The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
DESIGN PLANS FIRMED UP
Construction well underway for 2017 home in Willoughby
More than 5,000 square feet of living space in the Lake County YMCA Dream House allows for features previously unseen in the popular fundraiser marking its 24th year.
The contemporary colonial with four bedrooms, four baths, dining room and great room offers a yoga/meditation room, pub, entertainment area, gym and pet retreat.
Knez Homes, based in Concord Township, is building the home.
“They really wanted to rock it this year so that means more of everything,” said project coordinator Kirk Stonebrook.
Construction of the sizeable house at 5295 SOM Center Road in Willoughby is well underway. Plumbing and electrical work are completed and as of March 27 siding was being installed.
The project committee recently met at the Lake County YMCA in Painesville to firm up design plans and discuss details.
Among rooms designed by Karen Krauss of Karen Krauss Designs in Concord Township is a pub adjacent to the great room on the main floor. Included will be a wine cabinet donated by Décor Cache in Willoughby and a fun wine barrel wall-mounted drink
dispenser.
Tracy Baker of Design Details in Mentor noted that a focal point of the great room will be a modern fireplace surrounded by porcelain.
Kate Weaver of Faux What in Mentor said she’s looking forward to refinishing pieces of used furniture, including a table from Painesville Furniture for the studio. She’ll also apply her signature artistry to create unique ceiling treatments.
A master suite includes a bedroom highlighted by an angled tray ceiling, generously-sized master closet and sitting area.
Designer Halle Chiappone of Charley’s Loft in Mentor will use blue, green and white hues. Inspired by patterns produced by Thibaut Fabrics she said that “the more fabric in the room the better,” adding that “it really helps you decompress and feel cozy.”
Chiappone noted that a well-thought out plan for the room-sized closet eliminates the need for storage furniture such as dressers.
Set apart by steps leading down from the sitting area, the closet will contain his and her mirrors and an island.
Aiming for a comfortable look and feel in the dining room, Chiappone’s use of a round table will be accompanied by a banquette covered with plum cushions.
Karen Koeth Szmania of KSA Design in Concord Township said her teenage daughter, a follower of the Tumblr website which highlights teen trends, served as the inspiration for one of the bedrooms. White with gold accents play out in the room’s furnishings.
A nature-based theme suited to a young boy is set to be showcased in a bedroom by Carolyn Rigo of Karen Hayes Interiors in Willoughby. Helping to summon an outdoorsy feeling are a tent constructed of wooden branches and tree trunk serving as a night stand. Scattered about will be pillows resembling natural boulders.
Shiplap, a wooden building material, is planned to accent the appointed rooms of designer Debra Metcalf of Metcalf Designs in Concord Township.
“This year’s Dream House will have gray trim
so I chose to do a painted white shiplap accent wall in both the bedroom and laundry room,” Metcalf said. “With my dark pendant lighting next to the tall wrought iron bed the contrast of my white shiplap will make this room memorable.”
New to the design team this year and handling the large entertainment area in the lower level is Greg Mononen of Gregory Todd Interiors in Mentor. Mononen, whose lengthy list of credentials includes former product developer for Arhaus Furniture, said the fundraiser is a fantastic program for the community and that being involved is very special.
He intends to fashion the space with an interplay of masculine and feminine design elements, such as incorporating ivory leather and chenille fabric.
A focus of the adjacent yoga/meditation room will be a Zen-inspired painting to be created by designer/ decorative painter Jaclyn Rigo.
Since 1993, proceeds from the Dream House project have exceeded $4 million (approximately $200,000 per year) for programs and facilities.