52 weeks of design (kitty & Company) week 50

By Kitty Golding
Kitty & Company will be conducting a series of short interviews with local Chelsea Residents for 52 weeks in order to appreciate differing personalities and design thoughts and styles in our community.  Perhaps you will meet someone new through these weekly interviews or perhaps it will be YOU! Stay tuned and follow us each week – we look forward to introducing you to the finesse of 52 Chelsea individuals. Up next – Mrs. Leslie White.
 
What is your profession? I am the owner of Wolverine Pickleball, in Scio Township.  We coach, have open play sessions, offer Friday night mixers, have college and teen sessions, tournaments and more. We (my business partner, Christy Howden, and I) have had our facility for two years now and this is a stepping stone to our forthcoming larger building with 16 courts, a beer garden and a bar.  Our website shows the plans and more at wolverinepickelball.com
 
Your family members: Cyril  is my husband, and we have 3 daughters, Reagan – married to Joe, Sasha and  Nina.
 
People think of me as soft but really I am  fierce  *Sidenote: My friend answered for me and  knows me  competitively.
When did you move to Chelsea? We moved here in 1996,  from Gross Pointe, MI and lived in Ann Arbor for a while as well – We are Michigan natives.
 
What do you love about where you currently live? We live on a farm with 26 acres. (White House Stables)  The serenity  of the land combined with the convenience of being closer to town are the top features for me.  Our farm has downsized in animals, we used to have goats and horses but are down to dogs, a  cat and chickens.
 
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would it be? In Florida, near the ocean not only for the location, but because it is the Pickleball hotspot in our country.
 
What three words describe your style? Natural, Contemporary and Simple.
 
As you think about the home in which you grew up, what elements did you like and do you think you have incorporated some of them in your own home?  My mother liked bright colors and hardwood floors – I have made that a priority in my home, all while keeping it simple.
 
Who most influenced your design styles?  My mom more than anyone has had an impact on how I decorate and design
 
What are you most inspired by in your design/decor?
Travel – I love to purchase photos and pictures for our home from places we have visited.
When entering your home, how do you want it to feel?  Warm and cozy- the fireplace does a great job of adding this ambience.
 
Have you ever built a new home or remodeled an existing one? We added  a three story addition on our farmhouse, which is approximately 120 years old. The addition included a Master bedroom and bathroom, we doubled the size of the kitchen and added a laundry room in the basement.  We haven’t changed much in the original home and have tried to keep the historicity of the home, such as the plaster and the old trim, plus the hardwood floors.  This home has only had  four owners that we know of and used to be a harness racing facility and a milking farm before we bought it.
 
 
What is the one biggest interior design issue you struggle with? Budget and time are always big issues
 
Which room in your home gets the most use? Our kitchen, we have an  eleven foot island and are always  working and eating at it .  We once  butchered an entire buck on the island!   Our kitchen is connected to our  family and dining rooms in an open concept, perfect for family gatherings.
 
If you are a pet owner, has that influenced your choices in design? Yes, we have two Dogs:  a Lab, Khaleesi  and a  Jack Russel,  Bildie   and one cat, Darr. We bought leather furniture for easier cleaning and wear and tear. Hardwood  floors with very few carpets are easier to maintain.  Roomba is a also a great addition to keeping the hair picked up.
 
If you were moving and could only pick one item from your home to keep, which would it be and why? Not that I could take it, but my big southern front Porch  or my  island would both be what I would want !  We use the porch a lot in the summer. It is  quite large with rocking chairs and columns…kind of like the “White House”!
 If you were given $1,000 to buy a new piece of art, what would it be?  Something representative of where we have traveled, but no particular style.
No room is complete without: * a fireplace 
 
I “try” to be:
A minimalist
What are you currently doing to pass the time during the COVID-19 State shutdown?  I played pickleball everyday in the driveway – on mini courts we made
A few of your favorite things!
Movie
Sound of Music
Historical Place You Have Visited
Greece was my favorite so far - The Parthenon was amazing
Scent – balsam fir
Season - spring
 
TV Show -The Office
 
Song, Artist or style of Music:  My Daughter! Nina White has recorded and put out music onto Spotify and Apple. Her style is Indi-Pop
 
Food – Crab Legs
 
Bucket List Travel Destination – Africa (safari)
 
Things to Collect – Photos from other countries
 
Museum – Museum of National History in Ann Arbor
 
Item on a bookshelf – photo albums
 
Color – purple  (deep)
 
Hobbies -   Pickleball, canning, organic gardening and baking
 
Tree or plant – Catalpa Tree they pouf out and make beautiful white flowers, and they drop and look like popcorn on the lawn, plus they have fascinating bean pods hanging from them
 
 
 

---