Dick and Kit Muth call on their family’s ties in the lumber business to create a home with magnificent custom woodwork and an abundance of warmth.
By Amy Deal
HQ 123 | AUTUMN 2023
Imagine going out of town to see your son play in the West Virginia high school state football championship and coming home to a new house. When Dick and Kit Muth bought their brick colonial-style home in Stamford Park 25 years ago, interior decorator Sue Hunnicutt took charge and picked all the furnishings; and by the time the Muths arrived back in Huntington from the game, they were totally moved from their home on Camelot Drive.
Actually, the journey to creating their dream home began a year before moving in that weekend. After purchasing the home, they decided to gut the entire house, removing all the paneling, ceilings and the staircase. They then began transforming it into a master woodworker’s dream.
Fortunately for Kit, she didn’t have to look far to find an expert on all things lumber. Dick, a member of the founding family of the Muth Lumber Company, knew exactly what they needed to make their dream a reality.
Starting with American Black Walnut, he selected the different types of wood to be used in their home and had it kiln-dried at the business. When the kiln process was completed, the wood was brought to the home’s garage where it was milled and made into paneling by their carpenter. Once that was completed, the carpenter installed his creations throughout the home.
“I was so proud to use lumber from the family business in our home,” said Dick. “It was fascinating to watch the master craftsman take the raw materials and turn them into something beautiful.”
While the custom woodwork may be the highlight of the home, a proper tour begins at the front door. Guests are greeted by the grand staircase, where a stately grandfather clock stands proudly on the landing. The entry also features a large brass chandelier, vibrant oil paintings and walls painted in pale yellow.
To the right of the entry is the dining room that features a cherry table, chairs and China cabinet. The pale yellow walls are repeated in this room and are offset by white wainscoting and crown molding.
To the left of the entry is the formal living room that includes a black grand piano, a large red oriental rug, oil paintings in gold frames and an elegant fireplace. From there the floor plan flows to the real star of the home — the family room.
The expansive room exudes comfort with three sofas, two chairs and a handsome fireplace. French doors the length of the room provide a glimpse of the outdoors, including the home’s scenic backyard.
“Our backyard was designed like a courtyard,” Kit explained. “I gave Dick a budget and he worked with Kristy Scarberry of Landscaping by Hillcrest to design a relaxing retreat.”
And the space is exactly that. There are two distinct levels that include a plethora of flowers, a swimming pool, a waterfall and a koi pond.
The kitchen is large, with custom-made honey gold cabinets enhanced with Acanthus corbels. Glass cabinets are enhanced with ribbon and reed trim.
Most of the home’s decorative moldings were made by Enkeboll Designs in Carson, California. They were carved by hand and then shipped to West Virginia.
The crown moldings, along with the white woodwork, were made by Quality Wood in Eleanor, West Virginia.
The Muths have created a showplace that is also warm and inviting. Visitors are sure to want to peruse the books on the ornate bookshelves and picture themselves reading in front of the home’s white and marble fireplace.
Christmastime finds the outside of the house transformed into a magical wonderland. Kit was inspired decades ago by a display she saw in Ohio and set about to recreate it.
“I was inspired by a homemade display in Ohio,” she recalled. “I then set about creating my own homemade decorations. Every year I try to add something new, and that has been going on for the last 20 years.”
In addition, each year sees more Christmas lights added to outdo the previous year’s display. Prep work for the display begins in October with Dick working on the landscape to accommodate the lights. The front of the home features all white lights, but once you turn the corner you are met with a brilliant display of colorful lights. Last but not least, Christmas music from the Muth home welcomes the hundreds of people who drive through Stamford Park each year to take in the neighborhood’s holiday magic. For Dick and Kit, it’s their favorite time of year.
