If you are fortunate enough to receive an invitation to dinner at David and Susan Cheney's home, don't dare turn it down. Upon walking into their warm Bridgeport home, the Cheneys will more than likely pop the cork off one of the many bottles of wine they have collected over the years. The built-in wine cabinet tucked inside the office holds over 250 bottles of chardonnays and cabernets they have collected on their several trips to the wine country. With five grown children between them, the Cheneys enjoy nothing more than entertaining family and friends in their beautiful home.

David and Susan Cheney moved into the Bridgeport neighborhood in 2002. Susan said they were attracted to the community while watching it being built from their nearby former home in the Northbridge area. The original owner lived in the house for a mere six months before the Cheneys took it over. While the flooring, cabinets and granite were already in place, Susan called Chantelle Lindlief (a family friend) from Diva Designs to complete the look and give the home a warm, family feeling.

"Chantelle was great," Susan said. "She listens to her clients and she's a wonderful shopper. She can take a pile of nothing and make it into something. I knew the house was going to look great."

Having visited Italy, Susan was drawn to the now-popular Tuscan look. Chantelle obliged by bringing in gold, amber and beige tones with an accent of eggplant and warm woods throughout the house. In the kitchen, which Susan admits is her favorite room, Chantelle complimented the granite countertops by adding lots of copper pot racks. "Everyone likes to mull around the kitchen," Susan said. "It's so open and airy and I love working in here."

The Tuscan style continues throughout the two-story, three bedroom home with white shuttered windows, hardwood flooring ("Tile is bloody freezing in the winter," Susan said) and deep shaggy carpet.

Upstairs in the master bedroom, Chantelle had custom drapes made to compliment the floral comforter on the king size bed. With the addition of many decorative pillows and an eclectic collection of dressers and cabinets, the master bedroom is a comfortable, calming retreat at the end of a long work day.

Hiring a decorator made the transformation of the Cheney home a lot easier on her, Susan admits. A good decorator validates their clients' ideas, Susan said, and while admitting she has an eye for color, Susan was at a loss when it came to accessorizing her home. This is where Chantelle's creative mind came into play.

As a busy real estate agent for Prudential California Reality, Susan appreciated Chantelle's eye for a bargain. Scouring several stores throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, Chantelle brought in plants, candles and picture frames to accent the home. The Cheneys had an old set of encyclopedias they were planning to box up and donate, but Chantelle used them in the home. "She put them to work," Susan said with a smile.

The Cheney's living room furniture was purchased locally at Homemakers, while their dining room pieces were selected from Ambiance Home Furnishings. The master bedroom was outfitted with items from Consumers Furniture.

The Cheneys have lived in the Santa Clarita Valley since 1993, having moved from the San Fernando Valley. Susan said they were attracted to Santa Clarita because of its family feeling and short commute for David who works over the hill as a CPA.

Susan is originally from England. Her family moved to the United States in 1962, booking passage on the Queen Mary. She said the trip was five long days, three of which she spent in her bunk because of the rough seas.

Now a California girl, Susan loves her home, the mild climate and the Bridgeport community. Besides the convenience of walking distance to shops and restaurants the Cheneys frequent, Susan said her neighbors are friendly and social. She plans to stay put for a while.

"Bridgeport is a community within a community," she said. "People walk their dogs around the water. Everyone is really friendly. I like hustle and bustle of Santa Clarita."

With the five children grown and out on their own, David and Susan have turned an empty nest into a welcoming haven by inviting friends and family for dinner parties. "A lot of people say they have an empty nest, but I am really enjoying this time of my life," Susan said.


Click here to view the other home spread for the May, 2006 issue