In the last of our three-part series, we unveil the HQ Dream Home. Join us as we tour this stunning cedar cottage that pays tribute to the natural beauty that abounds in the Huntington hills.
By Marla Brannan
HQ 57 | WINTER/SPRING 2006
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” Frank Lloyd Wright Imagine this: It’s a crisp autumn Saturday morning. You’ve decided to begin your day off with a trek through the woods just south of Huntington. An array of leaves have fallen during the night and now cover the forest floor like a colorful quilt. You surprise a buck nosing around in the tall grass for food and he darts off, white tail flashing. Then a flock of turkeys surprise you, rising up from the nearby brush. As you watch them flap awkwardly into the trees and settle there, your eyes fall upon a house in the distance. The weak autumn sun momentarily peers around a cloud and you can’t help but think you’ve never seen a home so perfectly suited to its surroundings. It fits, and you imagine the generations of family who have passed through its rooms. The moment passes and you go home and spend the rest of the weekend watching football and raking leaves. But, every once in a while, you remember …
That’s how the Huntington Quarterly Dream Home makes you feel, regardless of whether you stumble upon it in the course of a perfect autumn morning or drive up for a Summer barbecue. It just fits - its site, its natural surroundings, its city and state. Though not yet a year old and full of cutting edge amenities, this home located in the hills just south of Huntington evokes the history of a slower-paced past. It drums up a series of Christmas trees and birthday parties in the mind’s eye.
This sense of belonging and of history, albeit a history that has yet to unfold, were foremost in the minds of the HQ staff, architect, builder, designer, sponsors and workers as they planned and constructed the 4,500 square foot Dream Home.
“We didn’t want our Dream Home to look like a new house. We wanted everything about it from the design to the materials we chose to look like the home been there a while” says Editor Jack Houvouras. “Walking through the woods and stumbling upon it was our vision. The house needed to belong. Obviously we could have built a bigger or more opulent house, but this style suited the site and the beautiful natural surroundings so prevalent in the Huntington area.”
With all of that in mind, the team worked and worked until the now-finished product matches what was formerly just an idea, in fact, almost a philosophy.
The home’s exterior, a hybrid of upscale cabin, lodge and stylish simplicity, utilizes natural wood products like cedar siding and cedar shingles on the roof, as well as earth tones that mingle rather than contrast with the woods and hills beyond. The design is simple, warm and welcoming.
And the welcome only intensifies when you step through the front door.
“When you walk into the home we wanted it to have rustic charm with touches of elegance,” says Interior Decorator Tim Quade, a Dream Home consultant who works at Interior Motives in Ashland, Ky. “It’s old world rustic meets modern conveniences not rustic in the sense of a hunting lodge, but a natural setting adorned with exposed cedar beams and a floor-to-ceiling fireplace. To achieve this we successfully used upscale furnishings in heftier fabrics, wood and leather, wonderful warm colors and wrought iron and blended it with high end fixtures and appliances. Then we scattered the finest oriental rugs over the dark walnut floors to give a touch of class.”
| Above: The great room features an impressive drystack stone fireplace that is the focal point of the room. Cedar beams frame the space and lend a rustic touch to an otherwise elegant area. Fireplace built by Terry Bailey of Huntington. Furnishings by Dickinson Furniture and Interior Motives. Custom-made book shelves by Creative Kitchens. Wrought-iron chandelier by State Electric. Window treatments by Interior Motives. Original oil landscape entitled “A Clearing in June” by American artist Charles H. Davis (1856-1933) on loan from the Huntington Museum of Art. Walnut flooring by Lavalette Carpet and Tile Center. Oriental rug by Saad’s Oriental Rugs. Marvin Windows and Doors used exclusively throughout the home. Below: The Dining Room is situated just off of the great room and offers lovely views of the Huntington hills. French Doors open to a large veranda that spans the entire length of the home. Dining room furnishings and artwork by Dickinson Furniture. Chandelier by State Electric. Window treatments by Interior Motives. Walnut flooring by Lavalette Carpet and Tile Center. Rug by Saad’s Oriental Rugs. |
As the foyer merges into the great room, the great room into the dining room and the dining room into the kitchen, it becomes apparent that this is a home built for living zestfully, whether that be the daily life of a family of five or a holiday party of 50.
