Radiant Refresh for a Full House

Photo by Philip Slowiak

Finding the right home for their family of six – plus two dogs – proved challenging, and when they first stepped inside, they weren’t sure it was the right fit for their stage of life. “We thought we weren’t ‘adult’ enough for the style of the house,” Jennifer recalls. But trusting their instincts, they set out to make it their own, leaning in to the house’s size and style. “Our family has always lived by the motto, ‘Build a longer table, not a higher fence,’” she shares. “Community is everything to us, and so we decided to make every room a gathering place. A bigger house just meant more room for more people – bigger movie nights and a bigger kitchen for more people around the table.”

Ultimately, comfort and individuality guided each decision throughout the design process. “I envisioned a timeless home with plenty of current trends mixed in, but one where anyone felt comfortable to let themselves in and cozy up on the couch by the fire,” Jennifer explains. “I wanted warm tones, brass finishes, and fun art.”

The Skidmore Family (Photo by Philip Slowiak)

Once renovations were complete, the Skidmores shifted their attention to rebuilding a sense of community – something they had deeply valued in Atlanta. “The hardest part of leaving was saying goodbye to a community we all loved,” says Jennifer. “I missed being the after-school house where everyone felt safe.” But within weeks of moving, she realized they were already creating that same identity again. “My oldest son was playing basketball in the driveway with his new middle school friends. My youngest was jumping on the trampoline with his new neighborhood friends. My girls and their friends were in the kitchen eating snacks and making up dances. That is hands down my favorite memory so far in this house.”

That kitchen has since become the heart of the home and the template of a moody, textured palette – dark stained cabinets, warm browns, a plastered hood, black leather stools, and a black display cabinet brought from their old home. “It was the only room we demoed down to the studs, so every detail feels uniquely ours,” Jennifer says. “All four of my kids love to cook, so there’s room for everyone. Someone’s doing homework on the counter, someone’s eating a snack, and the dogs are running around our feet – it’s chaos in the best way.”

“The family room and kitchen feel the most like us. With the coziness of the family room, the large double doors leading to the outdoors, and the kitchen’s role as the home’s center of gravity, it just fits our personality. The quiet, cozy side meets the social, hosting side.”  – Ben Skidmore

Though the kitchen anchors their daily life, the primary bedroom is the setting of a special family tradition. “Right before bed, all six of us and both dogs head to our bedroom. Every night ends like this, so we spend a lot of time here,” Jennifer shares. “I almost always have the fireplace going and we all pile up on the chaise lounges and the bed with the dogs … We watch a good TV show together and eat snacks. When the kids were little, it was always smoother to do bedtime altogether, so I love that it’s something special we’ve kept going even after moving here.”

“I love that we took our time in each room where we could. Every room feels intentional and beautiful but so fitting for the phase of life we are in. I love that people can see our personality through the home’s design right when they walk through the door.” – Jennifer Skidmore

Suppliers:

Appliances: AllSouth Appliance Group, Inc.

Builder, cabinetry, and custom painting: Build Forza Construction

Closets: Creekside Closets, LLC

Counters and stone: Stone Source, Inc.

Cabinetry and custom installs: Fryar Construction

Interior design: Miles and Kirk Design LLC

Plumbing fixtures: Ferguson