The Hand-Me-Down House

When it came time for Fallon and Christopher Liles to find a new home for their family (from left, Cannon, 3; Asher, 5; Easton, 1; Branson, 7; and their Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Bentley), they knew just where they wanted to go: Christopher’s grandparents’ place. With its big yard and location in Phoenix’s lush Arcadia neighborhood, the 1950s ranch house felt perfect. “My dad grew up here and my family celebrated holidays here, so we felt a familiarity with the house,” explains Christopher. But the place wasn’t exactly move-in ready.

After Christopher’s grandparents passed away, the home sat vacant for two years, its rooms buried under old belongings. When Christopher and Fallon bought the house in 2012 (it was being held in a family trust), they had their work cut out for them. Luckily the Lileses co-own a building and remodeling company, Rafterhouse, so the overhaul wasn’t entirely daunting. During the four-month gut reno, they upgraded everything from the worn-out wood floors to the leaky roof and bumped up the square footage from 1,600 to 2,400. “Even though the house looks very different now, we tried to do things that would preserve the memories that were created here,” says Fallon. 

“With so many kids running around, I like things to look clean, simple, and bright,” says Fallon. Neutral furniture—leather armchairs, a vintage wood coffee table, and a tufted gray sofa—keep the room classic, while patterned throw pillows and a colorful Lulu & Georgia rug add playfulness. The TV and other techy stuff are hidden behind custom barn doors painted crisp white.

The Lileses took space from the old patio to enlarge the kitchen so it could accommodate a 10-foot-long Carrara marble–top island. Factory-style stools from World Market and three industrial brass lights—$30 each from a vintage market—add warmth. For color, Christopher painted the pantry door, which he’d salvaged from a job, minty green using a custom mix of Annie Sloan chalk paints. "We’ve never had a pantry before, no less one that’s like a walk-in closet." says Fallon.