Reinventing their space
J.B. and Gwen Skierka’s Valley home is overflowing with treasures found in an unlikely place. While going through J.B.’s mother’s things after her death, they discovered a large wooden crate stuffed with old newspapers and plastic grocery bags. Nestled within the papers they found antique prints, ruby glassware and precious family heirlooms.
“We thought my mom didn’t have anything,” J.B. says. Gwen had the prints beautifully framed and displays them throughout the home.
“Everyone probably has treasures. They just don’t know how to display them,” she says with a smile.
Their home has changed in the 43 years since they first moved here. At the time of purchase the house was 1,180 square feet. Now it’s 2,400. “We raised four kids in a three bedroom, one bath home. Now that it’s just the two of us, we have four bedrooms and three baths,” says Gwen.
She calls the guest bedroom the “Waterfall Room,” because it overlooks a soothing water feature that splashes into two small ponds. French doors replaced a small bedroom window and open out onto the deck that lines the front of the home.
In 1984 the couple built a large addition off the kitchen so Gwen could have a formal dining room. In the kitchen, her mother-in-law’s ruby glass gleams from atop cherry wood cabinets. Another treasure found in the old crate rests on the countertop – a miniature replica of a cast-iron woodstove complete with tiny pots and pans. J.B. says his mother remembered the spanking she received after lighting a fire in it.
Gwen, who works part time as a legal assistant, designed her home office to be pretty as well as functional.
“I decided this room is where all the grandchildren’s photos are going to go,” she says. Now, Skierka works surrounded by the smiling faces of 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Her desk rests in a cozy nook that used to be a closet.
“I took out the closet and added the archway. I like to utilize all spaces and waste nothing.”
The master bedroom is a romantic retreat.
“I call it the Rose Room,” says Gwen. Large windows overlook her rose gardens. Soothing sea foam green paint and carpet create the quiet sanctuary Gwen wanted when designing this room. A black and white marble fireplace topped with white molding adds an elegant touch.
French doors open to a master bath equipped with a unique, glass block shower. A shadow box holding her mother-in-law’s baptismal dress hangs above the jetted tub.
Though it’s filled with treasures from the past, the Skierkas continue to reinvent their family home. “What I love most about this home is that there isn’t another one like it in the world,” says Gwen. “It was custom built for the original owners, and we’ve recustomized it for ourselves.”