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It’s not every day that a designer gets to return to a past project, especially one that has undergone so many revisions. But for Liz Hoekzema of KLH Homes, the opportunity to reimagine a home for its fourth set of owners was also a chance to bring back its original character. The four-bedroom Grand Rapids residence was initially designed for a couple hoping to expand their family, and so KLH filled it with happy pastels, simple plywood cabinets, and playful arches. Now, their new clients want to fill it with joy of their own.
Homeowners Jami and Tyler were looking for a space that would not only fit their family—they have a 2-year-old son, Blake, and are expecting a girl, Millie, this spring—but also offer plenty of storage, an entertaining hub, and a punched-up palette of cobalt blue, chartreuse, and coral. “They said, ‘Let’s do this house justice,’ and that was music to our ears,” Hoekzema says. The couple was equally excited, as they had been fans of her work for years. “We had followed this house forever,” Jami recalls. And when it went on the market, they put an offer in within the hour.
They quickly began a top-to-bottom refresh, which included finishing the basement. “We gave it a whole new life of its own and brought back the cheeky characteristics,” Hoekzema says. The house had most recently been given a “decidedly neutral update,” not necessarily poorly done, but different from the designer’s original intent. “When you have clients who know you and appreciate your aesthetic, the trust is already there,” she says. “They jumped right in.” Some of its best details? A steam shower in the primary bathroom swathed in “yummy green marble,” natural oak and espresso striped cabinetry, and a Murphy bed in the soon-to-be nursery. Ahead, Hoekzema and the homeowners take us on a tour.
Jami: When you drive by the house, you think it’s so beautiful. It catches a lot of people’s eyes. I’ll be in my kitchen and see people stop in the middle of the road just to take pictures of it. I think people really love the way it looks. Hoekzema: The pendants almost feel like these alien-like forms that bring instant quirk in a soft muted clay. | Stools, Lulu & Georgia; Pendants, Etsy.Hoekzema: [The bar is] overtly grown up, with cabinetry in a brown-burgundy shade and a massive arch that frames the ceiling with a bulkhead detail. | Cabinet Paint, Rojo Marron by Sherwin-Williams.Jami: This brown tile is such an amazing color that I would’ve never thought to do. This house is a very happy place. It’s colorful and describes our personalities well. It’s been so fun to watch it come alive. | Ceiling Wallpaper, Stella McCartney for Cole & Son.Hoekzema: We created a high-impact art wall by using 24 postcards (ringing in for under $70!) by David Shrigley. While at first glance it merely looks like a fun and colorful install, the magic happens when you get in close and appreciate all the humor. | Lounge Chair, Herman Miller via DWR; Chandelier, Petite Friture; Art, David Shrigley.Hoekzema: The downstairs dining room is all about color with a table that has a strong cylindrical cobalt base and chartreuse circles. The wallpaper [on the ceiling] is one of my all-time favorites. It’s these little mushroom. When you look up at a glance, you think it’s a toile. This room is fun but perfectly sophisticated and balanced. | Wallpaper, Stella McCartney for Cole & Son.Hoekzema: The walnut cladding brought in by the third set of homeowners was so fun to play with. It totally suits the house and highlights the treetop views. | Ceramic Art, Paula Atelier.Hoekzema: We wanted to fill the long wall of their lower level with armoire-like, built-in cabinetry. Instead of ordering custom striped cabinet fronts (our original idea), we “widened” the stripes of our design by doing every other door in either a matte natural or espresso stains (both on white oak). Hoekzema: When former owners Mark and Whitney lived here, they dreamed of a play space but didn’t have kids yet. This room has been such a cool full-circle moment. There are playful shapes and tumbling blocks, but it’s not too over-the-top that a busy parent wouldn’t enjoy spending time in there. | Rug, Etsy; Tumbling Blocks, Gathre; Ceiling Paint, Bellini Fizz by Sherwin-Williams.Hoekzema: This room is a soft, welcoming landing place they have fully embraced. When we first began working together, they didn’t yet know they were expecting. Now, it will become a nursery for their little girl, complete with a hanging egg chair in the corner. Behind the bed, there’s hidden storage. Hoekzema: Blake’s room has a serene quality, with a subtly textured grasscloth [wallpaper] that feels like a grown-up take on a kid’s space. | Crib, Oeuf; Curtains, Anthropologie; Art, Gray Malin; Pendant, Kartell.Hoekzema: We loved bringing soul into this house with great art. We also remixed the color story happening elsewhere in the house with a burgundy rug, a chair with a great sculptural back, and a marble side table. | Bed, Interior Define; Art, Nicole Cohen and Carla Sutera Sardo.Hoekzema: In their bathroom, it went from a regular shower to a steam shower, and we added color up the ceiling with marble. It works well since the bedroom has this deeper green headboard. Hoekzema: They wanted to have an area purely for Blake, for him to tuck into and play with toys and grab a book before bed. We embraced the fact that we had [previously] carved out this hallway upstairs. | Light, Urban Outfitters.
