Harrison Ciacchi
Set for an afternoon gathering, the Ciacchis’ picnic table is nothing less than effortlessly elegant. Pulling from her inspirations toward southern charm and hospitality, Jennifer combines treasures from her “junking” adventures with vintage Eva Zeisel china to create a mood befitting of the most perfect summer day. The 12-foot table was hand made from barn siding. Jennifer picked the chairs from a dumpster, later realizing that each one had a name on it. “Because on the back of each one is a name of the person’s chair, it makes it fun for parties because everyone gets a new name at dinner!” she says. Woven votives hang overhead, ready to create evening ambiance. Adrienne DeRosa
Along with the living room, this dining area has received a style overhaul. "Everything in the informal dining space as well as the living room is new," Jennifer explains. "I changed it all; the walls used to be grey and the furniture used to be off white. I had antique chippy paint cabinets and all kinds of french decor ... I have evolved from that and now want simple, fun and bright." Starting with painting the walls white, Jennifer let the room evolve as she went. "Then I started to move the furniture around to see what I had, to make sure it worked," she describes. From there it became a process of eliminating and adding back in. The brass shelving was a "picking" find that Jennifer retrieved from the side of the road. By emphasizing the large windows with white drapery, and adding in soft textural elements, Jennifer created a fresh space that exudes depth and comfort. "I would never want anyone to ever come in and say they don't feel comfortable. I feel I have created that chic, fun, eclectic style space that anyone of any age can enjoy and feel comfortable in." Curtain rods, pendant lamp: West Elm; chairs: vintage Russell Woodard, Etsy Adrienne DeRosa
Defining the space between the kitchen and the informal dining room is a console table flanked on both sides by vintage lucite draperies. Jennifer had purchased them without having a plan in mind, and until recently, they stayed in the same bag that she brought them home in 17 years ago. Jennifer recalls the numerous times that she had tried selling these pieces over the years, to no avail. "Once I took them out of storage and hung them, anyone that saw them wanted to know where they came from!" she laughs. Adrienne DeRosa
The recently redecorated living space defines a new direction for the first floor of Raymond's and Jennifer's home. Although Jennifer has always redesigned the look of their rooms every 4-5 years, this time around comes with a different perspective. "Now that [the kids] are all moved out and it is just my husband and I, I finally have had the ability to have fun with the house," Jennifer explains. "I have always redecorated every couple years, but this time has been my favorite. I can finally get rid of the clutter and stuff and find chic, fun pieces I know won't get a ball thrown through them." Wall color: Alabaster White, Duration by Sherwin Williams; sofas: Arhaus Adrienne DeRosa
In the corner of the living room a wall-hung Ikea cabinet accommodates storage needs and display space in a straight-forward, yet stylish way. Jennifer topped the cabinet with a simple sheet of plywood which sets the stage for the arrangement on top. Although the centerpiece of this area is the brass wall clock (another great garage sale find), the objects on display offer a variety of elements to engage with. Layering framed paintings that she sourced from Instagram, Jennifer has created a carefully curated spot that has depth in the arms of simplicity. Paintings: NG Collective Studio, Instagram Adrienne DeRosa
Offsetting the clean lines of their white sofas, Jennifer has chosen pillows and throws that combine graphic elements and pronounced texture. "The price of things are a big playing card for me," she says, "if the price is not right I will leave it." She often scours retailers such as Anthropologie and West Elm for their sale items, even if it is not something that she is particularly looking for. "If I see something, and its cool and I have never seen one, I buy it," she confesses. "I will store things in closets and down in the basement. Raymond always says the basement is like a antique store! I also get made fun of from my friends about my pillow fetish, I have closets and racks of pillows that I use for those just-in-case moments." Striped Pillow: Anthropologie
A small hanging garden feature creates an interesting focal point between the living room and formal dining room. With the exception of the dining room, the first floor is open in all public areas, which perfectly accommodates Raymond's and Jennifer's penchant for entertaining. The painted black runner was added once Jennifer decided to remove the carpeting from the steps. It visually supports the decor of the rest of the room, and in turn becomes a highlight of the space rather than an afterthought. Striped throw, Ikea; pillows: Anthropologie and Target Adrienne DeRosa
