Inside Erin McGregor's luxurious Dublin home she shares with partner Terry, daughter Taylor and son Harry

This article details the design and functionality of the mudroom in the McGee home, highlighting its importance as a high-traffic entry point through the garage, especially given the family's move to Utah where practical storage for winter gear is essential. The design incorporates custom elements to maximize utility and aesthetic appeal. A key feature of the mudroom is its cabinetry, which includes tall lockers custom-built by Killowen Construction for each family member. These lockers are designed with vents to ensure breathability, a practical solution for shoes and other items. The cabinetry is finished in Benjamin Moore's 'Midnight' color, providing a rich, dark contrast to the lighter elements prevalent in the adjacent kitchen. Hardware from Armac Martin adds a cohesive touch, mirroring selections made in the kitchen to maintain a consistent design flow throughout the connected spaces. The walls and ceilings of the mudroom feature vertical shiplap by Metrie, which extends the aesthetic used in other areas of the house like the dining room, office, and master bedroom. This choice creates a unified look and adds textural interest. Large windows positioned above the sink allow ample natural light into the space and offer views of the backyard, serving a dual purpose by enabling the homeowner to monitor children playing outdoors while performing tasks like washing produce or arranging flowers. The paint used for the walls and ceilings is 'Swiss Coffee' by Benjamin Moore, diluted to 75% for a softer effect. Countertops are a focal point, featuring SoapStone from Bedrosians, chosen for its distinctive veining and texture that adds depth to the room. An industrial-sized stainless steel sink from Kohler, paired with a pull-down faucet with a magnetic clip, underscores the room's utilitarian nature. The high-arch and industrial spring design of the faucet are specifically selected for heavy-duty washing and scrubbing tasks. Lighting in the mudroom integrates silver and brass pendants from McGee & Co., chosen to blend with the varied finishes throughout the home and contribute to the overall design narrative. For flooring, cement tiles laid in a hexagon pattern from Avente Tile introduce an additional dimension and a robust, easy-to-maintain surface suitable for a mudroom environment. Special design details elevate the mudroom beyond mere functionality. A custom dutch door allows for natural ventilation and adds architectural character. Decorative elements include collected wicker bottles and an art piece, both sourced from McGee & Co.'s vintage collection, along with practical items like pots and a watering can. A bench from the Threshold collection with Target provides seating, while custom-built shelves offer additional storage. This multi-purpose design ensures the mudroom is not only beautiful but also highly efficient in managing daily family activities, from handling outdoor gear to engaging in gardening tasks. #HomeDesign #Mudroom #InteriorDesign #Cabinetry #Shiplap #SoapStoneCountertops #KohlerSink #ArmacMartinHardware #HexagonTile #CustomDutchDoor

The Dowell family, consisting of Rebecca, Jeremiah, and their sons Deacon, Wyatt, and Ryder, along with their boxer Rookie, recently relocated to La Grange's Heather Ridge neighborhood to be closer to Oldham County Schools due to their sons' involvement in football and other sports. Jeremiah, a Realtor at Keller Williams Louisville East, had long admired the five-level Avery model by Fischer Homes. The family purchased a four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom, 3,229-square-foot multi-level home built in 2023, which offered the ideal blend of shared and private living spaces. The Dowells undertook several customizations to personalize their new home. They installed luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout and equipped the kitchen with GE Café appliances. A significant change involved moving the fireplace from a corner to the center of the great room, opting for a gas fireplace. This tan brick fireplace, extending to the 18-foot ceilings, is complemented by a matching column in the basement office and an entryway arch, creating a cohesive design. Trim and sconces were added to frame the fireplace, creating symmetry, with a frame TV displaying a black and white family photo when not in use. Jeremiah emphasized the desire for the room not to be solely focused on the television. Rebecca, an independent travel advisor, established an in-home office in the basement. This space features a large, T-shaped desk with two chairs, shelving, and his-and-hers display cases. Rebecca's side showcases whimsical travel and childhood mementos, while Jeremiah's side displays award plaques and framed degrees. A wall-mounted TV in Rebecca's office streams live views of various locations, like New York, beaches, and castles, adding light and an outdoor ambiance to the space. The opposite side of the lower level is dedicated to a workout area, with a discreet entry to a large storage space. The family's love for football is evident in the rec room, which includes a large TV, ample seating, an NFL Blitz arcade game, and a wall adorned with a mural of the Caesars Superdome, reflecting Rebecca's New Orleans roots. The room also features dozens of mini football helmets, which previously were scattered in the children's rooms. The 10-foot ceiling in the rec room was a major selling point for the family, as it provided an expansive feel typically not found in basements and connected seamlessly with the kitchen. Exterior customizations were also undertaken. Initially, Rebecca found the original brown exterior with shutters too busy. After consulting an artist on Etsy for exterior renderings, they chose Sherwin-Williams Oyster Bay, an algae-hued neutral paint with slate-blue undertones, to enhance the home's curb appeal. Jeremiah, being in real estate, considered resale value in all their modifications. While the Dowells anticipate moving again in the future, they are currently enjoying their customized home, particularly its open floor plan, which facilitates family gatherings and entertaining, as exemplified by a Derby party where Rebecca could remain engaged with guests while in the kitchen. Key distinctive elements of the home include an entryway with a tan brick archway made with German schmear, quartz countertops, large kitchen cabinets with trim to the ceiling, a custom pantry mirroring the kitchen with a mini-fridge, and a second pantry for dry food and appliances. The first floor features custom luxury vinyl plank flooring. Other notable features include floor-to-ceiling trim in the great room and entryway, a custom mudroom, a renovated basement with an office, gym, bathroom, large framed TV, and ample hidden storage. The primary bedroom boasts a brick wall, a custom 4K electric fireplace, tiled bathroom floor, custom vanity, and custom closet. The backyard includes custom pavers and a gas fireplace, while the garage has an epoxy floor. The Dowells enlisted various professionals for these customizations, including Fischer Homes, Andreanna for LVP flooring, Olde Town Chimney for the gas fireplace, Wes Stutz for fireplace installation and trim work, Wes Stutz and Chris Barber for storage solutions, Jeff Hancock of Triple Trade for electrical and plumbing, Coronado Stone for the primary bedroom brick wall, Kilo’s Painting for interior and exterior painting, Earthscapes LLC for pavers, and Epoxy Dude for garage flooring. #HomeDesign #CustomHome #MultiLevelHome #InteriorDesign #HomeRenovation #FischerHomes #OldhamCounty #FamilyHome #HomeCustomization

