The van Prooyen's Fresh Take on a forever home

Project Spotlight

The Van Prooyen's Fresh Take on a forever home

There is a certain duality to the meaning of a “forever home”. On the one hand, it means a home that’s built with the future in mind, so that no matter what life has in store, your home can remain steadfast in meeting your needs. On the other hand, a “forever home” also means a place that stays timeless; classic design that stands the test of time. When Karen and Gary Van Prooyen decided to set out on their custom home journey, this concept of a forever home was at the forefront of their minds.

They had lived in their previous home for more than twenty years; it was where they raised their now grown-up sons, and it suited their needs, both practically and stylistically. Over time, though, the Van Prooyens began to feel the ill-matched parts of the design more and more. The second-story primary, steep stairs, and tight kitchen and living areas were a few of the design aspects that simply were not working anymore, and certainly would become more unsuitable in the future. It resounded with us profoundly when they noted, “we have heard and seen many occasions of people having to leave their well-loved home of decades, simply because of getting older”. So, in 2018, when the perfect plot of land in a wooded corner of Wheaton came on the market, the Van Prooyens decided now was the time to take the leap into designing and building their next—and last—home. As the old adage goes, when opportunity knocks, you open the door!

​As of the publication of this newsletter, the Van Prooyens have been enjoying their forever home for a few months. Karen likens it to “easy 

living”; while they did love their last home, she notes that they both find themselves feeling a much deeper level of calm in a home that was designed to suit them, specifically. And for Karen and Gary (and their adorable dog, Bear!), each day brings new parts of the home to love and renewed gratitude for being able to embark on this design journey.

Before this writer gets too far ahead of herself in this Studio21 Architects story, let’s rewind to the very beginning. Karen and Gary found their way to Studio21 Architects through Karen’s brother, Wally, a property developer in the area. Our firm has partnered with Wally on many different types of projects in the past, namely with resident architect, Gregg Stahr. It was a natural collaboration between the two for the Van Prooyen’s custom home. The design process kicked off with a good old-fashioned wish list so that Gregg could begin to determine what this custom home needed to remain a perfect fit in perpetuity. The most important item for the Van Prooyens was single-level living; having guest bedrooms on the second floor was reasonable, but for Gary and Karen, it was imperative that they could seamlessly live their lives on just the main floor. Another aspect that ranked highly on the wish list was space to entertain; not only was it important to have enough space for the whole family to gather, but it was also a must-have for these communal spaces to have a connected, open-concept flow.

​While Gary and Karen did want to point out that they wouldn’t necessarily consider themselves “visionaries”, they started the design phase with a solid understanding of what they liked and didn’t like. Perhaps even more crucial, they earnestly self-examined their day-to-day habits and needs, as function always acts as the foundation for form. As the architect, Gregg’s role in these first steps was to serve as a transcriber of sorts, translating his clients’ ideas, goals, needs, and aesthetics into a harmonious design. In our client-forward design philosophy, it is paramount to first understand what the clients are looking for, both functionally and aesthetically, so that the design that’s brought forth truly reflects the homeowner’s vision. The Van Prooyens also brought on their interior designer, Sherry Miller of Blue & Co. Lifestyle, to further attune their vision in the later stages of the project.

Editor’s Note: A very BIG thank you to Sherry for sending us additional photos of this beautiful home!
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Now, let’s get into the design! Walking into the home, it’s very likely that the first thing to catch your eye will be the stunning vaulted ceiling—two stories tall with massive wood beam detailing (the installation of which is a thrilling story all on its own, in fact!) With these high ceilings, this common space, including the living area, breakfast area, and kitchen, feels expansive, but with the decorative touches and multifunctionality of the space, it feels intimate at the same time. Off of the kitchen is the formal dining room, large enough to comfortably accommodate twelve and with an abundance of natural light coming from the windows on three sides. The entrance to the dining room is a personal favorite for this author: an archway decorated with exposed brick! Beyond the dining room is the covered porch. The Van Prooyens sought a covered porch so that they could enjoy the space year-round; the fireplace keeps it warm in the colder months, and the screens keep the bugs at bay in the warmer ones.

​With the primary goal of making this home suitable for whatever the future holds, wide corridors were a must. All of the hallways are wide enough for a walker or wheelchair, and the same goes for the kitchen’s walkways. Eye-level ovens with a side handle have accessibility in mind. The kitchen’s style is a great example of the other version of “future-proof”: timelessness in terms of style. Its all-white finishes feel warm 

because of the textural differences between surfaces, and subtle gold touches, like in the accent lighting and faucet, offer added warmth.

​The first-floor primary suite has gained a significant amount of traction in the last few years. Locating the primary away from the home’s other bedrooms offers some extra peace and a dedicated “sanctuary” zone. Aside from the restfulness values, the apotheosis of future-thinking lies in the first-floor primary suite. In the Van Prooyen’s forever home, a quick turn down the hall leads you to their primary, which was designed to feel like a self-contained space. The laundry room is along the hall to the primary, right next to the walk-in closet—no need to walk downstairs, or even walk across the house to put clothes away with this added dose of insightful design! Further forever-home design can be found with the primary bath’s no-threshold shower and easy-to-reach storage, making access easier and safer, come what may. Finally, in the primary bedroom itself, the room does an excellent job of inspiring serenity. The bedroom’s picture window lets in natural light galore, and the calming blue interiors certainly reinforce the sense of calm that we all aspire to with our own bedrooms (or at least I do!).

Perhaps the most meaningful reaction to their finished home, Karen and Gary told us that now that the home is finished, and they have had a chance to really live within it, they have a hope that their home will stay in the family for generations. They cannot stress enough how lucky and grateful they feel to be able to design their forever home; every corner of their home is well-utilized and works seamlessly with their lives. They are also happy to report that Bear loves his new place just as much as they do!
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Thank you so much for sharing your design story, gary and karen!!

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Written by: Emma h. 

Emma works as the Marketing Manager at Studio21 Architects. For each of our newsletters, Emma conducts interviews, writes articles, and formats the pages to make sure they reflect the great design we value so strongly at this firm. She may not be an architect, but she certainly makes sure that our marketing materials have the same high-quality design that our architecture has!