KNAPS FAMILY

By Greta Honsberger

Say hello to your neighbors, the Knaps: Andrew, Jillian, Jacob, Landon, Emma, Amelia, Harper, and their Golden Retriever Arcturus. Making The Sanctuary their home just a year and a half ago, this busy crew loves being a part of the neighborhood they now call home.

Andrew and Jillian Knaps, President and Vice President of Knaps Painting, LLC, stay quite busy. Running a business takes a lot of time and energy, but not so much that they are not driven, active, and focused on providing their children with the best opportunities possible as they successfully balance work and family life with five children. Most can relate to Jillian when she says, “Our lives revolve around our children, and we are so happy to be able to raise them in this community.” The Knaps love the sense of community that The Sanctuary offers and enjoy the many activities hosted in the neighborhood clubhouse.

The Knaps family chose their home not only because of the wonderful community but also were motivated by the space and open floor plan. With a family of seven, space and functionality are key. The home’s floor plan has both. The first floor is appointed with a bedroom, bathroom, living room, and office, which makes for a quiet work space to conduct business. The second floor is the main living area of the home with kitchen, dining, primary bedroom/ bathroom suite, plus another bedroom. The third floor has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, which is the perfect area for the kids’ quarters. Of their homeselection choice, says Jillian, “It was laid out perfect for our family. Everyone has their own room.” Although having a room of their own is important, the

Knaps family prefers to hang out in the downstairs living area when it comes to being together. This room is large and functional and equipped with a big comfortable sofa that everyone can fit for family movie nights.

Jillian’s favorite space is the dining room. She loves the expansive windows that let in so much natural light and give a picturesque view of the woodlands of the neighborhood. Another reason her dining room is her favorite is a bit more sentimental. The focal point of the room is a family antique Carrara marble table. A beautiful and beloved piece, it makes the room all the more special. Adding to the dining space are mirrors that create an inviting feel for everyone who enters. Of this airy space, Jillian says, “It’s cozy enough for an intimate family dinner and easily accessible from the second floor entry as well as the kitchen during parties where we typically stage food and desserts.” This room sounds like the perfect combination of classic beauty meets practicality.

The Knaps also really like their big, three car garage. Sure, it’s spacious enough for three cars, but its best feature is that it easily fits all the gear that five active kids would need, including five bikes and sundry outdoor toys. With a family of seven, this space is surely much-valued storage for any number of odds and ends.

When the Knaps moved into their Tupelo Trace home, they opted for some renovations to make it their own. Being able to do their own renovations was an added bonus in the updating process. The first step in their revitalization was to completely repaint the interior and exterior. New light fixtures also added an easy update, followed by all new hinges and hardware throughout. With a family of seven, efficiency is essential. With this in mind, the Knaps added all Samsung Wifi Smart Home appliances in their kitchen and laundry room. They also replaced and upgraded the three HVAC units and added an ultraviolet light cleaning system that keeps the coils and ducts free of allergens and mold. They have started on the cabinetry and continue to do more work on their home daily. As is often the case with a twenty year old home, upgrades and renovations are ongoing for the Knaps’s home.

Family movie night is a welcome respite from the hectic lives of this family of seven. Jillian and k

Andrew’s days are packed with running, Knaps Painting and trying to keep up with their five children, who have full schedules. With ranges in age from thirteen to seven, they are pretty active with a variety of interests and commitments.

The oldest Knaps children are the boys: Jacob and Landon. Jacob is 13 and in 7th grade at Mandeville Jr. High. Like most boys his age, he likes hanging out with his friends and also plays basketball. Landon, 12, is in 5th grade at Tchefuncte Middle School. He is a paintball and airsoft enthusiast. The youngest three Knaps are the girls. Emma is 10, in 4th grade at TMS, and she is a soccer player and a swimmer. Amelia is 8 and in the 3rd grade at Pontchartrain Elementary. She plays soccer and does gymnastics. Lastly, Harper is 7 years old an in the 2nd grade at PES. Like her big sisters, she plays soccer, but she is the artsy one who also loves to sing and dance.

When the Knaps want to get away for a change in altitude they like visiting Gatlinburg, TN. A trip to Destin is also a family favorite, and always a fun, closer-to-home getaway. Accordingly, the Knaps also like to visit Orlando, Florida. With children whose ages range from thirteen to seven, Orlando is obviously the perfect spot for a family vacation. With Disney and Universal theme Parks, there is plenty to do for every member of the Knaps family.

The Knaps have not only invested the last year and a half in making some changes to their home. During this somewhat short time, the family of seven, plus Arcturus the family dog, have become a part of a community where they are sure to stay for a very long time.