"It's like a big exhale when I walk in the front door,” says Jody Brettkelly. How many mothers of four can say that about their home? In fact, the 1940s Oakland two-story Jody shares with her husband, Kevin, and their kids is (mostly) a chaos-free zone. They chose furniture and materials that stand up to real life with their children, ages 11 to 17. The 3,500-square-foot home used to be featureless, dark, and divided into many little rooms. Jody hired Oakland architects Russ Dotter and Wencke Solfjeld (dottersolarchitects.com) to help with the remodel. They counseled her to think two years ahead when designing for kids. With that in mind, Jody installed artificial grass for soccer games, used durable materials throughout the home, and converted an attached garage into a rec room that could grow with her children. The couple also created a big open space that stretches from the kitchen and living room out into the backyard. When they entertain, they pull their rattan furniture outside and watch the kids play.