Come along as we pull back the curtain on Michigan’s celebrity home designer Jean Stoffer. From the vulnerable moments leading up to her show’s premiere to incredible design tips, get up close and personal with this local Magnolia Network star.
This article first appeared in Traverse Northern Michigan. Find this story and more when you explore our magazine library. Want Traverse delivered to your door or inbox monthly? View our print subscription and digital subscription options.
Anchored firmly in her Midwestern roots, family and faith, Jean Stoffer has quietly and carefully risen from self-taught interior designer to the star of Magnolia Network’s reality design show “The Established Home.” The show’s pilot in 2020 featured her renovation of The Madison, a last-century Grand Rapids mansion that became home for Jean and her husband Dale, office headquarters of Jean Stoffer Design and gathering spot for the Stoffer’s four children and many grandchildren.
The accompanying photos of The Madison—taken by John Stoffer, one of the couple’s three children who work for Jean Stoffer Designs—illustrate Jean’s genius for creating timeless, relaxed spaces that are graced with subtle drama and rich detail.
In the following excerpt from her memoir, Establishing Home, Stoffer describes watching the first episode of her new show on New Year’s Eve 2021 with her family and friends in the sophisticated comfort of The Madison.
Photo by John Stoffer
“The North Porch off the back of the home was once a service porch for laundry and receiving. It was in very rough condition. The original windows were restored, and all the millwork was either restored or replaced. I wanted the room and its finishes to look like it was original to the home. The colors of the non-skid tile floor from Fireclay Tile were inspired by a combination of the colors used in the rest of the home’s interior and a decorative border tile from Fireclay’s Metropolitan Series called “Chicago.” With the addition of a glazed partition wall, it is now a garden room on the far side and a boot room near the backdoor on the near side. I chose antique framed art and furniture along with framed botanical prints to decorate the room, allowing the exceptional architecture of the space to have the loudest voice.”
Sarah from Magnolia Network called a few days after the pilot launched. “Congratulations!” she said. “Your pilot is a huge hit.” “Thanks!” I said. “I have truly enjoyed this little experiment, and I’ve been surprised and encouraged by people’s responses.”
“And people want more,” she said. “Listen, we’re launching Magnolia Network later this year, and we’re creating a whole lineup of inspiring shows that will focus on ‘home and design’ and ‘food and garden.’ Joanna wants you to have your own show that will take viewers behind the scenes on your designs and help them get to know you and the way you’ve built your family business. She wants her viewers to get more of your seasoned confidence.”
I stared at my phone, trying to take it all in.
“She feels your designs are next level—mind-blowing was the term she used. Are you up for shooting a six-episode series of your own?”
“Wow!” I said. “I’d be honored to.”
After a few more conversations, I signed on for two six episode seasons, and we started filming season one in January 2021.
“The garden room area of the North Porch is surrounded by original casement windows that were restored, using their original wavy glass. I chose industrial-inspired light fixtures and found a gray blue for the majority of the millwork. I used our custom formulated Bradbury Green paint for the window sashes.”
One thing that surprised me about shooting for television is how many hours of filming it takes to capture just one hour of usable footage. For the six-week series, which would consist of six one-hour episodes, we shot for 60 days. That’s 10 days of shooting per one-hour episode!
The good news is that it was fun. I worked with a group of gifted people, largely in my own home, on our interior design projects. As a bonus, my family got to be part of it, too. The crew was kind, positive, patient, encouraging and talented.
I was also grateful the filming didn’t require much travel. For the most part we were in homes I was working on in Grand Rapids. The Michigan-based production team would drive over from the eastern part of the state, spend a day or two filming different aspects of the projects I was working on, and then go home and start planning the next filming. Meanwhile, a post-production crew in California edited what we shot.
The production team and director shared my passion for older homes whose heyday had come and gone and were now sitting neglected. They focused on six old-house projects, including the porch on the north side of the Madison, the one room I’d left completely untouched during our big project.
I loved the mystery involved in remodeling those homes to their former glory and updating them for a new era. You never knew what you’d find as crews dug into walls to replace outdated systems.
Every house has a story to tell, and our film crew joined me in telling some of those stories. Inevitably a remodel brings challenges, whether it’s a post that can’t be moved or a beam that cuts into the kitchen but is essential because it supports the roof. I look at these challenges as guardrails. I can’t go beyond them or change them, so I need to get creative. I need to find a way to keep that guardrail in place while maximizing the home’s beauty and function.
“The kitchen space was established by gathering several back service areas in the original home. I wanted a central spot for this key room. I loved the idea of centering the kitchen sink on the window wall, which overlooks the garden. Thirty-inch-wide refrigerator and freezer columns clad in white oak anchor each end of the cabinet wall. The 15-foot island, painted our signature Cotswold Green, serves as the kitchen’s second wall and houses significant storage, counter space and an induction cooktop with downdraft ventilation. The island pendants have milk glass globes and are set in oil-rubbed bronze frames. Small flush-mount ceiling fixtures were chosen over recessed can lights. The cabinetry hardware is unlacquered brass and the faucet is polished nickel. The countertops are durable two-centimeter-thick quartzite.”
