Sunday, 06/10/07 - The Tennessean

 

 

The dining room at the Stone Village home has a 9' table with hickory wood. (DIPTI VAIDYA / THE TENNESSEAN)

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Fantasy homes come true at Parade

HENDERSONVILLE — Just when you thought you had done everything you could to improve your house, the Parade of Homes comes around to showcase the latest and greatest in home design. This year's parade by the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee is no different.

With six homes spotlighting the best of the best in home decor, thousands of curious lookers will line up June 9-24 at The Hunt Club community in Hendersonville to see what's on display.

Sure, the homes are all more than 5,000 square feet and worth as much as $1.35 million, but that doesn't mean you can't glean some ideas for your own more modest dwelling.

Keystone Homes

5,116 square feet; $975,000

This European-style manor with a Pennsylvania ashlar front, a type of stone veneer, exudes elegance as you walk up the flagstone porch and steps.

At just more than 5,000 square feet, designers Whitney Whitaker of Whitney's Interiors and Sharon Perry of Sharon Perry Interior Designs had their hands full. "We were looking for functionality with a European flair," Whitaker says.

Past the foyer with a three-tiered caged chandelier hanging from the warm-toned faux painting in the recessed ceiling by Trina Smotherman is the curved staircase with wrought-iron railings leading upstairs.

The master bedroom and bath feature a morning bar "in case you want to stay away from the kids," Perry says.

Upstairs, make your way past the Steinway piano and into the bonus room with its 22-foot vaulted ceiling, chandelier and a stone fireplace with hand-crafted wood mantle.

Thirsty? Slide up to the granite wet bar and make a drink for yourself and your guests. Go ahead, you deserve it.

McPherson-Shaw

5,300 square feet; $995,000

The Old World estate grabs your attention immediately with a natural rock waterfall out front that runs the length of the Kentucky Rubble rock and weeping mortar brick home. The home's large rooms create an open, put-on-your-roller-skates feel. The great room features a floor-to-ceiling mortared fireplace with limestone mantle. "We used both for that high-texture value," says designer Beth Wilee Jones of The Interior Collection.

Texture is a theme that runs throughout: blue glass vases with pewter inlay in the guest bath, a hammered copper sink in the powder room, seeded glass in the butler's pantry, embossed fabrics on pillow shams in the master suite, and black, gold and green high-gloss faux finished walls in the study by artist William Bell, who also gave the faux treatment to the vaulted ceiling in the master bath.

The media room, with burgundy walls and chocolate trim, uses a circle motif throughout and provides seating for 17, or more if you throw some pillows on the floor for the kids to lay on.

David Patton Construction

5,850 square feet; $1,095,000

Light and color saturate this French country home, where designer Mary Martinek of HugBug Designs left things open and airy. "I just didn't want to complicate the rooms," Martinek says.

The dining room showcases the two arched French doors that lead to the front porch. "I can just imagine cocktails and hors' d oeuvres outside before coming in for dinner," she says.

Upstairs, a Rapunzel-themed girl's room includes a more grown-up sitting area with reupholstered vintage chairs and French flea market white-washed chandelier. The closet is divided in two: One for "real" clothes and the other for "make-believe" clothes. The boy's room is equally charming with an airplane theme.

The living room is a burst of color, with alternating waves of greens and blues along the walls providing a backdrop for the 4-foot saltwater fish tank and whimsical glass fish.

Past the long hallway with fiber-optic stars embedded in the carpet, a state-of-the-art media room from designer Donny Hackett of Casa Cinema utilizes a rotating circular seating area to create two rows of stadium seating. Lean back and watch movies on the 13-foot-wide projection screen, the largest residential theater screen available.

Second Generation Construction

5,850 square feet; $1,100,000

This European home is all about rich texture, its grand entrance flanked by wrought iron carriage doors that open onto the tumbled travertine and limestone floors in the foyer. Columns with raised plaster detailing made to resemble wrought iron only add to the opulence.

Something different in the kitchen is the surprise seating found in a recessed bench, as well as the separate sitting area leading to the outdoor covered porch.

The girls' suite has a storybook theme, complete with mural painted by award-winning Leigh Ann Agee and delightful drapes that resemble dresses.

"That was a sweater I purchased to create the tops," says designer Trinity Allen-Scharett of Interiors by Trinity. A rose crystal chandelier completes the look.

The guest suite has an interior Romeo and Juliet balcony overlooking the first floor, but just shut the door to enjoy complete privacy in the blue and black-trimmed room.

Ladies will love the master bath with a cutout that lets you walk right up to the mirror for makeup application — no more hunching over.

Signature Homes

5,243 square feet; $899,000

Designed by Herbert Blair of DAK Interiors, this Neoclassical home combines classical architecture with European flair. The exterior is a blend of Nottingham Tudor brick and wood trims framed by four columns and two balconies.