While the formal dining room takes on a different feeling than the living space, it maintains the same sense of curated detail. Jennifer goes on to explain, "When I decorate my home I don't feel I have a style. I believe what ever you put in your home is what you should love, and that way it creates its own style ... I've been collecting for so long that a lot of my treasures have come together because I love them and eventually it will all make sense. I don't like one 'way'; that's why all my rooms are different." The dining table was found in an old flower shop. Originally it was a worktable with very tall legs, so Raymond and Jennifer cut them down to modify it for its current use. The chairs received Jennifer's creative touch as well. Purchased at a garage sale for $1 each, they are originally from an ice cream parlor in the basement of the historical Higbee's Company department store. Once she got them home, Jennifer reupholstered them with a cow-hide rug that she was no longer using. Wall color: Modern Grey, Super Paint by Sherwin Williams Adrienne DeRosa
One of the most recent renovations is the guest bathroom, located on the first floor. Complete with a standing shower, the room successfully incorporates elements of various styles toward a harmonious end. The vanity was a cabinet from Arhaus Furniture that was used for a store staging. Raymond and Jennifer purchased the marble top and put it on themselves. Jennifer had the lighting made by a husband-and-wife team that she found on Instagram. "Because social media is a great tool, it is also helpful to support small businesses. With just a little hash tagging and the right people to follow, you can find the most amazing things," she says. Lighting: Triple 7 Recycled Co.; sink & taps: Kohler Adrienne DeRosa
White tile walls are offset by flooring with a rustic appeal. While wooden flooring is not considered the best choice for a full bath, the Ciacchis installed ceramic tile made to mimic the effect of reclaimed timbers. Flocks of flamingos adorn the tops of the walls, offering a light-hearted contrast to the areas below. Flooring: Natural Timber Ash by Select Styles, Lowe's; wallpaper: Blue Flamingo, Anthropologie Adrienne DeRosa
A massive range setup anchors the open-plan kitchen. All pieces are by Viking, including the commercial-grade vent hood complete with warming lights and shelving. Jennifer and Raymond had found it at an estate sale during the time that they were building their home. They bought it for a song, and years later were shocked when they had it appraised. "This is by far one of the best scores I have ever come across!" Jennifer exclaims. While the openness of the space works perfectly with the couple's lifestyle, there are changes ahead for surfaces and cabinetry. "Because of the color palette in the house, it no longer works with anything else," Jennifer explains. "It's only 14 years old, but time has changed and its time is up!" Range and vent hood: Viking; refrigerator: Sub Zero; cabinetry: Ikea Adrienne DeRosa
Sharing a pass through with the kitchen. the tv room is flooded with light. Its modest size makes it the coziest area of the house, and because of that it is the couple's favorite wintertime spot. "It's so comfortable to just lay around in," Jennifer says. "You sit down and all of a sudden you're falling asleep." The Milo Baughman settee is currently Jennifer's favorite piece. A recent birthday gift from Raymond, Jennifer found the tufted leather sofa on Etsy and drove 10 hours across Pennsylvania to pick it up. Always up for a design adventure, "It was well worth it," she says. "It's amazing." Martini SIde Table, in brass: West Elm Adrienne DeRosa
Refreshingly bright and airy, the master bedroom was designed with retreat in mind. With five children in the house at the time, Raymond and Jennifer immediately recognized the need for their own floor and claimed the third story for themselves. "It's definitely so high up that it makes it easy to get away," Jennifer explains. "I open the windows that face the lake and just listen to the waves break, and catch a minute." The palladian window is generously sized, filling the room with light and the sounds of nature. The headboard was another piece salvaged and put to a new use. The old barn door was purchased from Jennifer's friend that was moving her store front and no longer had use for it. Seeing its potential, Jennifer and her sister committed to a two-hour journey of getting the door up to the top floor. Paired with white walls and linens, the character of the wood grounds the space with richness and warmth. Adrienne DeRosa
Jennifer's vanity is home to a treasure trove of vintage jewelry, highlighted by creative storage solutions. What was once a tool box now hangs on the wall to house various necklaces. Even with such rugged origins, the display has a decidedly feminine appeal. "My girlfriend had come across these old tool boxes at an estate sale. The person that owned them painted the tools that hung on each hook, so it makes for a great story," says Jennifer. Tool box containers: Stash Style Adrienne DeRosa