This article highlights the interior design approach taken in a Ridgewood, New Jersey, colonial home, where the designer successfully created a beautifully appointed space that accommodates a young family with two small children and an English bulldog. Interior designer Kerri Pilchik, renowned for her sophisticated and layered interiors, was tasked with a first-floor refresh, focusing on creating an environment that was both aesthetically pleasing and functional for a busy family life and entertaining. The homeowners, despite having active children and a pet, expressed a desire for delicate decor details, including scalloped edges and pretty upholstery trim, indicating a preference for elegant design rather than solely child-proofing the space. The design strategy acknowledged that the children had dedicated play areas in the family room and lower level, allowing the main living spaces to feature more refined elements. The design scheme for the home’s first level revolved around a cheerful, soft-pastel color palette, intended to create a cohesive flow between rooms. The designer incorporated sculptural furniture, organic textures, and a variety of objets d’art to enhance the overall aesthetic. Upon entering the home, visitors are greeted by a pale-blue front door and a complementary blue mirror by Ooomph in the foyer, which is further defined by an updated oushak rug and a gilded-leaf ceiling light, setting an inviting and elegant tone. In the living room, natural grass-cloth wall covering provides a textured backdrop for custom-color lighting by Colleen & Company, framed bird prints, and a repurposed mid-century china cabinet serving as a cocktail bar. The room features a comfortable sofa upholstered in performance fabric, acknowledging the potential for spills from children and pets, alongside a vintage Mastercraft coffee table and Oomph slipper chairs. A cozy window-seat nook is furnished with rattan chairs and bright coral cushions, adding pops of color. The designer carefully balanced color saturation and print scales to achieve harmony, with the living room primarily intended for adults, yet prepared for family use. The adjacent dining room showcases daring petal-pink grass-cloth wallpaper, which acts as a neutral canvas. The window treatments consist of sunny-yellow Roman shades by Brunschwig & Fils and draperies in a large-scale botanical fabric by Schumacher. Dining chairs with rush seats and backs from Redford House contribute to the room's character, while an elaborate glass and brass chandelier serves as a focal point. Two ornate gold mirrors are strategically placed to reflect light and create symmetry, beneath which Chinoiserie cabinets with lacquered white grass-cloth finishes provide essential storage. A hand-painted geometric pattern on the walnut-stained floor, created by Shelly Denning, adds visual interest and prevents the petal-pink walls from appearing overly sweet, especially given the dining room’s constraining dimensions that precluded a traditional area rug. This innovative floor treatment added pattern and individuality to the space. The article concludes by emphasizing that the first level of the home has been transformed into a vibrant hub for the family, seamlessly blending sophisticated design with the practicalities of family life. The imaginative balance of furniture and decor allows for colorful dinner parties and casual gatherings, accommodating adults, children, and pets alike in a beautifully curated environment. Kerri Pilchik, named one of House Beautiful magazine’s Top 15 Next Wave Designers, is highlighted for her ability to create elegant, layered interiors, demonstrating that a home can be both beautiful and family-friendly. #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #FamilyFriendlyDesign #RidgewoodHomes #KerriPilchik #ColorfulInteriors #GrassclothWallpaper #PerformanceFabric #Chinoiserie #PaintedFloors