We’re four features into our Homeowner Spotlight series and it couldn’t be more obvious how amazing my clients are! This series tells their stories - the different needs, wants, personalities, passions, and budgets that go into finding the perfect home. It is my honor and my passion to help my clients find the place that they call home.
Today we are featuring Chris and Adria Robinson!
Aren’t they the most adorable couple? Seriously… not only are they a beautiful family, they have the most endearing marriage. It was apparent from day one how much love and kindness is in their home. Their first house was such a warm, cozy environment (decorated beautifully by Adria… who could be a full time time home-stager and designer) and I knew it would fly off the real estate shelf very quickly. It did just that. Only a couple of days after listing, they were under contract and on the hunt for a new property that would meet their needs. They were ready to spread out a bit and in search of a bigger yard and a house with more space. So we went searching.
The Robinsons
We've been married for 14 years and have two children, a daughter who is about to turn 13 and a son, who is 8. Despite having one lifelong Chiefs fan and one lifelong Broncos fan in the house, we make it work! We bought our first home the year we got married, so it was the only home we had known together and as a family. No pets....yet, although the kids have been working hard on us to get a dog. We love family movie nights, sports of all kinds, going for walks, grilling, and hanging out with friends. Adria loves vintage finds & bargain shopping, while Chris loves working in the yard.
The Wishlist
In general we were starting to feel cramped in our previous home, and we were looking to move into a neighborhood in the D20 school district. We never finished the basement and the bedrooms were all really close together, so the second level didn't offer much privacy. We knew outdoor living & recreational space was high on our list; a home where we could easily host others, that it would feel warm & welcoming but also with enough 'room to move'. We were hoping to have multiple living spaces, a home that had a basement that was already finished or could be finished, and if we were lucky, a style and finishes that reflected us.
Saying Yes
We liked that this house was nearly move-in ready and had recently been renovated with finishes that reflected our style; we loved that it was situated on a corner lot and had an expansive backyard for a city lot. It is a tiered backyard that has two different levels, which provides ample space for the kids to have their trampoline and a basketball "half court", and a patio space down below that offers privacy and more seclusion. And we were excited that it was priced well, allowing us the margin to finish the basement, and get to make it our own.
Favorite Space
It's hard to say that we have just one. There are probably three actually. Adria loves the kitchen and takes advantage of all of the cabinets! It's a daily gathering spot for our family, with plenty of space for everyone to be in there at once without constantly bumping into one another! The kids often sit at the island while mom or dad is fixing a meal. Our other two favorites are the basement and the patio, both of which are spaces we created after moving in. The basement has an awesome couch where all four of us can totally stretch out for movie night, as well as a game/art/school table in the back. Our kids love this space too, with many a nights being filled with the laughter of my daughter and her friends using it for sleepovers. And our recently renovated patio is our favorite outdoor hangout spot. It feels private and secluded, and peaceful. Sitting out there after the sun goes down, with the lights on and fire going, is about as close to perfect as you can get.
Favorite Project
The biggest project by far was to finish our basement. We knew when we bought it that we wanted to do that right away and not look back 10 years from now and say "we should really get that done." We were able to get everything we wanted in that space: a guest bedroom & bath, a wetbar, a game/creative area, and most importantly a really comfy hangout spot with a couch we can all lounge on and watch a movie or sports on the big screen. We also recently renovated our patio area on the lower level of the backyard and it's our new favorite place to hang out! It feels cozy when it's just the four of us, but also big enough to accommodate a larger group with the sitting wall that was built around it.
Future Plans
We think it's pretty close actually! We've been here just over a year and a half and one the things we committed to when we bought the house was to tackle the projects right away so that we could settle in and just enjoy our home without always looking at a never-ending 'to do' list of projects. There will always be little things here & there to do, like replacing the upstairs carpet :) and if I want to dream I'd love to renovate the master bath someday but...
Family & Pets
The kids have enjoyed getting to decorate their new rooms, and the extra space in the house to just "get away" when they need some time alone without feeling like we are on top of one another. They love the 'chill' factor of the basement and a place to hang out with friends where mom & dad can be two floors away :) There has been backyard "camping", s'mores around the firepit, lounging in the hammocks, shooting hoops and perfecting flips on the trampoline.
Favorite Part
It was pretty easy to eliminate most homes by just looking at the pictures on the listing, so when we went to look at a house it was because we thought it might have real potential and checked most of the boxes. Our favorite part was just how Jessica would walk us through the vision of a home and help us dream about what could be done to make it ours. She had so many ideas and great potential solutions.
Working with Jessica
We wouldn't have wanted to work with anyone else! She helped us both sell our home and buy our new one, and she was great with both! Jessica is such a good listener and was able to discern what was most important to us, even when we weren't sure ourselves. She is such a knowledgeable resource for every facet of home buying and home ownership. More than just a realtor, she connected us to contractors & lent her interior design expertise on many occasions! Jessica was quick to respond and thorough in everything she did, and she's just ALOT of fun to be around!
Buying a home is a big deal, and it can feel like a daunting step. We had never sold a home AND bought another one at the same time, so we were quite nervous about that. Jessica really took the time to walk us through the process and reassure us. I felt like we hit her with a TON of questions, all the time, and she was always so gracious and generous with her time, making sure we were well taken care of.
Stories like this kind of want to make me cry… honestly. It’s so humbling to see people walk through this journey (which is so important to the lives that they are creating for themselves and their children) and know that I got to play a special role along the way. It makes me so happy to think of all the s’mores nights, bbq’s, trampoline giggling sessions and movie nights that take place in this special home with these amazing people. Chris and Adria, thank you so much for inviting me into your home and always making me feel welcome. I truly adore you and your beautiful family.
With love,
Photos by Megan Klackner