The home, which wasn't ready for viewing by press time, includes coffered ceilings in the dining
room and study, and the rooms are all designed in hues of tans, creams, blacks and silver,
according to a press release.

Other features include a hearth porch with floor-to-ceiling gas fireplace and skylights, a master spa bath with corner whirlpool, a porch off the master bedroom with a loft ceiling, skylights and chandelier, and a 2,300-gallon koi pond.

The girls' suite at Second Generation has a storybook theme. (DIPTI VAIDYA / THE TENNESSEAN)

 

Keystone Homes's European-style manor dresses up the outdoors, too. (DIPTI VAIDYA / THE TENNESSEAN)

 

The master suite at Second Generation has a mural overhead in a domed wood, 16' embossed ceiling. (DIPTI VAIDYA / THE TENNESSEAN)

Sunday, 10/15/06  The Tennessean

Fantasies on parade

Have you ever fantasized about your dream home?

Chances are, it includes some of the highly designed, state-of-the-art features of the six masterfully decorated mansions featured in this installment of the annual Parade of Homes, running through Oct. 29.

Built and decorated by local companies as a way to demonstrate new techniques and creative ideas, all six houses are located on a European-style roundabout in the Annandale subdivision in Brentwood. The homes range in size from 7,000 to 9,000 square feet and in price from $2 million to $2.7 million.

Yes, folks; these mansions are for sale. So if you fall in love with what you see (pretty easy to do), you can make the home your own. (At press time, Chatham Manor, the tour's largest and most expensive home, had already sold.)

Not in the market for a new multimillion dollar pad? Don't worry. Most visitors hit the tour to become familiar with the latest design and decorating trends, learn about the latest in home technology, and get ideas for remodeling and renovating their homes.

Here's a preview.

Beverage areas go beyond the wine cellar. It seems that wine storage areas have become standard in new luxury homes, and those on this year's parade are no different. But in addition to places to keep your vino, homebuilders are now planning specially designated places to drink it, too. There are wine-tasting rooms, while Wiltshire Manor, the tour's Tudor-style home, has a small-scale replica of a rustic English pub just off the kitchen. The alder wood bar by Vernon Blair Woodworks of Brentwood has a built-in keg dispenser, a hammered copper sink and an ice maker. All that's missing is the homebrew.

Foyers set master suites apart. Builders say there's no easier way to make a bedroom feel luxuriously removed from the main part of a home than to separate it from the fray with a spacious entry area. Master suite foyers are used in most of the parade homes, with one of the grandest at Chatham Manor. The area features a molded art niche with an oil trompe l'oeil mural by Terri Fisher and eight-foot ornate carved mahogany double-doors by Pinecrest/Minnesota, making the master suite seem like even more of a romantic getaway.

Domed ceilings grace many entrance halls. If it's true what they say about first impressions, the grand domed entrance halls of these houses will stick in visitors' minds for a long time to come. The entry to the Havenwood, which is done in the Tuscan Revival style, is a perfect example, with its two-story ceiling covered in a trompe l'oeil painting by Steve Stanford of Renaissance Design Studio and lighted by the globes of an oversized lantern chandelier.

Along the same lines, nearby the Wiltshire also features a mural on the domed entrance hall ceiling, as well as oversized lighting in the form of a custom iron chandelier.

Outdoor kitchens are heating up. You know what they say about food tasting better outside? Well, the builders at the Parade of Homes have taken this to heart, equipping the homes with impressive outdoor kitchens. This is a step beyond the now widespread trend of installing an outside fireplace to heat a living area: You can make more than s'mores in the al fresco kitchen of the Villa Abbazia, an Italian villa-inspired dwelling. There, on a patio under a pergola, is a state-of-the-art Wolf grill and Subzero fridge. A raised bar area makes serving up gourmet meals a breeze.

Shhhh! It's a secret passageway. You may not want to leaveChatham Manor's jaw-droppingly gorgeous, art deco, Titanic-themed theater by Donny Hackett of Casa Cinema Designs. But when you do, check out the secret exit on the screen side of the room, where the "Fire Exit" handle activates a motorized bookcase that opens into the Pub Room.

Kids — and even dogs — have specially sized passageways in many of the homes, including Villa Abbazia, where the "Sleeping Beauty"-themed girl's room (complete with mural by Leigh Ann Agee) boasts a child-sized door that leads to a secret hideaway: a small room just for the home's little princess. Rover gets the same treatment at Wiltshire Manor, where a "dog retreat" is housed off the side of a boy's room.

Hearths warm up kitchen design. Range areas are wrapped in cozy-looking hearths in many parade homes, lending a friendly, welcoming look to what many consider to be the heart of the home. Wiltshire Manor's gourmet kitchen, featuring Shirestone concrete counters by Dwayne Luna of Stone Reflections, has an Old World cooking hearth enclosing a 48-inch Dacor range, surrounded by distressed black alder cabinets.