A study in contrasts, this corner of the bedroom brings all aspects of the room's decor into one arrangement. White walls and upholstery act as a launchpad for a variety of textures and tones. Jennifer covered the chair in an upholstery class, and it now is a great spot to enjoy with windows open and a good book in hand. "It's just that 'place'," as she describes it. Adrienne DeRosa
The construction of the couple's pool house came along in much the same way as many other aspects of their home. Built mostly of salvaged materials and parts, the size and shape of the pool house was dictated by wall sections that Raymond had found in a dumpster on a job site. As Jennifer adds, "a friend of ours was taking his deck apart and gave us all the lumber for free, and that became our roofing material. My neighbor across the street from us just happened to come over and tell me how he needed to get a new shed door. I asked him if I could take a look at it, and here it was an old dutch door. I asked if I could have it and bless his heart, he gave it to me." The pool house's roof and shingle-style siding mirror that of the main house, thanks to left over material from when the home was built years ago. "Since we own Sharkey and Son Construction we had the ability to do it all ourselves," Jennifer says. "So we poured the concrete floor and put the walls up. It's still a work in progress with things I have to do to it, but it's definitely a fun story to tell since 90% of it was free." Adrienne DeRosa
Inside, the pool house is ready for entertaining. Raymond and Jennifer poured the concrete counter top themselves. The paneling on the front of the bar came from a large cupcake counter at a friend's antique store. When her friend was closing the store, Jennifer and Raymond dismantled the counter and salvaged the painted doors, which they then cut to size as needed. Antique stools reflect the patina of the bar in an effortlessly charming way. "I found them at the Columbus Country Living Fair," Jennifer explains. "They came from an old Amusement Park; I'm not sure which one, but I kept everything original to them." Adrienne DeRosa
Cleverly designed, the pool house doubles as a shed and workshop on one side of the building. Raymond saved the shed doors from a job that he had gotten tearing down an old barn. The doors allow the entire front of the shed to open up, while their rustic finish carries on the aesthetic of the rest of the yard. Jennifer's 1963 International Harvester is another great score, and seemed almost meant to be. Found on Ebay, the truck came to her after deals on other vehicles fell through. "All of a sudden this truck was for sale on Ebay, and it was on my street a few houses away; I couldn't believe it," says Jennifer. Although she was initially outbid for the truck, the day after the auction she was notified that the winner had forfeited the sale, "So I am the lucky owner of 'Harvey'", she says with a smile. Adrienne DeRosa
"Its all for the love of junk!" exclaims Jennifer, about the free-spirited way of decorating the home's wrap-around porch. "Because it is all outside I won't spend a lot of money on any of it; I find cheap old junk in the trash or garage sales with cute colors or patterns and make it happen." Inspired by the colors from the garden, various items are recovered or painted in pastel hues to create a comfortable and engaging place to relax. "Raymond and I love our outdoor wrap-around porch in the summer. Because I decorate it like a house outdoors it creates the comfort of a southern home with surrounding gardens that are bursting with color and nature and fresh smells everyday. You can't help but want to sit and drink your coffee there in the morning and soak it all in. You smell the Lake Erie breeze and hear the waves crashing; its so serene." Adrienne DeRosa
Maggie and Rigby vie for Jennifer's attention. Afterall, this is a home "designed for entertaining and dogs", as Jennifer puts it. "I can't forget, the dogs love the porch and all the rugs, it gives them comfort out of the sun and a good lazy life to live. I wouldn't change that for the world, I love my home. I love the stories the things in my home tell just by looking at them. And I thank you greatly for giving me the ability to share it with the world." Adrienne DeRosa
Being only a couple of houses away from the shores of Lake Erie, Raymond and Jennifer’s house was designed to reflect a coastal state of mind. The couple was in on every aspect of its creation, hammering nails, and raising and finishing walls themselves. “We have a love for East Coast homes, Maine cottages… I also love the South, and Georgia plantations,” says Jennifer. “We needed to find a happy medium to incorporate the look and feel for both.” While the style of their home embraces aspects of a summer cottage environment, its understated design provides a perfect backdrop for Jennifer’s ever-changing decor. Adrienne DeRosa
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