The great room is the most attractive space in the home. It is dominated by a stone fireplace that climbs 30 feet through a cathedral ceiling. Custom-made by Terry Bailey of Huntington, the dry stack structure is a work of art in and of itself. It is surrounded by walnut flooring, custom-built bookshelves, a gold-toned oriental rug and furnishings adorned with vibrant fabrics.
The kitchen area, designed and installed by Creative Kitchens, is an ideal blend of form and function. White-wash cabinets offer an abundance of storage space including two custom-made pull out spice racks. A commercial grade Wolf range with six gas burners is just one of the high end appliances that Creative Kitchens chose for the home. They then added a fully-integrated refrigerator by Sub-Zero, a fully-integrated dishwasher by Asko and, for the wine lover, a wine refrigerator by Sub-Zero is incorporated into the island. The light-colored cabinetry is contrasted by the impressive Madura Gold granite countertops and bronze tile in the backsplash.
| Above: The gourmet kitchen was designed by Rob Stepp and Mike Hettlinger of Creative Kitchens. It features Westminster-style cabinetry with a unique Millstone brushstroke finish by KitchenCraft. Madura Gold granite counter tops by Moticello. Bar stools by Holland. Undermound stainless steel sink by Blanco. Commercial six burner gas range by Wolf. Microwave by Wolf. Fully integrated built-in refrigeration system by Sub-Zero. Fully-integrated dishwasher by Asko. Light fixture and underlighting by State Electric. Bronze tile and walnut flooring both by Lavalette Carpet and Tile Center. Rug by Saad’s Oriental Rugs. Below: A stainless steel wine refrigerator by Sub-Zero in the kitchen island features two temperature zones and room for 50 bottles. |
The open floor plan isn’t just pleasing to the eye: It’s supremely livable. While Mom or Dad cooks supper, one child could be completing homework at the dining table while another uses a laptop at the kitchen island. At the same time, everyone can enjoy the warmth of roaring fire in the great room’s stone fireplace.
If many guests are expected, two sets of French doors allow the party to spill onto the large veranda and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding hills.
Though unique in its open communal living space, the HQ Dream Home also provides plenty of privacy to family members and overnight guests alike.
The master suite on the first floor is a haven. The same drystacked stone chimney that stands as a floor-to-ceiling focal point in the great room provides a fireplace in the master bedroom that is perfect for cold winter nights. The space also features his and her walk-in closets and a set of oversized French doors that open onto the veranda.
| Above: The master suite is located on the first floor and, like the great room and dining room, offers picturesque views of the Huntington hills through eight-foot French doors. Bed by Restoration Hardware. End tables by Interior Motives. Lamps and artwork by Dickinson Furniture. Window treatments by Interior Motives. Carpet by Lavalette Carpet and Tile Center. Bedding and rug by Linens and Things. Left: The master suite also features a fireplace and reading area. Furnishings and artwork by Dickinson Furniture. Lighting by State Electric. |
The master bath has a clean look with white honeycomb tile and white cabinetry. A hint of color is added in the ochre Corian tile countertops. Chrome bathroom and lighting fixtures give the space a retro feel. Of course no master bath would be complete without his and her vanities and a luxurious jacuzzi. A large shower area doubles as a steam room with an encased glass door complete with transom.
| Above: The master bath features a large walk-in shower with a sitting area and two distinct shower fixtures. The space also doubles as a steam room with an encased shower door complete with transom. Kohler shower door and fixtures by Ferguson Enterprises. Honeycomb tile by Lavalette Carpet and Tile Center. Linen chest by Interior Motives. Original oil painting by Huntington artist Anne Zettle. Bottom: No Master Bath would be complete without a luxurious jacuzzi and his and her vanities. KitchenCraft cabinetry and Corian countertops by Creative Kitchens. Chrome lighting by State Electric. Custom mirrors framed in chrome by Justice Glass and Supply. Kohler bathroom fixtures by Ferguson Enterprises. |
The second floor is a delight for children and parents alike. Not only are there plenty of private spaces and play places, there’s a washer and dryer hook-up. Each of the two upstairs bedrooms feature their own full bath and walk-in closets. In what is truly a “bonus,” a large Bonus Room occupies the space above the garage, ideal for a game or play room.
