ABOVE: The house placement allowed for a long, curved driveway to offset the squareness of the home. and created a courtyard feel for the front porch and garage. The juxtaposition of curves and hard angles throughout the house and grounds adds an energy to this well-thought-out home.
In 1999, when Angie and Jan Holliday first discovered the long narrow lot surrounded by a nature-scape of mature trees on a quiet cul-de-sac in Maryville, Illinois, they knew they’d found the perfect spot to build their new home.
Twenty-six years later their creative partnership forged with love, determination and complementary skills continues to shine and flower. Their home showcases their individual talents in a space that welcomes family, friends and community.
The living room looks out over the nature scape and trees from every window in the room. Jan built the custom bookcase plus all of the woodwork, baseboards, and door and window casings. Angie’s choices of color, textures and materials builds on a natural palette in this serene room.
“We chose the lot because of size, a little over one acre, and because of the surrounding woods,†Jan says. “We wanted a deck that stuck out into the tall timber. When we built the house, it was the focal point of the design because half of the house is nearly in the woods.†Bringing nature in is important to the couple.
His skills as an engineer allowed him to design their home, a modified atrium ranch, to fit the unusual lot and to maximize the integration of the home into the outdoors. The unique L-shaped plan created two “backyards,†one with the aforementioned deck into the woods, and a second space for the pool, deck and gazebo, which was built four years ago.
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The house placement allowed for a long, curved driveway to offset the squareness of the home and created a courtyard feel for the front porch and side-entry two-car garage.
ABOVE: The cool blue sweep of the pool features several areas for shady seating or comfy lounging. Kids love to get under the waterfall that splashes over the rock wall on the right.
Jan’s overall objective in designing the floor plan was to create “separate but connected†spaces, unlike the standard open floor plan of most atrium ranch houses. He got an assist from the L-shaped design of the structure, which provided some partitions by its nature. Jan added short hallways for separation and half walls for connectedness throughout the home.
Inside and out, this dynamic duo conceptualized and actualized visions they had for what makes a house a home, plus they adapted and changed it to fit their needs over the years.
ABOVE: Jan built the curved nook, the custom wainscotting and all the trim in the dining room. Angie chose a wallpaper pattern in cool gray and cream that echoes natural plant shapes. She selected a chandelier that mimics the shapes. The mahogany table with its modern Chippendale chairs brings in more natural elements here.
Jan’s woodworking abilities shine in the many custom features he built throughout the house. He designed and installed and finished all the custom-milled baseboards, window and door casings including those for the two-story windows that “let in the green†from the surrounding woods.
He also crafted bookcases, fireplaces and mantels. The dining room features his arched nook, plus custom wainscotting. The wood and wrought iron stair leads to a bar and entertainment center he built in the lower level.
TOP, LEFT: Angie and Jan applied the wallpaper and Jan made the custom pantry at right in the kitchen. MIDDLE, LEFT: The picture wall in the lower level bar and family room holds photos of Angie’s family on the left, and Jan’s family on the right with photos of the two of them in the middle. Jan made the bar base and poured a concrete swirl top as well. The colorful print on the wall reads “Jan’s Place†and was created by a close family friend, Stephen Carter, a graphic designer. BOTTOM, LEFT: The living room looks out over the nature scape and trees from every window in the room. Jan built the custom bookcase plus all of the woodwork, baseboards, and door and window casings. Angie’s choices of color, textures and materials builds on a natural palette in this serene room.
Angie chose the paint schemes and wallpapers for the house, and the wallpapers, including a kitchen wallpaper specially made for her by Spoonflower. She’s also proud of the art they’ve selected for the home. They chose each piece for its personal meaning to them.
They mix furniture styles throughout, adding natural elements in each room. They cherish a family picture wall that includes photos of Jan’s grandparents’ wedding, and one of his great grandmother.
The kitchen gets a workout when they have friends and family in for regular Sunday dinners, and they both admit they know how to throw a good party. Angie is the main cook, while Jan works as the grill master.
“I’ve been cooking and gardening since I was a kid,†Angie says. “I taught myself to cook when my mom started working outside the home at Famous-Barr. She would sometimes still be working at dinner time, so I started dabbling in cooking to help out,†Angie says. “I took a liking to it, and I kept dabbling, and learned to cook. I roasted my first turkey when I was 18.â€
Given the flow of inside and outside spaces, landscaping also comes into their collaborative efforts. “Here’s another area where we make a good team,†Jan says. I like building stuff, so there’s all kinds of retaining walls and, patios, and edging around our beds. Then Angie comes in and does her magic with the plants, trees and flowers.â€
“I just love all colors of flowers and trees,†Angie says. “I’ve got butterfly bushes, perennials, coneflowers and more. We recently put in new redbud trees. One is Ruby Falls, and the other is a Flamethrower redbud. The colors are to die for.â€
The house with its three bedrooms and three baths, continues to provide do-it-yourself projects for this adventurous couple. Jan may have his eye on the garage next. The current garage serves as Jan’s woodworking studio. He’s looking to make a three-car garage next that can actually hold cars.
Angie and Jan Holliday on their elevated deck which nestles in the trees around their home. At Home with Angie and Jan Holliday at their Maryville, IL home on May 22, 2025.
The picture wall in the lower level bar and family room holds photos of Angie’s family on the left, and Jan’s family on the right with photos of the two of them in the middle. Jan made the bar base and poured a concrete swirl top as well. The colorful print on the wall reads “Jan’s Place†and was created by a close family friend, Stephen Carter, a graphic designer.
Jan built this gazebo on the pool deck from a standard kit, and adapted it to fit the deck space. He added the fans, lighting and brackets for a television as well to make this comfortable outdoor space.