We all have guardrails we can’t change in our lives, whether it’s past tragedies, emotional scars or current circumstances. Do we complain about these guardrails and wish they weren’t there? Do we just grind against them? Or do we choose to accept that they’re part of our story and incorporate them into our lives?
The challenge is to create beauty and function in our lives within the boundaries of our guardrails.
It took us 10 months to film the six week series, which would be called “The Established Home.” We began in January 2021 and wrapped in November 2021. The production schedule was complicated, and I marvel at the organizational skill it took to conceptualize, plan and film each episode.
It was an honor to be part of a project of this caliber, and we Stoffers were eager to see how it would turn out. The show was set to premiere on the Magnolia Network on New Year’s Eve, so we’d have to wait another six weeks before it came out. Throughout that time, I prayed that the finished product would reach a new generation of designers, homeowners, family businesses and women—especially mothers—who might be inspired to create things of lasting beauty in their careers and in their homes.
Magnolia Home Premiere of The Established Home
I awoke at 5:15 a.m. on December 31, the day our show would launch. Immediately my mind filled with myriad details that needed attention before guests began arriving for the New Year’s Eve party/television premiere of “The Established Home.”
Then it hit me: our show was probably live right now! I grabbed my phone from my nightstand and pulled up the Magnolia app. Sure enough, “The Established Home” episodes 1 and 2 popped up as ready for viewing.
I elbowed my drowsy husband. “Dale! The show is uploaded! It’s right here!” I pushed my phone in front of his face.
“Let’s watch it!” he said, perking up.
“But should we wait? The premiere isn’t until tonight . . .”
“We’ll call it a sneak preview.”
“I’m in!”
We propped ourselves up with pillows. Then I hit play, and we watched our family’s story unfold on the screen of my phone. We were mesmerized by the skill of the Big Table Media production team and the way they’d shot and edited the footage. The episodes felt true to life.
Seeing our story told onscreen was a fascinating experience. I was excited, to be sure, but I also felt humbled by all the little backstories that had led up to this season of my life—the many times I’d wrestled over decisions, made mistakes or struggled with people I hold dear. I recalled times I’d been hurt—or worse, times I’d hurt others—by sharp or unfiltered words. Through it all, we’d built something I’m proud of—not just the business, but a family that works well together professionally and still enjoys each other’s company.
How many times had God guided situations in my life? How often had he mitigated mistakes I’d made, circumvented parenting failures or blessed my feeble attempts to be faithful? With my phone’s tiny screen illuminating the darkness, I felt God’s grace wash over me—and our family.
“The twin to the North Porch is the sunroom. It too has views of the garden through its original casement windows. For the floor, I used black and white marble with chiseled edges. Many people assume it is original to the house. I added tongue and groove paneling to the ceiling and painted the entire room Bradbury Green in High Gloss. The architecture of the room is so exceptional; it needs almost nothing to embellish it.”
What struck me most wasn’t the design aspects of the show, it was the interactions with my kids. I couldn’t help but notice how far we’d come as a team, and I was one proud mother.
I will never regret the career opportunities I turned down when the kids were young. Investing in my family back then—not just focusing on their academic or athletic accomplishments, but investing in their souls, skills and interests as human beings—had led to such fulfillment. As Dale and I watched pieces of our story unfold, I thanked God to be receiving such dividends on investments made long ago.
As soon as the credits rolled on episode 2, I tossed back the covers, headed to the kitchen to start the coffee and dove into the day. My friend Rosa, who was a professional caterer before she came to work for us at Stoffer Home, had most of the details for the party under control.
“Let me just run with this,” she’d told me a couple of months ago when I asked her to help me plan the event. “This kind of party is right in my wheelhouse.”
That afternoon Rosa took command of the Madison, placing a carving station for beef tenderloin at one end of the kitchen island, wine and beverages at the other, and side dishes, salads and breads displayed artfully in between. She’d ordered a gorgeous cake, and she and her husband had strung twinkle lights everywhere. The place looked and smelled magical.
A swarm of Stoffer grandkids arrived early with their parents and were swiftly tucked into their beds upstairs. At eight o’clock, the doorbell rang with our first guests, and the grownup time began.
“The symmetry of the Greek Revival style can be seen in the living room. The fireplace with elaborate millwork is centered in the room and flanked by two windows. The furnishings reflect the symmetry. I chose clean lined sofas and designed a modern coffee table for the space. The alabaster light fixture is such a dramatic element, giving the room a chic vibe. I picked a light taupe paint color that feels warm and soft while still bright. The interior windows on the left separate the living room from the family room. It differentiates the space while allowing the light to pass through each room.”
