features that create a social atmosphere also make this house unique. The home is equipped with a Crestron system, which basically controls the whole house. A digital keypad controls the temperature, television, radio, and security system. With help from the Sound Room, the homeowners are able to control the house without leaving the comfy couch. Another great feature is the home theatre with a big movie screen, couches, and a collection of movies to choose from. The family loves all the modern conveniences of the modern world, but Shelli also likes the Old World, which can be seen in her decorating style.

Shelli says the two styles most appealing to her are Traditional and Old World. She used both to make her own style, while creating a comfortable environment for herself and her family. To emphasize the Old World style she uses a unique combination of red and gold in the living room. Pillars and arches create the entrance to the combined open area of the living room and dining room. The homeowners like the open floor concept because it creates an inviting and social atmosphere. In this area there is a stone fireplace, a piano, and a large dining table. The elaborate table is decorated with table pieces, plates and glasses and multiple seating areas. This layout is aesthetically pleasing as well as practical.

Continuing down the hall, you will find the stately master suite. Floor to ceiling windows give an enchanting view of the backyard. A fireplace and balcony make this room comfortable day and night. The balcony is used to sit and greet the day while drinking a cup of coffee, while the fireplace is relaxing and comforting in the evening. The bedroom décor maintains the Old World style with brilliant colors and brass accents. Moving into the master bathroom, you notice a fireplace directly above the tub and a flat screen television on the wall. This creates a relaxing and luxurious bathing experience. The bathroom has oil rubbed fixtures and cherry cabinets to incorporate the style of the main level of the house.

On the main level, along with the living room/dining room combination and the master bedroom, there is a kitchen and hearth room. The kitchen includes state of the art appliances including a double oven, warming drawers, one full size dishwasher, separate dishwasher drawers, and a sub zero refrigerator. Shelli says she spends most of her time in the kitchen. She especially enjoys having a television in the kitchen, although it’s not her favorite feature. “Believe it or not, my favorite thing is my ice maker,” says Shelli. She uses it everyday and finds it to be very practical. The kitchen also has a coffee center with a coffee maker and cabinets filled with mugs, grinds, and creamers. The placement of the sink and cook top were well thought out. “I put my sink and my cook top here looking into the hearth room so I didn’t have to have my back to the activity in the room. I could clean up or cook and see what’s going on,” says Shelli. They have a table for eight in the kitchen area but most often guests choose to sit at the bar area. “We are very family oriented,” which is the reasoning behind the amount of space and chairs. Remarks the homeowner, “You know how they always say people congregate in the kitchen, they do not get far from the counter area!”

Connected to the kitchen is the beloved hearth room. This room is a place the family can sit and relax while taking in the view of the lake and wildlife that sometimes visits. The decorations and colors carry on the same warm red and gold colors as well as the style of the furniture and décor from the living room.

The basement has an entirely different feel than the main level. Designed to appeal to the men in the family, it incorporates a hunting theme. There is a full kitchen, two bedrooms, two baths, a living area, fireplace, and the home movie theatre. This part of the house is used to share hunting stories, watch movies, or play games such as chess, cards or pool. The basement is painted mainly in shades of brown and decorated with hunted pheasants, ducks, geese, and other animals. The guest bedroom is painted in the trendy colors of brown and blue to give a relaxing feel. All the bedrooms in the house are sizeable with walk-in closets and private bathrooms. Connected to the basement is what the homeowners call “The Man Room.” This room is used to store hunting gear and necessities, and to reload their own shells. Stairs lead from the man room to the garage, ensuring that hunting supplies don’t have to be carried through the house. The basement is a great place for the men to get away and do “man things.”

The upper level of the house is decorated in a Safari style. This level has its own living area and kitchenette with a couch, table and chairs, sink, refrigerator, and microwave as well as a television. This level has two bedrooms and two baths consistently decorated with safari patterns and animals. The complimentary colors are light and dark browns with bamboo shades. Each level of the house has its own theme and feel to cater to who will use it the most.

The upper level of the house is decorated in a Safari style. This level has its own living area and kitchenette with a couch, table and chairs, sink, refrigerator, and microwave as well as a television. This level has two bedrooms and two baths consistently decorated with safari patterns and animals. The complimentary colors are light and dark browns with bamboo shades. Each level of the house has its own theme and feel to cater to who will use it the most.