“Let’s go to your house.”
BY LAURIE EAGER
Click image to view
“I’m bored,” is the common lament of teens, especially as the school year draws to a close and seemingly endless summer days stretch ahead. Two local families responded to the plea by creating unique attractions at home that promise hours of fun and wonderful memories for their teenage children.
Stacy and Chris Flaherty made an investment in the well-being of their family by converting an unused space upstairs into a deluxe teen suite. This fabulously funky space was designed and installed by Chris, a general contractor, for their children, ages 14, 12 and 9. The high-energy décor is where 1950s diner meets glossy red IKEA kitchen. Animal print rugs cover the floor and both a shark head and the front end of a sports car extend from the walls. The area practically screams, “fun!”
Giving teenagers a space to call their own balances their growing desire for independence with their parents’ need to keep tabs on their whereabouts. Stacy feels it is very important to know her children’s friends, and their home is a frequent locale for all kinds of gatherings including study groups, game nights and sleepovers. Special features of the Flaherty teen hangout include a wall-sized world map where the family can pinpoint past trips and future dream destinations. The opposite wall is home to a giant chalkboard where teens and guests post messages for one another and express their artistic side. Those with a fondness for writing can leave a clever quip on the “graffiti” bathroom walls. A large project table anchors one side of the room, perfect for group school projects and messy activities. Built-in lockers store supplies and games, and a kid-friendly sofa provides the perfect spot to relax and watch TV or play video games, with a popcorn machine nearby.
Neighbors Mitch and Kelli Gai are parents of three teens, ages 14, 16 and 18. Like the Flaherty family, they wanted to create an attraction that would keep their children at home and entice their friends to join them. The solution for the Gai family was to utilize the downstairs portion of their home as a retreat for young people. Amenities include a game room – complete with a full-sized pool table and arcade-style games – which opens to the backyard.
The outdoor area is really an extension of the home, with large areas for dining, entertaining and enjoying the newly installed pool. Limited by a shallow lot, a creative team including landscape architect Jeff Gamboni, landscaper Frank Bodin, and Aqua Pools was able to design a patio and pool that are both beautiful and functional. Waterfalls spill over a stone wall and provide soothing background sounds in the long, narrow pool with an adjacent Jacuzzi that seats 12. The Gais’ children and their friends are able to enjoy the area year-round. Thoughtful details include benches along the pool edges for hanging out, and plenty of lounge chairs and plush towels to accommodate lots of friends. A cold drink and snacks are only steps away in the teen kitchen outfitted with a refrigerator and microwave.
A grapevine-clad iron fence and mature olive trees that were brought in by a crane provide privacy, and make the backyard feel as though it has been there for years. The efforts invested in creating a space at home that is inviting to teenagers will pay huge dividends in the well-being and closeness of a family. Just like the baby years, this phase passes all too quickly.
Stacy and Chris Flaherty made an investment in the well-being of their family by converting an unused space upstairs into a deluxe teen suite. This fabulously funky space was designed and installed by Chris, a general contractor, for their children, ages 14, 12 and 9. The high-energy décor is where 1950s diner meets glossy red IKEA kitchen. Animal print rugs cover the floor and both a shark head and the front end of a sports car extend from the walls. The area practically screams, “fun!”
Giving teenagers a space to call their own balances their growing desire for independence with their parents’ need to keep tabs on their whereabouts. Stacy feels it is very important to know her children’s friends, and their home is a frequent locale for all kinds of gatherings including study groups, game nights and sleepovers. Special features of the Flaherty teen hangout include a wall-sized world map where the family can pinpoint past trips and future dream destinations. The opposite wall is home to a giant chalkboard where teens and guests post messages for one another and express their artistic side. Those with a fondness for writing can leave a clever quip on the “graffiti” bathroom walls. A large project table anchors one side of the room, perfect for group school projects and messy activities. Built-in lockers store supplies and games, and a kid-friendly sofa provides the perfect spot to relax and watch TV or play video games, with a popcorn machine nearby.
Neighbors Mitch and Kelli Gai are parents of three teens, ages 14, 16 and 18. Like the Flaherty family, they wanted to create an attraction that would keep their children at home and entice their friends to join them. The solution for the Gai family was to utilize the downstairs portion of their home as a retreat for young people. Amenities include a game room – complete with a full-sized pool table and arcade-style games – which opens to the backyard.
The outdoor area is really an extension of the home, with large areas for dining, entertaining and enjoying the newly installed pool. Limited by a shallow lot, a creative team including landscape architect Jeff Gamboni, landscaper Frank Bodin, and Aqua Pools was able to design a patio and pool that are both beautiful and functional. Waterfalls spill over a stone wall and provide soothing background sounds in the long, narrow pool with an adjacent Jacuzzi that seats 12. The Gais’ children and their friends are able to enjoy the area year-round. Thoughtful details include benches along the pool edges for hanging out, and plenty of lounge chairs and plush towels to accommodate lots of friends. A cold drink and snacks are only steps away in the teen kitchen outfitted with a refrigerator and microwave.
A grapevine-clad iron fence and mature olive trees that were brought in by a crane provide privacy, and make the backyard feel as though it has been there for years. The efforts invested in creating a space at home that is inviting to teenagers will pay huge dividends in the well-being and closeness of a family. Just like the baby years, this phase passes all too quickly.