Personal touches enhance the Birmingham house Katia and Max Pacioretty have called home ever since they chose to relocate from Virginia to Michigan to raise their five children. Birmingham-based Jessica Neeper, an interior designer with an eponymous firm, worked on the project with her architect husband, Brian Neeper. “Aesthetically, the clients’ design goals were coastal, traditional, and transitional. Those were the starting descriptions that would fluctuate between Katia and Max, and Brian and I. Family-friendly was also important,” Jessica says.
Max, who plays hockey for the Toronto Maple Leafs, also played at the University of Michigan; Katia is a former professional tennis player and co-owner of Canadian-based Smile Organic Co., which creates plant-based milk alternatives for children. Their four boys play hockey, and their daughter recently started tennis lessons.
The couple’s home was designed by Brian Neeper for Hunter Roberts in Bloomfield Hills. The Paciorettys purchased it during construction and hired Jessica Neeper to help with the interiors. “We selected the ceilings, walls and trim details, the materials and stain finishes, and paint,” Jessica says.
The sleek selections used in the new-build include pre-engineered wood floors, which were treated for durability. Indoor/outdoor fabrics were chosen for upholstered pieces like the custom sofa and chairs in the living room, which complement natural elements like a stone fireplace and a wood ceiling. Other gathering spots include the kitchen, where quartzite counters top cabinets and a sizable island by Architectural Kitchens in Troy. On the lower level, swivel chairs and a sectional by Eric Berarducci of Siecle en siècle Inc. in Quebec, Canada, offer comfy seating near a temperature-controlled wine room.
This was a fantastic project to be a part of. Katia and Max are very kind, and we really connected with them. Knowing that this would be their space, (and it was) a big move to the Midwest for their kids, we wanted a peaceful refuge for them,” Jessica says. “We worked long-distance when they were in Virginia; we could do things virtually and send things electronically. It really worked well. Hunter Roberts was great, too. It was a dream project.”
Brian, who owns Brian Neeper Architecture, PC, in Birmingham, also appreciates the home and its inhabitants. “It’s a family neighborhood, so we designed a family-centric home with a very site-driven design (that includes) a wraparound pool and outdoor experience, and an open floor plan that allows sunlight to filter into the spaces. The foyer and entry sequence is unique. It’s like a rotunda that shields the living areas from the street front,” he says.
“For both Jessica and I, our main goal was to listen to our clients’ needs. We tried to really understand their design sense and capture their style and bring it all together in a way that’s an expression of our clients and ourselves. Jessica did a great job of bringing their heart and soul into the home, and they were great people to work with.”
The accolades go both ways. “Everyone did such a fabulous job of working together. We were so lucky to have such a great team,” Katia says.
The finished home enhances family time. “We love to hang out in the library with the kids and watch movies. It’s so cozy in there,” Katia says about the room that showcases a custom Marilyn Monroe portrait collage made for the couple by Montreal native André Monet, a well-known artist. “He picks different maps from all over the world. You can find all the places the kids were born and our names. It’s a really special piece.”
The art in the dining room took some time to find. “It’s a photograph of an old hotel in Paris. There was something about it (that spoke to us),” Katia says. Other details also appeal to the couple. “We love arches, and we were able to do quite a few throughout the home, and carried them into the main bedroom,” she says. Katia also chose the woven chandelier: “I had been eyeing it for a long time. It’s a perfect fit for the gorgeous ceiling.”
A study area accommodates the boys, who are home-schooled. “It’s incredible to have such an amazing space for the kids,” Katia says, adding that the bunkroom lets the children bond on the weekends. “We know they’re not going to go to bed on time during the week (in the bunkroom), but on Friday and Saturday, they get to sleep there,” she says. “They’re chatting and giggling all night. It’s so special for them, and our daughter has the little window bed.”
A study area accommodates the boys, who are home-schooled. “It’s incredible to have such an amazing space for the kids,” Katia says, adding that the bunkroom lets the children bond on the weekends. “We know they’re not going to go to bed on time during the week (in the bunkroom), but on Friday and Saturday, they get to sleep there,” she says. “They’re chatting and giggling all night. It’s so special for them, and our daughter has the little window bed.”
Hosting comes with the territory when you’re the parents of five children. “With the kids on so many different hockey teams, we end up becoming really good friends with the parents, and we have a lot of friends here. The flow of the house — how we have the backyard and patio, and the kitchen, living room, and library — makes it so easy to entertain. The dining room is kind of separate, which is great when we want to have an intimate dinner,” Katia says.
“We’ve lived in so many places and learned so much,” she continues. “We always wanted to have a house where every space is used, and nothing is wasted. We’ve moved endless times. This just really feels like home, with the layout and the elements like stone, wallpaper, and wood. Every space is used in our home, and the kids are really happy.”
1.Interior Designer
Jessica Neeper, Jessica Neeper Interiors,
Birmingham, jessicaneeperinteriors.com
Additional Contributors
Architect: Brian Neeper Architecture, PC, Birmingham
Builder: Hunter Roberts Homes, Bloomfield Hills
Custom furniture maker: Eric Berarducci, Siécle en siècle Inc., Laval, QC
Kitchen cabinetry design and manufacturing: Architectural Kitchens, Troy
2.Great Oaks Pendant
Palecek, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy, palecek.com, caidesigns.net, michigandesign.com
“I just love the scale, texture, and statement this light fixture makes in a room. We’re such big fans,” interior designer Jessica Neeper says. “We also hung one in our office.”
3.Rubia Pillow
Schumacher, Michigan Design Center, Troy, schumacher.com,
michigandesign.com
“This darling little pillow adds a fun, preppy punch to the foyer’s custom bench. It’s made of linen with a coordinating welt.”
4.Pelham Moon Sconce
Visual Comfort, City Lights Detroit, Michigan Design Center, Troy, visualcomfort.com,
citylightsdetroit.com, michigandesign.com
“I love that this sconce adds a nautical element,” Neeper says of this light fixture in the children’s playroom.
5.Damien Lounge Chair
Palecek, CAI Designs, Michigan Design Center, Troy, palecek.com, caidesigns.net, michigandesign.com
“The first things seen in the great room are the backs of these woven natural chairs,” Neeper says. “I love the texture and geometric pattern against the natural stone fireplace.”
6.Vienna Side Table
Worlds Away, worlds-away.com
Neeper adores the elegance of this accent table in the primary bedroom. She shares: “The brass and glass was needed to contrast all of the soft elements in the room.”
7.Jamesport Rug
Serena & Lily, Birmingham, serenaandlily.com
“I love how the jute in this rug takes the edge off the formality of the round foyer. I think this pattern is just fantastic.”
8.Kianna Rug
Stark Carpet, Troy, starkcarpet.com
“The dining room was leading with strong natural elements in the light fixtures and chairs, and the blue in this rug balanced the natural with warmth and depth.”
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