Lexington, KY - This isn't the first house Kennetha Keinath has built, but it may be the one with the most thought. When she met designer and teacher Mary Cynthia Knowles of Martin Durr Caldwell in one of her design classes, she was deep into the first stages of building a home with builder Daryl Shields. She had many requirements for the home: it had to be stylish, a place with enough room for entertaining; it had to feature everything she and her husband, Steve, needed to live on the main floor; and it had to be a neutral zone with places for each of her and her husband's children, who had recently formed a Brady-bunch-style blended family.
"Shortly after we got married, we moved into my house in Firebrook and rented his house," Kennetha said. "But we wanted a place where each of the kids had their own room, their own bathroom. Someplace we were all on equal footing. Steve had never built a house and I wanted him to have that experience."
Kennetha and Steve's kids do all have a place in the house, even though they are grown and growing. Jason, 28, Steven, 26, Ashley, 24, and Mallory, 18, retain their rooms on the second level and in the basement, and now the family home also is making room for grandchildren, the first having just turned a year old.
"We wanted a place that reflected us, that was nice, but was a place you could wipe down the walls and host Thankgivings with the entire family or have the neighborhood over for dinner," Kennetha said.
Though the home is certainly functional, it's by no means utilitarian. Details are plentiful and the personality of the family shines through in many areas.
A dramatic entryway is highlighted by a beautifully curved and suspended staircase that was imported from Canada and leads to the children's rooms. The vibrantly-colored entryway leads to a showplace of the home - the den.
Lined in custom-built bookcases with built-in lamps, the small space is refined and comfortable without feeling cramped, which is helped by the tall ceilings. Knowles also notes that the bookcases, which are the prominent feature of the room, can be easily dressed with a few tips in mind. "If you want to build in bookcases with lamps, plan for it, do it ahead of time. You can't add those in later," she said. "And remember, different colors, textures and heights are what make for a creative bookcase."
Just beyond the den is the first-floor master suite, which features dramatic colors, linens, art and accessories in animal paintings as well as a surprise just over the bed - a bright tapestry. There's also a sitting area for the two to enjoy a quiet reading spot or views of the property. To the other side of the room, the entrance to the master bath with individual vanities, bath, luxurious shower and another little extra - a mini-fridge - make the couple's bedroom a perfect enclave for rest and relaxation.
Rest and relaxation is also available to those outside the master suite, however, and the living room is the perfect place. Though the sizable heights of the room could potentially seem intimidating or cold, Knowles again draws from a design standby - painted ceilings.
In this case, the color was applied in a tonal complement to the walls around the thick moldings that already accessorize the ceiling. The cool feeling of tall windows and walls is also moderated by the rich, comfortable upholstery of lavish seating. On one wall a bar is tucked into a corner, providing easy access when entertaining.
The kitchen, accessible from both the living room and a hallway to the dining area, is equipped with enough high-tech appliances to cook for and serve as many guests as the Keinaths can invite over or, according to Kennetha, as many as Steve can cook for. "He's the cook. He's a great cook. I clean - that's why we work so well together."
It also features several areas for lingering guests to hang out in the kitchen, as they always seem to do. Beyond the familiar kitchen counter and kitchen table concepts, the Keinaths gave a nod to Kennetha's Irish heritage by including a "keeping room" area in the kitchen. The "keeping room" is supposed to be a place that guests can come in and keep warm. Plush seating is close to the action in the kitchen with a cozy fire all at the same time, so, Kennetha says, "People can really sit and talk, not just stand around."
Though there are many places for the Keinaths and their guests to enjoy one another's company, one showplace for entertaining is the dining room, which includes a gracious table and unique curios, and carries a color scheme of a deep cranberry, raisin and ivory on the columns that line the room allowing a sectioning of the spaces without closing off the openness of the floorplan. The colors also match the Keinath's rugs, which they have temporarily removed to accommodate their two dogs, Abbi and Gracie. "Livability all the way," Kennetha says.
The result of the design is an elegant, but livable, home that the Keinaths see staying in for quite awhile. "It's a family place," she said. "And that's the most important thing."