The lower level contains two guest bedrooms, a large bath and a huge entertainment area. The space is rich in earth tones including mocha carpeting, latte walls and rustic leather furnishings. A huge wood burning fireplace lends warmth to an already cozy retreat. A large television rounds out the decidedly “masculine” den which is perfect for watching weekend football games. Three more sets of oversized French doors can be opened to let in fresh air, natural light and access to the great outdoors.
| Above: The lower level family room is a large area decorated in warm tones and heavy fabrics. The space offers warmth in the winter from a massive wood-burning fireplace. Furnishings and rug by Dickinson Furniture. Custom wood trim by Modern Home Concepts. Door hardware by Emtek. Carpet by Lavalette Carpet and Tile Center. Chihuahua courtesy of Jack Houvouras. |
“What’s interesting about the lower level is that we intended to have this expansive space with a huge TV, massive wood-burning fireplace and pool table,” Houvouras says. “But when all was said and done, we hadn’t left enough space for the pool table. It just goes to show you that even with mistakes, you can still end up with a great space.”
| Above: The rear of the home features a covered veranda that spans some 40 feet and offers breathtaking views of Huntington’s south hills. Custom stonework by Terry Bailey of Huntington. |
The HQ Dream Home came into being because of the hard work and creativity of many people, most notably our dream home sponsors which are listed on page 62. Each one of these talented and resourceful individuals made invaluable contributions to this project: General Contractor Dale Oxley of Modern respected our attention to detail, not to mention a laundry list of last minute changes during the course of construction. Jeff Walls of Sponsor 84 Lumber searched high and low to help us find the proper materials to build this old-school structure. Rob Stepp and Mike Hettlinger of Creative Kitchens were an amazing design team who assembled a dream kitchen that would “wow” any gourmet chef. Chandra Tomblin of Lavalette Carpet & Tile Center, covered our floors and walls with the finest black walnut, carpet and tile that money could buy. Margaret Williams of Dickinson Furniture helped lend a touch of class and color to our rugged retreat. Julian and Jihad Saad lugged countless samples of their exquisite oriental rugs to our Dream Home and helped us find the perfect fit. Julia Mathisen of State Electric was simply amazing to work with, not only providing us with an array of unique light fixtures for the entire home, but in lending her tasteful design ideas as well.
Jeff Hall and Paul Kirkland of Ferguson Enterprises supplied us with the finest bathroom fixtures from Kohler. David Justice of Justice Glass & Supply custom-made all of the Dream Home’s mirrors. Greg Norris of Huntington Hall of Frames showcased the home’s artwork to our exact specifications. Mark Springer of Lavalette Nursery transformed our dry dirt lot into an oasis of green grass and color in a matter of just two days. Judy and Rod Lumpkin of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives illuminated the landscaping and distinctive lines of our Dream Home.
| Above: The HQ Dream Home features evening lighting that accentuates the home’s distinctive lines and landscaping. Landscaping featuring native trees and plants to the Huntington region by Lavalette Nursery. Lighting by Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Clendenin, W.Va. |
Tim Quade of Interior Motives in Ashland, Ky. worked countless hours with the HQ staff to give this home the perfect blend of color, style and substance. Todd Mitchell of Todd Mitchell Architecture was with us from day one and produced a design we are supremely satisfied with. And, of course, none of this would have been possible without money. So to Geoff Sheils and Bob Hardwick of First Sentry Bank, we say “thank you” for continuing to lend us money when we repeatedly went over budget.
And so an exciting and enjoyable two-year journey comes to an end. Our Dream Home is complete and, except for a few stressful days, moments of indecision, financial worries and some of the other pitfalls that come with building a home, this has been a most rewarding experience. The HQ Dream Home has been an incredible learning experience, an opportunity to challenge our creative boundaries and a chance to re-connect with nature. But, above all else, it has been a labor of love.
