Walking on sunshine in the Skalet family home

Photo by Photos by David Luttrell/Knoxville Magazine

The Skalet family enjoys the high ceilings in their newly remodeled and expanded home.

Walking into the Skalet abode, one immediately gets a sense of the family's personality. Bold colors and imaginative decor all but shout "cheerful, sociable, loving and just a little bit opinionated." Maybe that's why wife Amy, husband Chris, four-and-a-half year old Frances and nine-month old Hank feel so very at home here.

"We're not afraid of bright colors," Chris says, referring to the kitchen's daffodil-hued custom cabinetry and the vibrant artwork that hangs throughout the house. Amy adds that she loves the home's high ceilings and cozy, cottage-y feel. Frances enjoys having her own personal princess quarters, while Hank, a smiling ball of baby energy, clearly enjoys exploring the open floor plan on his hands and knees.

Small touches give the Skalet home its personality.

The Skalets purchased their current residence, a 1960s rancher in the Forest Brook neighborhood off Northshore, in 2006. "We thought our daughter was going to be an only child, so we wanted her to be in a neighborhood where there were lots of kids," Amy says.

But while the Skalets adored the neighborhood, their new house needed some serious work. For 10 months, they committed to the task of remodeling. Among other changes, they expanded the home, which was then barely 1,100-square feet, on three sides to better suit their needs as a growing family. Additionally, they changed the roof pitch to give the home a more dignified posture.

Bold and detailed light fixtures accent the dining area of the Skalet home.

Today, it's a completely different structure inside and out. "They really took it down to the bones," recalls Chris Davis, who, along with Craig Shelton, redecorated the home. "They pulled out everything from baseboards to crown molding to existing plumbing. They didn't really keep one thing except for the hardwood floors."

The Skalets, along with designers Davis and Shelton, clearly had fun assembling the new interior. Soapstone countertops and a soapstone fireplace add an element of luxury, while imaginative light fixtures and a playful color scheme keep the ambiance friendly and inviting. Dark wood accents and scarlet upholstery further create a feeling of warmth and security.

A child's bedroom has a playful and inviting atmosphere.

Last year, another surprise came along - the birth of their son, Hank. Once again, Chris and Amy had to rethink the layout of the house, which had been customized to fit a family of three. Even the kitchen counter was set up to accommodate three barstools and place settings.

It was back to the drawing board. Being creative and flexible by nature, the solution they came up with involved remodeling the basement, replete with a new full bath, office and living room, so that there was room for both children's bedrooms upstairs.

The kitchen is bright and cheery, with daffodil-hued custom cabinetry, and offers some luxury with soapstone countertops.

In truth, the Skalets probably need all the room they can get. Chris and Amy love to entertain, and their house is laid out perfectly for a party with rooms that flow one into the next. "We wanted something big, wide, and open," Chris says. Since they moved in, the family has hosted parties of up to 100 people although the space is equally comfortable hosting smaller, more intimate gatherings as well.

On this autumn day, golden light pours in through the home's oversize windows, its warmth diffused by the crisp breeze that wafts in through an open kitchen window. Friendly and inviting, it almost seems choreographed to suit the mood here. Not unlike the family itself, it seems this home wears its personality on its sleeve.

The home, a 1960s rancher in the Forest Brook neighborhood off Northshore, underwent its remodeling for 10 months.

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