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ASpaceall Seasons for Laurie Tobe’s family-friendly comfort zone Laurie Tobe spends her days fi nding func- tional design options for clients. So when it came time for the owner and president of Floor360—the fl ooring design company she and her husband, Bob, founded with a group of partners almost 15 years ago—to put the fi nishing touches on the Middleton home the couple built six years ago, she didn’t have to look far for inspiration. “For me, designing a space is all about The porch’s stately stone fl ooring can withstand any weather, while wicker furniture brings the warm hues of the wall unit’s wood to the exterior space. “A Southern girl doesn’t build houses up North,” says Tobe with a laugh. The Kentucky native keeps the porch warm by stoking a fi re in their stone hearth as long as the weather permits. creating a comfortable, casual mix,” she says. “It’s what I do for clients, and what we wanted for our home.” In the living area, she brought the great room (affectionately dubbed “the wine room”) and adjacent screen porch together with ease, creating one unifi ed space that has become the family’s go-to spot. On the wall unit’s back- splash, glass tiles add a hint of sparkle. “They give you that extra pop of color,” Tobe says of the tile. “They’re a little touch of art.” “Th is is a great house for entertaining,” she says. “Th ese rooms have become a space we use a lot—even the screen porch we can use almost eight months out of the year.” Inside, an impressive wall unit offers To create an outdoor space that feels cozy, Tobe didn’t overlook window treatments, adding fl oor-length curtains for a stylish and functional touch. “They make you feel like you’re not just sitting outside,” she says. “But they’re not only for aesthetics, when the wind blows through, we pull them closed.” wine storage aplenty while hand-scraped hardwood fl ooring creates warmth. Cross through a doorway, and the hardwood gives way to a cozy screen porch with stone underfoot. Th e outcome strikes just the right balance of everyday comfort and high style. “It was about making a house into a home,” she says. Mission accomplished. June 2011 bravamagazine.com 47