The couple’s first step was to do some serious research, poring over design and architectural blogs—which is how they discovered architect Ken Pursley. “Ken’s name kept popping up,” the wife recalls. “I went to his website and fell even more in love with his work. Then, I called him out of the blue.”
In this case, Pursley recalls his clients having differing visions. “In his mind, the husband wanted a traditional family home—comfortable and approachable,” he says. “But, the wife wanted a little bit of an edge to it. The trick was trying to find that line of making the house look traditional and grounded and like it fit into the neighborhood yet also have a little bit of seductiveness and intrigue.”
Private areas, including the master suite and the husband’s study, are situated on the main level as well, while four bedrooms upstairs and one in the basement accommodate guests, including two of the couple’s grown children. “The upstairs can be completely closed up when we’re here by ourselves,” the wife says.
Executing the significant detailing throughout the project was no small task. “The architecture was very complex, detailed and authentic,” says general contractor Dave Knecht, who worked on the home with project manager Mike Zalud. “We meticulously handpicked our subcontractors to create a team that met our stringent standards and executed the construction details seamlessly.”
As a result, “everything works and lives exactly as we all thought it would,” the wife says. “The team interpreted everything perfectly. It’s remarkable.” To Pursley, the project is an example of different design talents working as a cohesive unit. “When the elements of architecture, interior design, landscaping and construction come together so fluidly,” he says, “it makes for a truly special place.”
–Linda Hayes