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Part 3 Tips… |
| 1. Keep a close eye on the budget. You should receive monthly statements from your contractor. Read them carefully as contractors can accidentally bill you for labor and materials from another job site. 2. Before you decide to buy property in a sub-division, be sure to have an attorney read all of the restrictions. You may find there are too many rules, regulations and financial obligations to make it an ideal place to live. 3. Once the electrician’s near the end of their work, be sure to walk through the house and examine the placement of light switches and electrical outlets. If the placement and availability of these items are not to your liking, let them know. 4. When it comes to landscaping, consult a professional. And when it comes to grass, go with sod. Be sure to follow all the directions for care and maintenance, especially watering. You’ll get a superior product and, best of all, instant gratification. 5. Work with an interior decorator. Start off by examining some of their past projects. If you like what you see, assemble a scrapbook of photos, magazine ads, catalog pages, paint swatches, fabric swatches, etc. Then get to work collaborating with your guru. 6. Consider allocating money in your budget for outdoor lighting. Not only does this improve the aesthetic beauty of the home at night, but it’s a deterrent to burglars as well. 7. To better protect your home from any possible water damage, have six inch gutters installed. Four inches are standard, but the extra two inches may be the difference between a wet basement and a dry basement. 8. Whenever possible use real materials in your home real wood vs. vinyl siding; real stone vs. cultured stone; hardwood floors vs. wood laminates. It may cost more, but the aesthetic improvements will be worth it. 9. Before you pay your final bill to your contractor, hire a professional home inspector to examine the structure from top to bottom. Once you receive the inspection report, sit down with your contractor and discuss any issues of concern. 10. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, if it doesn’t look right then speak now or forever hold your peace. |
The Design Team
Jihad and Julian Saad of Saad’s Oriental Rugs
Tim Quade of Interior Motives
Todd Mitchell of Todd Mitchell Architecture
Mark Springer of Lavalette Nursery
Margaret Williams of Dickinson Furniture
Jack Houvouras, publisher of Huntington Quarterly
Dale Oxley of Modern Home Concepts
Robb Stepp and Mike Hettlinger of Creative Kitchens
Chandra Tomblin of Lavalette Carpet and Tile Center
Julia Mathisen of State Electric.
Platinum Sponsor
Modern Home Concepts
P.O. Box 884
Hurricane, WV 25526
(304) 549-4172
Key Contact: Dale Oxley
Gold Sponsor
84 Lumber
1250 Route 60 East
Milton, WV 25541
(304) 743-9484
Key Contact: Jeff Walls
Silver Sponsor
Creative Kitchens
1242 Fifth Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 529-2537
Key Contact: Rob Stepp
Bronze Sponsor
Lavalette Carpet & Tile Center
4681 Route 152
Lavalette, WV 25535
(304) 529-3621
Key Contact: Chandra Tomblin
Baker Stone & Marble
4634 Route 60 East
Huntington, WV 25705
(304) 736-3201
Key Contact: Larry Baker
Dickinson Furniture
750 Fourth Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 522-0071
Key Contact: Margaret Williams
Ferguson Enterprises
258 West Central Ave.
Huntington, WV 41105
(606) 324-2007
Key Contacts: Jeff Hall & Paul Kirkland
First Sentry Bank
823 Eighth Street
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 522-6400
Key Contact: Geoff Sheils
Huntington Hall of Frames
450 Fifth Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 523-3682
Key Contact: Greg Norris
Interior Motives
104 16th Street
Ashland, KY 41101
(606) 325-4211
Key Contact: Tim Quade
Justice Glass & Supply
2445 Third Avenue
Huntington, WV 25703
(304) 529-4135
Key Contact: David Justice
Lavalette Nursery
1601 Fifth Street Road
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 523-8491
Key Contact: Mark Springer
Outdoor Lighting Perspectives
41 West Union Road
Clendenin, WV 25045
(877) 548-5020
Key Contacts: Judy & Rod Lumpkin
Saad’s Oriental Rugs
324 Ninth Street Plaza
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 522-3898
Key Contact: Jihad Saad
State Electric Supply Co.
2010 Second Avenue
Huntington, WV 25703
(304) 523-7491
Key Contact: Julia Mathisen
Todd Mitchell Architect
2312 Docks Creek Road
Kenova, WV 25530
(304) 634-6895
Key Contact: Todd Mitchell