As the Madison filled with beloved friends and family, I was thrilled to see how well the space we’d designed absorbed the crowd. Many guests hadn’t been to the Madison yet, and the hidden powder room and coat closet in the hallway were favorites, along with the sunroom, which—even in a Michigan December— was warm and welcoming.
This is exactly how I envisioned this space, I thought. My heart practically glowed.
At nine o’clock, I made an announcement: “Hey friends, thanks for being here! The viewing will start in half an hour, so load up your plates, fill your glasses and find a seat in the family room downstairs!”
While everyone made their way to the kitchen for refills, I headed downstairs to cue the show on our TV screen. When I clicked on the Magnolia Network, I saw that The Established Home was the first show featured. I scrolled down, and under “Trending,” our show was number one! Woohoo!
One by one, people made their way to the family room. At 9:30, Dale dimmed the lights, and I hit play. As each scene unfolded, I listened to people’s reactions. I took their oohs and occasional laughter as encouraging signs.
When the credits rolled, Dale turned on the lights. Looking at each face in the room, I was struck by the power of this moment. I was filled with gratitude for these people—my husband, our kids, and these dear friends, clients and coworkers who had come to celebrate this event with us.
“This sweet attic bedroom is where my grandchildren stay when they visit. It has the best view of the garden, and with its sloping roof lines feels like a treehouse room, but with all the comforts of inside. I furnished the space with an antique bed I found when my children were young. The velvet lumbar pillow gives the room a touch of class.”
I rose and stepped in front of the TV. “Friends, I am not exaggerating when I say we would not be here watching this show without each of you. Every person in this room has played a part, either as clients who have entrusted us with your homes, or as coworkers who have given your very best to every project we’ve tackled together, or as family members who have learned the art of working together professionally while still loving each other.
“This is the power of community. We are here for each other. We need each other, and when times are hard or things don’t go as planned, we have each other’s backs. When we allow people to see us for who we really are—not the Pinterest version, but the version with wrinkles and challenges—we discover we’re not alone.” One by one, I thanked each person for their unique contributions.
It was long after midnight before the last guest headed for home. As I climbed the staircase for bed, I thought with fondness of how those very stairs had given Cory and me fits as we struggled to create a natural flow in the home. Tonight’s gathering had proven it was worth the effort.
By the time I slipped beneath the covers, Dale was asleep. I laid my head on the pillow, but my mind was still whirring. I was blown away by the day—and, to be honest, by so many things in my life. I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to God, who has brought me so much joy, wholeness and fulfillment. I am simply a designer who remodels houses, which are nothing more than containers for the humans who live there. I do my best to create designs that help those houses become homes, but design has never been the main thing for me. The main thing has always been the people.
“The third-floor kitchenette also enjoys drama from the roof lines and pitches. The original oval window had been broken and removed years ago. We replaced the plexiglass with a replica of the original design found in old photographs. The Eden Green Cabinetry is further accentuated by the green backsplash tile.”
“The house has a third floor with room for a full suite of spaces. Altogether it has two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a living space and a kitchenette with a dining space. The living space is in the front of the house. It has interesting roof lines we accentuated by cladding the beams in white oak. The rest of the ceiling and all the gable walls are clad in tongue and groove boards and painted white. This is a comfortable space for guests when they stay with us. “
Building a business has given me opportunities and brought me many dear friends over the years, but nothing compares to the gift of family. Having my life so intertwined with the lives of my grown kids feels like an unwarranted treasure from God, and I count myself rich every day on account of the friends and family God has placed in my life.
As I closed my eyes, I thought back to the first time our family gathered at the Madison, for my birthday party the previous August. Our grandkids had lined up along the patio steps to sing my favorite hymn.
The final line of that hymn has become a crescendo for me: And give him the glory; great things he has done.
I still have far to go in this life. I have much to learn, and I hope I’ll never stop growing and becoming the person God dreamed me to be. No doubt there will be new challenges to tackle and new joys to embrace. But no matter what the future holds, I’ll give God the glory, each step of the way.
Read Next: A 1910 Bungalow Gets a Top-to-Bottom Restoration.
Jean Stoffer Home Resources
Contractor | Kenowa Builders
Designers | Jean Stoffer and Grace Start, Jean Stoffer Designs
Cabinetry | Stoffer Home Cabinetry
Landscape | Harder & Warner
“I loved thinking about this bathroom as the one the grandchildren would use when they visit. It has a tub/shower combination on the left and a three-faucet trough sink on the right. I put a floor mirror sideways on the wall above the sink, clad the walls in tile and finished off the space with three single wall sconces centered above each faucet and enameled stools so the kids can reach everything. The floor tile is one-inch hexagon mosaic tile with a custom decorative element I made using black and white one-inch tiles.”
