From House To Home

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Molly and Jere Alexander loved their house before they even really saw inside. “The floor plan is exactly what we’d always wanted,” says Molly. “When we saw it, we knew that it was the one for us. It clicked before we even walked in.”

The Alexanders purchased the home in 1996 and decided it was time for some upgrades to their perfect floor plan. They worked with interior designer Jessica Pearson, owner of Pearson Designs LLC in Chubbuck, to help evolve the house into a style that fit them perfectly.

The foyer leads to the living room on the right and the dining room on the left. Straight through, the kitchen and family room, which function as a great room, are where Molly says the family spends 90 percent of their time.

The kitchen has cream-colored tile countertops that are a nice match to the floor. Cherrywood cabinets match the railings and the fireplace. A breakfast nook is between the kitchen and family room and offers space for friends and family alike to sit, eat, and talk with people in both spaces. Molly says, “It seems like someone is always eating, so it’s nice to be able to have the family room in the kitchen and to have easy access to outdoors.” A beautiful glass door matches the tall windows and leads out to the backyard patio.

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, including the master. For Molly, it was important to have a tranquil and relaxing bedroom. She and Pearson chose colors and fabrics that possess a calming quality. Furniture from Maple Street Sit and Sleep is found throughout the house, and the master bedroom’s dark wood pieces are in beautiful contrast to the muted wall and floor colors.

When Molly began looking for new colors and furnishings, she was overwhelmed by the amount of choices. She says of Pearson, “The thing about having a designer is that she helped me narrow my choices. Jessica encouraged me to use classic colors and furniture pieces and not go with current trends.” Molly obviously took Pearson’s advice to heart—the entire home is scattered with warm, neutral colors, which allow accent pieces to pop when appropriate.

The other advice Molly followed from Pearson was to choose pieces she really loved. “If you pick colors you love, things you love, and things with good design, you will love them forever rather than picking things that are trendy that will be out. Steer away from what everyone else is doing and go with what you love because you will love it forever,” Pearson says.

Molly agrees wholeheartedly. “Jessica said to us, ‘If you surround yourself with pieces that you love, it removes all the stress out of your life,’ and it does! If you are always surrounded by what you love, you want to come home. It’s a place you want to be.”

After 12 years in the house, Molly still loves it.  “I love the curb appeal. I love the quiet cul-de-sac area and secluded backyard surrounded in trees,” she says. “It’s wonderful for the family we have. They all are coming home and bringing grandkids. It’s a place we like to hang out with the family.”