“People are looking at the same view day after day, and they are ready for a change,” says Marci Knoff, local interior designer and owner of Marci Knoff Interiors. “The other driver is the inability to travel—several trips got cancelled, and that freed up resources for a redo of spaces. It’s such an odd time, so people are just looking for anything they can do to improve their situation at home. They are happy projects, so it’s good for mental health!”
Knoff recently redesigned this entire home in March of 2020. The main focus was for all five family members to have a space to call their own.
“This family has three young children, and they wanted them each to have more space. Kids’ rooms provide a great place for self-expression and a place to escape from siblings—each of their kids can have friends over and have room to be separated. They also wanted their out-of-town family to be able to visit and have their own space as well.”
Unique features throughout the home make life easier and more functional.
“The pantry has a second fridge and a large countertop area that’s great for stashing items away when preparing to entertain. The laundry room is huge and contains a special spot for the dog. It has so much light, and the color makes you feel happy even while doing laundry.”
Knoff believes every home needs a mudroom.
“It’s a stress-relieving space for everyone because items have a home. Their second front door leads to a spacious mudroom so the kids can watch for carpool rides.”
The master bathroom is the perfect place to unwind—for sick days and soothing allergies, there’s a steam shower and a large tub.
“The tub gets used on a daily basis and creates a peaceful ritual for the homeowners.”
When designing this home, Knoff wanted the rooms to have plenty of options for seating.
“I like the kitchen and great room area—it’s such a great space for everyone to be together but not on top of each other. The homeowner also loves the space because it leads to a screened-in porch and amazing patio area. If someone is watching TV in the great room, there is a cozy spot by the fire for someone to sit and read. The master bedroom and office also have cozy seating areas, so those become ‘getaway spots’ for parents to enjoy some quiet time away from the kids. There are so many different areas in this home to spread out and relax, like the basement, main floor, golf room, the screened porch and loft space upstairs for the kids.”
The homeowners wanted plenty of space where they could play with their kids, so they installed a putting green, an in-ground trampoline, extended their driveway to include Pickleball and basketball, and brought golf indoors with a golf simulator.
“The golf room is used by the entire family to de-stress with a few swings.”
This room is a family favorite—it’s also an extension of the patio and not tucked away in the basement, so that the family can transition from one activity to another together.
“Dan Wessel was the architect and Kurt Ellenberger was the builder, and they are both amazing. We also improved the facade of the house without making it look out of place in the neighborhood. This house is proof that you don’t have to tear down to get large spaces and unique features.”
For more information on Marci Knoff Interiors, visit marciknoff.houzz.com.
