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Waterfalls along one stone wall cascading into the new heated pool create soothing sounds heard from the outdoor verandahs and through the stretch of open French doors leading into the focus of Scott and Jane Pelley’s addition – “the pool hall” or screening room. A familiar voice, Scott Pelley, CBS correspondent on “60 Minutes” who has won four Emmys, and his wife, Jane, who has a background in advertising and writing, saw the potential of this once colonial-blue Cape Cod on five prime acres. “We fell in love with the property,” Jane says.
Moving from a newer home on a zero-lot line in Dallas in 1997, the Pelleys have gone room by room in this McLean dwelling with Jean Higgins, owner of Inside Out Interiors Inc., redecorating, reconfiguring and adding on to establish a home where their family can relax as well as entertain guests. Their warm nature truly shines through in conversations and in their selections of textured finishes, fun fabrics and detailed moldings in the comfy and classic spaces they call home.
Adding her personal touch to each space is easy for Jane who is involved every step of the way during renovations and who also draws inspiration from Jean. The two have collaborated on most projects in this home since the family moved in, including incorporating mementos that Scott has brought back from trips with presidents into the home’s contemporary rooms, as well as adding rich textures that bind the formal and casual settings together.
Down To Earth
“You can’t help but be enthusiastic” when working with the Pelleys, Jean adds. “They are so much fun.” And one of Jean’s trademarks is to work with clients in the initial phases by accompanying them to meetings with architects, builders, electricians and plumbers to ensure that the owners’ needs are met. These latest renovations, which incorporate earth tones into each space, are a departure from the rest of the Pelleys’ home where they chose a more contemporary theme, says Jean.
New rooms, which include the rear sunroom and breakfast area, the translucent hallway with archways framing the side beveled glass door, and the Arts and Crafts-influenced screening room where playing pool sparks parent-children conversations while having fun, show the warmth of the Pelley home not only from the natural lighting, but also from the palettes of paint and abundance of gas fireplaces. Flames glowing against various wall finishes, such as cherry wood paneling, stone and marble hearths and painted built-ins, illuminate all three areas.
Featuring about 90 percent glass, the back of the home crosses the line and brings the outside in. With a love of bright daylight and a lack of it previously, the owners can now enjoy quiet family moments while overlooking wooded acreage and the tennis court along the edge of the property.
With each room flowing into the next, the spaces offer “an extension of the evening for adults,” says Jane. “Like life, one thing builds on another.” It’s all come together “as intended,” she adds. And part of the intention is “the 10-year plan” to create spaces that work as the children grow into adults.
The original family room just steps away now serves as more of a serene setting with its bird’s-eye maple entertainment center and newly-installed honed Creama Marfil marble floor that travels to the central sunroom. Kiwi cowhide seat covers accent the bar stools offering a look from the breakfast area into the glistening Juparano Brazilian granite and Jerusalem Gold limestone kitchen built around Terre è Provence pottery that the Pelleys purchased in France.
From France to McLean
Jane took one piece of pottery from her extensive set on shopping trips with Jean to coordinate with the glazed cabinetry by Signature and the delicate tiles that accent the range hood and backsplashes. James O’Reilly, partner of Monkton Furnishings and Design, painted the switch plate to match perfectly with the tile pattern behind the cooktop.
A blue handmade Craft-Maid hutch adds a touch of color to one corner of the kitchen, which is Jane’s favorite space in this renovation. The original kitchen lacked the focal elements that this room now offers. The owners, who both like to cook, appreciate the efficient design by Lobkovich Kitchen Designs and enjoy the views into the sunroom and beyond. And the pottery continues to direct selections, Jane and Jean both add, such as in fabric and accessory choices.
An Italian Gallery
Incorporating pieces that have been part of the family’s collections was also important to the Pelleys. For instance, the chandelier that they purchased eight years earlier at the Marco Polo Glass Gallery in Murano, Italy was packed, shipped and safely moved from Dallas to McLean to its current spot in the family’s gallery. When it first arrived packed in pieces, Jane called Marco Polo for directions on how to assembly it and the glass company sent an illustration that was almost beautiful enough to frame. Before the recent renovations, the chandelier was displayed in the kitchen over the table. Now it has a prominent spot illuminating the gallery.
Extensive Character
Then in the summer of 2003, the Pelleys returned to Italy to the same glass store hoping to find matching sconces only to discover similar candelabras, which they envisioned in their gallery’s built-ins. But back home these colorful candelabras were hidden along the shelves, so Great Falls Construction, which coordinated the renovation, recommended pedestals flanking the stone centerpiece as places to display the unusual and weighty glass pieces. At night, the multi-colored chandelier and lit candles brighten the passageway to the screening or billiard room.
This screening area emphasizes the seamless and significant integration of the visions of the owners, interior designer, and all involved in this major renovation. Looking from the front, there is no way to differentiate between the original home and the addition, says Stacey Hoffman, vice president of Great Falls Construction, who, along with Roger Blattberg, president of the company, was involved in this project. This proves integrating older spaces with newer ones not only is possible, but also when done in this way, makes a home with existing charm into a home with refined character and graciousness.
Finishing Touches
By adding the screening or “fun” room, the Pelleys had to move the 20-year-old pool, which needed work anyway, and position it further back. Now the heated water feature by Alpine Pool and Design has a spa, waterfalls and stone accents that complement the rustic feel of the screening room. Towering arched beams along the ceiling designed by Dan Martinez of Cornerstone Design Inc. and lantern-graced French doors to the patio and outdoor fireplace outline this gathering room equipped with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, audio-video accessories and the popular pool table. By being as involved in the renovation process as Jane was, the owner gets a greater sense of accomplishment, Hoffman says.
Making something out of “thin air,” Great Falls Construction built a second stairway to the upper level and devised a way to inset a bookcase into the roofline without disturbing the home’s original design. This inspiration happens often onsite as things come together and designs take hold, Hoffman adds. Topping off this recent renovation is the powder room where Julia Phillips, partner of Monkton Furnishings and Design, painted the ceiling in gold leaf and finished the walls in metallic-washed Venetian plaster. The trim is a metallic glaze, says Phillips, who adds that these creative touches took about a week to incorporate. Jane found a handblown glass sink that she illuminated from below. This casts a brilliant glow against the walls of vibrant purple. “I will have a purple bathroom in my home forever,” Jane says.
