Even after living in their home for ten years, Lisa and Scott Null never felt like it was truly theirs. Located in Wildwood, in the suburban hills of Chesterfield, the original layout and interiors didn’t match their tastes or personalities. When they purchased the property in 2012, the home’s color scheme was burgundy, beige and orange. “The colors were very dark and even with tons of windows in our house, it never felt like we had enough light,” says Lisa. “We wanted a brighter vibe on our main floor, and the kitchen had always been at the top of our renovation list.”
Luckily, the Nulls had close connections in the design community. Their niece, Chelsea Smith, owner of Chelsea Design Company, and her preferred building partner, Konnor Sincox, of Wise Brothers Contracting, were first hired in 2021 to remodel the couple’s primary bathroom. Once complete, they moved on to the kitchen. After many starts and stops—during which Chelsea and her husband welcomed two baby boys to their family—the Smith/Sincox team continued the home renovation plans and finished the 3,200-square-foot project in June 2024.
“What drew Scott and Lisa to this home ten years ago was the interior architecture,” says Smith, “specifically the ceiling lines and height changes that created a spacious and contemporary interior. They prefer a clean, calming and elegant yet comfortable environment that references nature and accentuates their beautiful windows and treetop views.”
As business owners in the tech industry, the Nulls wanted their home to be an escape from their work lives and reflect a streamlined, neutral aesthetic. Their new color scheme casually blends blues, greens, grays, taupes and browns with modern patterns, organic shapes and artworks that do not compete with the architecture and views. “The wide plank white oak floors throughout the main floor set the stage for the transformation of this place,” says Sincox. “When we started, it looked like something out of the 90s—glass tile, bad paint colors, failing appliances and too much carpet. From there, everything started to shape up.”
The home’s interior architecture leans contemporary with interesting ceiling changes, angles, archways and open, two-story staircases. “When we installed the new white oak wood floors throughout the first floor, the interior footprint felt like it doubled in size,” Smith adds. “The treetop views, grand windows and a strategic tree planted just off the living room draw you into the house.”
The Nulls and their niece aligned on the notion of “everything having a place,” emphasizing organization and incorporating interesting details from early planning, such as the kitchen refrigerator columns, tiled hood and the primary bathroom shower. They also enjoyed drawing inspiration from nature for a calming environment, and Smith pushed the homeowners’ style boundaries with exciting but easy-to-care-for finishes.
“Because these clients are my aunt and uncle, our communication was uncomplicated and cohesive, which kept us on the same page throughout the multi-year project,” says Smith. “They also put a lot of trust in Konnor and me, allowing us to curate a home aesthetic beyond what they could have imagined. They were also warm and understanding of my growing family and were able to plan timelines to work in both our favor. I am so thankful the stars aligned the way they did because it allowed us to spend more time than usual together during these precious, nostalgic moments.”
The architecture and views inspired the entire design aesthetic. Smith accentuated all these elements with the color palette and material selections, weaving the juxtaposition of natural movement with structured pattern in every detail. “We didn’t want one thing to pop and overwhelm the room, but instead allow you to sit back and enjoy the unraveling of natural materials as your eye works its way around the room,” she notes.
“The tilework by Luke Spain of Immaculate Tile was a game changer,” adds Sincox. “He worked with us on the primary bathroom and always does an incredible job. Running the backsplash to the ceiling and around the custom hood creates an interesting and unique finish that makes a big statement in the kitchen. Chelsea, Scott and Lisa also picked some unique cabinet finishes—the panel style on the walnut cabinetry is something I had never seen before, and it turned out very cool.”
Other statement features include the lighting selections—one requiring a winch in the attic to hang an eight-foot foyer light weighing over 200 pounds. For the main floor fireplace, the team was able to salvage the firebox and update the log set and valve, so the system runs on a remote control. A dynamic marble mosaic on the face of the fireplace gives the room an eye-grabbing visual wow factor. “One of Chelsea’s best strengths is understanding her client’s style and personal taste and incorporating that into her overall design,” says Scott. “Lisa and I are not flashy people—we prefer our home to be comfortable and functional for our family but also appreciate a beautiful space with details that feel personal and special. Chelsea and Konnor’s team kept our goals front of mind throughout the entire design process.”
Even before the renovation began, the Nulls had planned to remain in their house for the project’s duration. So, the team started by setting up a comfortable living space in their unfinished basement. They removed their existing kitchen cabinets and set up a temp kitchen equipped with a full-size sink, microwave and laundry. They even set up their TV, couch and dining table to ensure they would be as comfortable as possible in the basement while waiting for their new space.
“The joy of working on this project is one that we get to share on every project,” says Sincox. “For years, Chelsea and I have been building a group around us that makes going in and doing what we do feel good. Chelsea’s team, our electricians, plumbers, HVAC contractors, tile setters, painters, solid surface installers and hardwood guys are all the best in the business, and we are super fortunate to be surrounded by such talented and awesome people every day.”
The extensive project included the entire main floor and three bathrooms, areas of the home the family uses the most. The Nulls enjoy everything about their renovation and how it feels upscale and complete while still being comfortable.
“The kitchen is so much more usable and beautiful than before, and we love hanging out in our living room together, where there is plenty of seating space for everyone,” Lisa notes. “My favorite part is that everything feels like us, even though we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish any of this without Chelsea’s incredible talent or Konnor and his team’s expertise.”
Resources:
Appliances: Slyman Brothers
Artwork: Susan Greene
Builder: Wise Bros LLC.
Cabinetry: Kenrose Kitchens
Flooring: Blake Floor, Winschel, LK2
Granite Fabricator: Custom Stone Interiors
Granite Supplier: Global Granite
Staircase: Kirkwood Stair, LK2
Interior Design: Chelsea Design Co.
Interior Lighting: Wilson Lighting
Plumbing Fixtures: Crescent Plumbing
Tile Supplier: The Tile Shop
Window Treatments: LK2, Chelsea Design Co.
Wallpaper: Design & Detail, KDR
