A Design and Build Couple Create a Custom Home for the Holidays

Many couples struggle to pick out a sofa together, let alone renovate a house from top to bottom. But when Meg and Joe Piercy found the ideal fixer-upper in Schererville, Indiana, they turned to the best team they could find: themselves! The Piercys, who have three young boys, are founders of MegMade, an interior design and construction company and home decor store. (They are also the former hosts of Renovation Goldmine.) They both wondered how they’d fare, being the client to their spouse, but they jumped right in. “The craziness made us stronger!” Meg says. They even added an extra challenge: an aggressive schedule to finish the bulk of the reno in two weeks, before the start of school for their sons. After a flurry of work (They filled nine dumpsters!), they met the deadline. The result is a vibrant tailor-made home that gets extra cheery this time of year.

“I never decorated much for Christmas before, but now I have a space that’s fun to dress up,” Meg says. Starting with the exterior, sets of oversized ornaments and evergreen trees in urn planters flank the front door for a very merry entrance.

Meg painted the brick fireplace (Soot by Benjamin Moore) and brought in color with a group of horse canvases from their shop. Cream walls (Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore) let the family’s bright Christmas decor really pop. The sectional and swivel chair are both by Rowe and the rug is by Loloi.

Meg had been looking for just the right spot for this Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper; she chose bright blue paint for the paneling and ceiling to match (Blue Lagoon by Amy Howard). “I worried it might be too bright, but it really is a fun talking point when we host dinners,” she says. The table and chairs are vintage — Meg reupholstered the seats with Kravet fabric — and the pink sideboard is a refurbished piece from her store.

A huge island was a must for Meg. “Joe and I are both the youngest in our families, which put us last in line to host, but now that we do, we’ve discovered we love being in the kitchen,” she says.

She chose a dark wood stain on the island to contrast with the off-white cabinets. In the place of multiple recessed can lights: flush-mount globes from Hudson Valley Lighting.

This was originally a large closet off the kitchen, but Meg and Joe removed the doors and added an arch to turn it into a chic nook. (It’s a perfect spot for prepping hot cocoa!) The granite-top cabinets, painted Contented by Sherwin-Williams, match the Ann Sacks x Studio McGee glossy sage tiles on the backsplash. "We kept the kitchen fairly neutral, so we wanted a light pop of color in the bar," says Meg.

“Of all the colors in the house, this green is the one I get asked about most,” says Meg. She went all in, using it on the walls, built-ins and ceiling (Chimichurri by Benjamin Moore). “I’ve always believed the ceiling is the fifth wall!” The ruby velvet armchair is by Rowe, and the whimsical resin side table is from Oly.

“I didn’t love this ceiling when we first saw the house, but I couldn’t change it, so I made the best of the unusual shape by painting it a sunny yellow,” says Meg (Bee by Sherwin-Williams). “Yellow reminds me of sunshine, and during our long winters, this space makes me smile.” The wallpaper is from her MegMade line with Mitchell Black. The bed is by Alder and Tweed.

Sons Wells, 12, Brooks, 10 and Finn, 6, have a custom-cool bathroom to share. The colorful letters on the wall represent their initials.