Although her business is not interior design, Kerri Gutowski's friends would be more than happy if it were. Kerri and her husband, Joe, have created a "comfortably modern" home dominated by cool grey, black, and white with dramatic splashes of color. Curved archways, right angles, and clean lines provide a backdrop for Kerri's tasteful decorating-and everything is touchable. When the couple moved to this home, they chose to bring very little from their former house. Instead they began anew. Kerri claims their home and holiday décor are part of the family's new tradition as they write a new story. Many of the walls are filled with travel photos, reflective of the couple's love of far-away adventures. Joe's study walls are home to photo collages from a recent trip to Prague and Vienna. The hall leading to the guest room (named the Marriott room by the boys as they think it is the nicest room in the house) shows off photos from an African safari they took a few years ago.
They allowed their teenaged sons to design their own rooms. These rooms reflect the boys" favorite teams: OU red and UT burnt orange.
For the holidays, wreaths hang on the French doors that open to the front porch. Kerri fills their home with fresh flowers throughout the year, but every Christmas, her mother sends her an ornate bowl filled with huge poinsettias. The holiday décor has been chosen to complement the house, but the Christmas stockings are a family favorite. Kerri's mother would find all kinds of special trinkets for the stockings, a tradition Kerri has continued. Even the dogs have stockings.
The French Acadian-style house was custom built for entertaining with large open spaces. It also incorporates features of their backgrounds. For Joe, a wood deck and grill area reminds him of the Atlantic Ocean boardwalks where he grew up. For her, a "wharf" walkway over rocks and a fake river bed remind her of the Louisiana lake house her family once had. The master suite is a special treat with a his-and-her bathroom complete with fireplace and a fully mirrored adjoining exercise room.
