When Julie Kelly’s sister, Jennifer Eberle, bought property in Louisville’s Glenmary subdivision more than two decades ago, Julie and her husband Mark were also looking for a change. It turned out that the sisters landed right next to each other.
“Jennifer used to live on (another street in the area),” Julie told The Courier Journal. “(She) bought this plot and started building. My husband and I were ready to get out of where we were, so we started looking for lots, (and) this lot was vacant.… And that’s it. funniest to be neighbors. ”
The sisters have spent countless hours with each other’s families and watched their children grow up together. Recently, they also completed remodeling of the home. After Julie saw what Leslie Lewis-Sheets from LL&A Interior Design was doing at Jennifer’s home, she also decided to make some changes to her home.
Bigger and brighter
“We love the open concept with the great room, dining room and kitchen,” Julie said of her renovated one-and-a-half-story home. Each of the rooms flows smoothly into the next, now connected by wooden floors with wire brush finish.
“Like Jennifer,” she added, “I had carpet in the dining room, I had tiles … in the hall, I had carpet (in the great room), and I had hardwood in the kitchen. There was just so much happening. Now it feels just as it has always been here – that’s how it should have been. “
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Shared flooring throughout helped with the flow of the room. Lewis-Sheets also incorporated a common color scheme – as well as new doors and hardware – to really bring the look together.
“We wanted to lighten it up because she (had) a lot of red and gold and green, which were popular (back then),” when it was built in 2000, Lewis-Sheets explained, adding that the home now has a more neutral palette. “As for (color) inspiration, the two horse prints (hanging over the entrance to the kitchen) help tie it all together.”
Large open spaces
Lewis-Sheets also decorated the windows and added custom treatments to enhance the views they offer of the spacious backyard and pool area as well as the overall space.
“(I added) motorized screens (for the treatment in the great room),” she said, “because it gets beautiful (bright) with the western sun. The sunsets are beautiful.”
Lewis-Sheets adds that in addition to the flooring, new lighting everywhere also helped to give a cohesive look to the home.
“Light fixtures and sconces really helped bring everything together,” she said.
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The large open spaces and the beautiful views, says Julie, also provide a great place to host.
“The downstairs level is wonderful to entertain and the double doors slide open to the outdoor kitchen and pool area,” she said.
Bright kitchen
Although the outdoor kitchen is a great asset for pool parties, it is the main kitchen – with its brand new appliances and extra large island – that really makes a statement. “My husband loves to cook,” Julie explained, “(so) Leslie had the idea for this island.”
Lewis-Sheets explains that she wanted to create a space for cooking and entertainment, but knew she had to incorporate the cherry wood tones into the cabinet, as well as the already existing black granite countertops. “The (Granite) selection was based on the tiles and cherries and the black countertops,” she said.
The 15 and a half foot long island has a built-in Monogram range as well as built-in drawers. At the opposite end, the granite top is circular in shape, like a dining table connected to the cooking room.
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“(Mark) likes to be with everyone when he cooks,” Julie said. “It’s just his thing. (In this way) he gets to interact with people while cooking, and does not miss all the fun. (Plus) while sitting around the island, you can enjoy the wonderful views of our backyard and open fields behind us – we have spectacular sunsets here. “
She adds that she owes Lewis-Sheets her successful remodel and all the happiness it brought her family.
“I want to thank Leslie … for her creativity and wonderful ideas for our remodel,” she said. “She is amazing to work with and I love her style and her passion for decorating. She made it a fun experience. ”
Do you know a house that would be a good Home of the Week? Send an email to author Lennie Omalza at [email protected] or lifestyle editor Kathryn Gregory at [email protected]
nuts and bolts
Owners: Mark and Julie Kelley, from Kelley Construction. In the home is also their dog, Riley.
Home: This is a house with 3 bedrooms, 3 and a half baths, 5,000 square feet, floors and a half style in Glenmary, built in 2000.
Distinctive elements: Open concept in large room, dining room and kitchen; 15 and a half feet long granie kitchen island has a built-in Monogram range; double doors open to outdoor kitchen and pool area; wooden floors with wire brush; custom window treatments, including motorized screens in the great room.
Applause! Applause! Leslie Lewis from LL&A Interior Design