My Houzz: Living a Simpler Life in Ohio

With two sons and a daughter in college, many people might be tempted to trade in the family home for a smaller version. But John and Sherri Bryan loved their longtime home on the bank of a small lake. So after their last child moved out, the two opted instead to stay put in their home of 21 years.

After more than two decades, though, some updating was in order. Knowing what they were after but not sure how to get there, the couple enlisted the help of interior designer Ingrid Porter. With her help the pair achieved a seamless transition from what Sherri describes as “dated and fussy” decor to interiors that are a calm reflection of their newly simplified lives.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: John and Sherri Bryan and their cat and 2 dogs
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Size: About 3,000 square feet (279 square meters); 4 bedrooms, 2½ baths

An antique pine bench, purchased from a family friend, gives the foyer an elegantly simple look.


The living room, with its fresh and casual feel, is now the Bryans’ favorite spot in the house. Porter pulled from the palette in the dining room, which has yet to be redone, to make the living room part of a natural progression in the overall scheme of the home.

Keeping some pieces, such as John’s mother’s rocker, was essential to them. Porter had the chair reupholstered to reflect the new feeling of the space. “With a lot of demands during the workday, they both needed a space that was quiet and calm to refuel their minds,” the designer says. “John has told me that he spends a lot more time in this room now.”


A pair of matching armchairs helps define the seating area in the living room. The dark blue fabric complements other blues in the room and contrasts a French pine armoire, which the couple had purchased from a friend many years ago.

Porter chose a whimsical shoe pattern for the pillows to reflect the Bryans’ livelihood as owners of local women’s boutique Knuth’s. “They are my favorite!” Sherri says.


This bench, although originally intended as an outdoor piece, found a home in the couple’s living room. Porter found it at North Carolina’s High Point Market and layered it with custom pillows.

Drapes: Pottery Barn; pillow fabrics: Duralee


The dining room table had been handed down through the family. Bench seating on each side provides flexibility for dinner parties and family gatherings.

Though the dining room is one of the few remaining rooms on the list for an overhaul, it still works for the homeowners. “The pink and green are two of Sherri’s favorite colors,” Porter says. “The combination really suits Sherri’s bubbly personality!”


Dining chairs on either side of the antique hutch are available when extra seating is needed.





The Bryans renovated their kitchen about a dozen years ago, but its style fits the design updates, thanks to the carved-panel doors and natural materials. Drawer systems in lieu of undercounter cabinetry wherever possible ensure that storage space is efficiently utilized and accessible.


The profile of the cabinetry is repeated in a different finish on the island, highlighting it without distracting from the overall design.


The cool and refreshing palette continues upstairs in the master bedroom, where a custom chair and ottoman offer a luxurious spot for reading. “I loved the fabric, and I had [the chair] made,” Sherri says.


The pale blue and brown of the chair define the color scheme for the room. Espresso and oil-rubbed-bronze finishes on the other furniture pieces anchor the space.


Comfortable seating defines the Bryans’ outdoor living area. This spot nestled under the second story is a favorite for taking in the sounds of nature and viewing the lake at the bottom of the hill.


John and Sherri Bryan have a busy lifestyle as third-generation owners of Knuth’s. With this redo of their family home, they now have a calm and comfortable environment waiting for them at the end of each day.

My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more in this series.

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URL: My Houzz: Living a Simpler Life in Ohio http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-24935.html