Who knew that among paint chips, carpet samples, and fabric swatches, interior design consultation also included matchmaking possibilities? Certainly not Bridget and Steve Finnegan who, as singles, contacted Chelle Clark, who worked for by Design in Clive at the time.

Each received design help for their respective residences. “Chelle has never met a white wall she liked,” Steve says with a chuckle. “It’s all about color. White becomes mustard or teal. Luckily that’s great with me. I love it, too.”

Bridget, who had moved here from Omaha, fortunately felt the same way about color. As Bridget tells the story, “When Chelle suggested setting me up on a date, I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ A blind date at age 41? I don’t think so.”

Well, long story short, the couple dated for seven years and married in April 2007. They blended their families—Steve has two children and Bridget has one. “I have never set anyone up before,” Clark says. “But I just knew they would work out together.”

“We must have looked at 60 houses when we got married,” Steve explains, “but nothing jumped out at us. It seemed we wouldn’t really be happy until we built what we wanted.” So they shifted to looking at lots and settled on one at Painted Woods, which sits between Waukee and Interstate 80. An architect, K.C. Gerlitz, owned the wooded lot. He figured out what Steve and Bridget had in mind—an open Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired plan—and designed a home for them on the property, which is 1¼ acres. Mick DePhillips of Homes by DePhillips was the builder of the 5,000-square-foot home.

It was only natural that the couple would bring Clark, by then a freelance designer, back into the mix. “They are naturally artsy in their own right, and they are not afraid of color, but now it was about blending what they had and what they liked for the new home,” she says.

Meshing styles
“Yes, we both love color, but I’m a bit more traditional than Steve,” Bridget says. “For example, I have a lot of my mother’s memorabilia, and I have moved it with me for 20 years. It’s important to me.”
Steve, who has built homes a couple times before, wasn’t afraid of the building process at all. “But what was great about having Chelle work with us is that we both are very busy in our jobs. We don’t have time to shop every vendor in town. Chelle could do that for us, and since she knows what we like, she could pare things down to choices. It worked beautifully. Plus she could help blend Bridget’s more traditional likes with my more contemporary ones.”

Even on the exterior, Clark’s suggestion of terra-cotta or burnt sienna tones gives the home the look of nestling into the wooded property. Ted Lare Design Build created multilevel spaces with boulders and added classic perennials—purple coneflowers, hydrangeas, and black-eyed Susans. Inside she encouraged the couple to have a good time with their selections of materials. Surfaces in the kitchen and all the bathrooms especially showcase the fun the three had doing just that.

When guests enter the front door, a small, intimate sitting area welcomes them. A curved sofa in deep merlot tones and two striped chairs encourage conversation. Centerpiece of the room is a massive bank of arched windows that soaks in the views of the naturally wooded backyard. Nearby is the open formal dining room, close enough to the kitchen for easy entertaining, which the couple enjoys doing often. Walls are deep teal, and there’s an oval glass table with a mix of upholstered armchairs and iron side chairs.

21 paint colors
There are 21 different colors on walls throughout the home. “Needless to say, the painters weren’t too happy,” Clark says. “But color really does make a statement in this house.”

The kitchen and hearth room really are the center of the Finnegans’ home. “The hardest sell probably was using charcoal tones in the kitchen,” the designer says, “but it really turned out well.” Dark cabinetry, teamed with glass tiles, gives a sleek look, especially with stainless appliances. The tiles have a chameleon-like quality. They are blue/gray with the edges rubbed in gold, black, and silver tones. Clark says they have some “fire” in them and change color, depending on the light. The floor is mahogany. A slate and copper design behind the range accents one requirement for Bridget: a pot-filler faucet.

The whole kitchen area gives off a shimmery look that is paired with texture, says Clark. “It’s certainly not stuffy,” Steve chimes in. One interesting component is a custom-built, counter-height huge table, a gathering spot for family and friends. With eight bar stools, it’s great for dinner or a party. More seating comes in rope-textured, drum-shape stools at the bilevel island. They are upholstered in a starburst design in tones of teal and cognac.

Focal point in the great-room is a most interesting fireplace with a stainless-steel surround and a leather mantel—yes, with nailheads. Again, Clark points out, there’s the mixture of sleek and textured surfaces. Cozy furnishings and artwork picked out by the couple give a homey feeling. More texture comes in window treatments in the area. Near the eating center, there are rich-looking cornices. By the fireplace, feathers incorporated for texture contrast with the draperies and have become a conversation starter.

“Man cave”
Off the kitchen is a covered deck, what Steve refers to as his “man cave.” An interesting aspect is its ceiling, covered in grass matting. It’s reminiscent of the couple’s honeymoon in Bora Bora, where that look was so prevalent. “I love it out here,” says Steve, “because it’s so peaceful.”

The master bedroom suite is restful as well, but in a colorful sort of way. Imagine bright fuchsia and chocolate brown. “It’s great,” chuckle Bridget and the designer. “Steve is just fine with it.” New bedding and lamps dressed up furniture moved from a previous home. Polka dot wool felt in the functional Roman shades at the windows was another addition of fun.

The opulent master bath is a mix of whimsy and formality. An unusual marble called inferno onyx was the inspiration for the color palette of the bedroom and bath and pulls the suite together. The unexpected mix of rugged slate and carved travertine on the floor contrasts with the shiny mini merlot and gold marble tiles in the tub surround and shower. A total whimsy-formality mix comes in an elegant chandelier in the bathroom.  

Clark loves designing bathrooms, and a powder room near the great-room uses black crocodile tile banded in copper with an earthy stone vessel sink. Throughout the home mirrors and lighting act as artwork.

Detail was a prime concern everywhere. Even the laundry room on the main floor has tile with an appropriate linen look.

Wall for “the Boss”
Downstairs the space is devoted to fun. There are three bedrooms for guests and visiting adult children, a family room, kitchenette, and a billiards area. Walls around the pool table pay homage to Bridget’s favorite musician, Bruce Springsteen, “the Boss.” This past fall she saw her 27th Springsteen concert. While the singer gets a whole wall with posters and album covers, other musicians get a nod, too, from
contemporary groups such as Green Day, Cold Play, and U2, along with other sentimental favorites. How about the Go-Gos, Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar, the Police, Blondie, and the Rolling Stones?
One bedroom focuses on African-inspired art, and another takes on an Asian feel, down to the decorative frog closings on the comforter and decorative pillows.

Stone pillars down the stairway and around the kitchenette add more texture, a contrast to smooth iron rails. Cabinetry is hickory with bin pulls for a casual look. A wine cellar chills special collected wines.

Bridget incorporated some of her special family pieces. Two include a framed little dress she wore as a toddler, hanging in the laundry room, and an extra-special framed homemade bread recipe—her maternal grandfather’s in his own handwriting. Appropriately it hangs in the kitchen.

“This whole house went together so beautifully because Chelle knew us both so well. That made it easy,” Steve says. “The result is a totally ‘together’ feeling to our home.”

The matchmaking worked.

 

Resources

ARCHITECT K.C. Gerlitz
BUILDER Mick DePhillips, Homes by DePhillips
DESIGNER Chelle Clark
LANDSCAPING Ted Lare Design Build