house + home DESIGNED After walking in awe through a series of gorgeous rooms, the first question I have for Patricia Adrian-Hanson is, “How do you keep it looking so nice?” In between rattling off math equations to her five-year-old, who is trying to complete his math assignment, Patricia responds, “Lots of hidden storage.” Once the boys, seven-year-old Felix and five-year-old Theodore, are finally settled in, we sit down to talk. Patricia tells me that when she had kids she was determined not to let her house get out of control, which was easier said than done. But after tearing down an old lodge on the property and reassembling bits of its history into their current sanctuary, it looks as if she has achieved the impossible. Patricia wanted to create a seamless transition from outside to inside. Despite the kids always running in and out, the concrete floors are a breeze to clean. Light pours in from the large windows, and I don’t see one plastic toy in sight. That’s because the house has been designed with a practical aesthetic. Patricia and I discuss three of the most heavily used areas in their home: the entryway, the family room and the laundry room. You enter the home through a mud room/butler’s pantry. I would describe its style as having 40 www.nAPAVA L L E Y L I F E magaz ine. c o m A comfy family room features a white denim sofa for easy cleaning an earthy elegance. The bones of the room are simple and clean. A cement sink echoes the concrete floor, limed wood flat panel cabinets are devoid of hardware, and the shelving is simple exposed metal. In contrast are the unexpected touches of grandeur, such as a hanging Swedish crystal chandelier, an oriental accent rug, and porcelain and silver dishware. This room makes use of every inch of vertical space—cabinets and shelving run straight up to the ceiling. Patricia stores seasonal decorations in the upper cabinets—things that are only brought out once a year. Sliding treated aluminum metal doors roll down (a bar with a hook is used to grab the handle at its highest point), cleverly concealing pantry goods and kitchenware. The children express their creativity on chalkboard closet doors which line the opposite wall. This wall-to-wall storage area screens a plethora of shoes and jackets. Every inch of space is utilized, including the shallow sink, which is great for cleaning large pans with minimal lifting and also serves as usable counter space. Functional storage is featured in the family room, or as Patricia calls it, “the chill room.” A seamless wall of cabinets hides DVDs, toys and any other type of clutter. The extra-long, super-deep sofa was custom designed to serve not only as a comfy place for family members to lounge, but also as a bed that sleeps a number of guests. At first sight, white might seem fo r Family balancing PRACTICAL & BEAUTIFUL How to keep a beautiful home with two young boys
NVLife_Feb_2014
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