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Ten years after they moved into their Troutville home, Jenice and Pete Pearl decided it was time for the much-needed renovations. With five children, including two with developmental disabilities, Jenice knew they would have a few requirements to best suit the entire family.
The Pearl family moved from Atlanta to Troutville in 2005, wanting a more rural setting for their kids. The ideal location provided gorgeous mountain views, as well as close proximity to Pete’s office, where he works as an attorney at Spilman, Thomas and Battle. The interior, however, would need some work to be the perfect space Jenice wanted for her family.
“The house was not desirable in my mind because of the layout,” Jenice says. “At the time, there were lots of walls and it felt very chopped up. The only thing I liked about it was the ceiling trim, but we decided to buy the setting and renovate later.”
The renovations were pushed back once or twice, as Jenice homeschooled her children and decided not to add to the chaos. She and Pete also adopted a child from Hong Kong, putting everything on hold to transition him into their family.
In the summer of 2015, however, it was finally the right time to move forward on renovating. Jenice worked closely with John and Theresa Dorlini of Circle Design Studios for her ideal renovations, completing the project within about nine months.
“I knew I wanted to work with Circle Design Studios because I’m a hands-on person. Everything had to be functional and family-friendly, because we’d lived in such dysfunction for so long. I knew exactly what I needed. The Dorlinis worked hard to get what was in my head out into the design, and elevated it beyond my expectations.”
After 10 years in the house, Jenice knew exactly where and how she wanted everything to be. She wanted to move the refrigerators, build a larger deck and reconfigure the exit. No matter how the redesign went, Jenice knew she had to accommodate seven people in every room, a true feat for a smaller space.
The Pearl children, who range from 12 to 18 years old, were the main motivation behind the renovations. Jenice says they have a “conspicuous” family, with a blend of two biological and three internationally adopted kids. Bakh, Abby, Sam, Henry and Charlotte certainly keep their parents busy with events and activities, which meant Jenice wanted a calm space at home. Because Sam and Henry have developmental disabilities, she also wanted a safe, functional environment where the kids were all comfortable.
The induction stove was a purposeful decision. Not only is it easy to clean and out of the line of sight, but it’s functional and safer than gas. It heats up quickly, but the minute you take the pot off, you can put your hand on it without any problem.
Jenice and Circle Design Studios discussed putting in something to drop down over the island, but Jenice decided against it to prevent a cluttered look; now she has a clear line of sight from the living room all the way into the dining room. The kids have their own little section of the kitchen as well, with space for their own silverware and glasses.
While the ultimate goal was a functional, organized space, Jenice also wanted some beauty for herself. She selected the kitchen’s backsplash, which runs all the way to the eight foot ceiling to create an illusion of height.
“At first I wanted a really unusual backsplash, but the more we got into it, I realized I wanted the outdoors, windows, and natural light to be the focus. We went with something so benign but easy to clean. It’s quartz, nonporous, and a maintenance-free design.”
In addition to the changes, Jenice wanted traditional elements, but also a soft, modern look. She picked Circle Design Studios because they have a “great modern aesthetic.”
In anticipation of the project, Jenice had the bookshelves removed, replacing them with floor-to-ceiling windows. Paired with the white kitchen, the natural light provided the clean, crisp look Jenice desired. They also worked with Adams Custom Cabinets for the custom cabinetry, including the hidden pantry complete with small office.
“The hidden pantry was never really utilized,” Theresa Dorlini explains. “The functionality came from Jenice; it was our collaboration with Adams where we did amazing things. We know the client’s and our intent, but then we work with craftsmen who know tricks and that’s how we get great projects done.”
Circle Design also helped with cost-effective solutions. Jenice wanted a bigger fridge, but size and budget were an obstacle. Instead, Dorlini suggested two full-sized refrigerators to moderate cost and keep the feel of open space.
Dorlini and her team’s first technique is to draw up a schematic design, followed by design development and technical drawings, incorporating a 3D design that allows clients to see their desired final outcome. This expedites everything moving forward with the ability to tweak; Dorlini could go over the design with Jenice, put her in front of the island, and have her give feedback.
“That glass column was sort of our brainchild. It’s a benefit of having us involved early on, because we knew it needed to have interior lighting,” says Dorlini.
Dorlini explains that a structural engineer had to be brought in to ensure the second floor could hold up. Afterwards, they knew they could remove almost the entire wall between the dining room and kitchen, without having to put up a column.
The end result is a gorgeous, open space with clean lines and pristine glass to allow plenty of natural light in. The whole family enjoys their new kitchen, as well as the living room and screened-in porch.
“Our oldest is in boarding school and he never wants to leave when he comes home,” Jenice says. “We’re always out of the box in terms of what families look like, but this is the place where we’re relaxed and calm. This is our retreat; I wanted a calming space, no clutter. You can’t help hectic lives, but because of this setting, our home became the peaceful area.”
