14 Adoptees Surprise Mom and Dad With New Living Room
The siblings used Houzz to find a designer and buy new furnishings that bring updated comfort and function to the space
Houzz
December 28, 2017
When Chris and Bob Atherton got married, they decided to build their family through adoption. Nearly 40 years and 14 kids later, they continue to run a busy household. Recently, the kids got together to surprise their parents with an update to the Athertons’ living room. They hired designer Jenny Slingerland to help replace well-worn furnishings and create a more cohesive design that keeps function and comfort in mind.
Photos by Tony Marinella of TMP Imaging
Living Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Chris and Bob Atherton, four of their adopted kids and one of their grandkids
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Designer: Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Watch now: See the Atherton kids surprise their parents with a redecorated living room
Before. The original living room consisted of three large brown leather sofas and two large brown leather recliners, all spread out from a rug that had seen a lot of traffic over the years.
The Athertons didn’t have coffee tables or end tables, a design decision from a time when the house was full of young kids who could knock over a beverage in the blink of an eye — and because Chris didn’t like all the clutter that accumulated on table surfaces.
Living Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Chris and Bob Atherton, four of their adopted kids and one of their grandkids
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Designer: Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors
Watch now: See the Atherton kids surprise their parents with a redecorated living room
Before. The original living room consisted of three large brown leather sofas and two large brown leather recliners, all spread out from a rug that had seen a lot of traffic over the years.
The Athertons didn’t have coffee tables or end tables, a design decision from a time when the house was full of young kids who could knock over a beverage in the blink of an eye — and because Chris didn’t like all the clutter that accumulated on table surfaces.
After. Two new upholstered sofas join a brown leather chesterfield sofa for updated comfort. Slingerland introduced two coffee tables that can be pulled around as needed or joined together for one big surface.
A new durable rug, made out of recycled plastic bottles, brings a bit of color. Bookcases and display cabinets corral family heirlooms and mementos while providing a vertical element to the room.
Watch now: See more of this surprise redecorating project
A new durable rug, made out of recycled plastic bottles, brings a bit of color. Bookcases and display cabinets corral family heirlooms and mementos while providing a vertical element to the room.
Watch now: See more of this surprise redecorating project
Here, Chris and Bob Atherton sit on their new coffee tables surrounded by the adopted kids and grandson who live at home.
Watch now: See the couple’s reaction to the new living room
Get the look: Shop for products from this makeover
Your turn: See how to create and use Houzz ideabooks for your own home project
Watch now: See the couple’s reaction to the new living room
Get the look: Shop for products from this makeover
Your turn: See how to create and use Houzz ideabooks for your own home project
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A very kind and generous couple, I take my hat off to them! And the children are so blessed! The decor is elegantly updated, but yet great thought has been put into to it to make it functional for their family unit.