Former baseball player turned coach Bill Mueller, along with his wife Amy, bought a home in Arizona after having to move from Massachusetts.
Even though the couple loved their house in Wellesley, the Muellers had to give it up after the ballplayer had been offered a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They decided to move to a house closer to the training site of Bill's new team. The two did not want to give up the Northeastern charm they both adored so they got Agnieszka Jastrzebska, a Phoenix architect, to design their new nest.
The house is painted both cottage and ivory white. The kitchen has a 17-foot ceiling, and at the center is a multifunctional cabinet, with a marble top that serves as a table. As an accent, there is a giant train station on top of a Wolf range. The cooking area is simple and clean, only decorated with fresh flowers and an evergreen branch.
Amy chose almost aged wood furniture for the house to blend the Arizona built structure with. In their dining area, the table is made of a classic reclaimed elm, matched with custom armless chairs. A unique piece in the form of a chalk board accents the room, framed in a weathered wood to go with the table.
The patio is bright and cozy at the same time. With the help of home designer Kristin Alber, it has achieved a sophisticated look that can weather the mess of daily life; an important thing to consider when you have 3 children at home. The chairs have slipcovers that are washable in case things get dirty. There is also a fireplace that adds romance and flair to the ivory interiors. A classic Christmas tree stands beside the fireplace and a fresh green wreath is mounted just above it.
In the bedroom, things are unbelievably organized considering there are small children around. Baskets are used to organize toys; the linens are faithful to the motif of the house.
When it comes to the busy Christmas morning; all the opening of presents and Christmas stockings full of new toys, how does the self-confessed organization obsessed lady of the house manage the chaotic clutter? Amy shares, "Baskets. I put out LOTS of baskets."