Laundry rooms get tricked out. In most cases, they're not just for washing clothes anymore — and if they are, the appliances are modern, convenient and sleekly designed with fancy countertops and shelving materials. The neatest laundry/utility rooms at the parade are full of extras. For instance, at La Casa Del Rey, in a utility room featuring knotty alderwood cabinets, New Venetian Gold granite counters and a front-loading Bosch washer/dryer, a retractable ironing board disappears into an island. In the corner, there's a low open shower space for washing the dog.

Coffee comes quickly thanks to morning bars. Who needs a butler when you have a morning bar? This type of amenity is a popular powder room feature in parade homes, which sport morning bars outfitted with not only programmable coffee makers and sinks, but in the case of the English Country-style Canterbury, a refrigerator as well. Now, midnight snacks are closer than ever.

The Tennessean Friday, 10/13/06

A parade of ideas: 10 'must sees' for anyone taking tour of homes

In an event that utilizes hundreds of craftspeople, thousands of hours of construction time and millions of dollars in real estate value, the Bank of America Parade of Homes at Annandale can be overwhelming.

"Every year, homebuilders put their best foot forward with the latest trends in design standards, landscape, electronics and décor. This isn't just about the architecture, but the entire house experience," explained John Sheley, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee.

Sheley admits that the homes can be overwhelming. With 20,000 to 30,000 visitors expected at the parade this year, he thinks homebuilders want to showcase as much as they possibly can.

"You need to take your time to really see all the unique features in the homes. Lots of folks will come back more than once to take it all in," Sheley said.

To help you focus on a few of the highlights, we offer a rundown of the top 10 must-see features for this year's parade.

2. Venetian plaster in Chatham Manor

William Bell has trained for more than seven years, with countless trips to Italy, to become a master at his craft.

"When you see the walls in Chatham Manor, you are looking at traditional Venetian plaster; (it's) the exact same plaster technique and equipment used for Versailles. It's not the same thing as the bucket of plaster you buy at Lowe's," Bell said.

Bell travels to Italy several times a year to continue his education of this age-old craft.

"Everything is done by hand. It took me over two and a half weeks just to finish the walls for the parade house. I use a blade to create the texture — no sanding at all — and I get my supplies from Italy," Bell said.

The plaster is either granite based or marble, depending on the finish you prefer.

"Granite gives you a shinier finish, marble even more so. The pigment is from Italy, too. Everything is done by hand. The Italians don't take a class and say 'OK, now you are ready.' You take your time learning and doing."

1. Shirestone concrete counters in Wiltshire Manor

"No two pieces ever look the same. It's durable, beautiful and if you damage it, it can be fixed in minutes," said Dwayne Luna with Stone Reflections in Joelton.

Shirestone is a product line from Portland Concrete created for countertops.

"It can be poured to half-inch thickness. No other concrete product can be poured at that level. It allows the customer to choose the stain and variation they choose. If you chip granite it is really difficult to repair. Concrete takes minutes to repair," Luna explained.

Designer Corkie Waller with Savage Gallery chose the fabrication to fit with the Old English theme throughout the house.

"It has texture and weight. It looks like an old piece that might be found in a home in England. Not all shiny new," Waller says.

The Shirestone process begins with a plywood form shaped like the countertop. The concrete is poured, stamped, then painted and glazed.

"You can put any hot or cold item on the counter. It is really durable," Luna says.

3. Circus-themed nursery in Villa Abbazia

"This house is based on a home in Italy, so I chose fabric that would reflect an Old World feel. With all the fabric in this house, I probably have well over 100 different fabrics, all from Robert Allen and Beacon Hill," designer Lee Shacklock explained.

When it came to designing the nursery, though, Shacklock was stumped.

"I was thumbing through an old book and saw a fabric I loved. The cream and black was exactly what I wanted as far as design goes. I flipped it over and was amazed that the fabric was actually a reproduction of a 17th-century Italian fabric depicting a circus," Shacklock said.

Shacklock carries the circus theme throughout the room with murals and art.

"It is a pretty sophisticated nursery, but so elegant. And the fabric was just fate," Shacklock said, laughing.

4. Titanic home theater in Chatham Manor

"This screen is so new, I was literally afraid it wouldn't get here in time for the parade. It is the first screen this size and shape in Tennessee," says Donny Hackett, owner of Casa Cinema and Donny Hackett Design.

"All other large screens have a 16-9 ratio and this screen is almost two and a half times as wide as it is tall. When you are watching a movie, you don't get any black bars on the sides. This screen is like a movie theater screen," Hackett says.

The screen is curved, which Hackett says gives the viewer the feeling they are actually in the movie.

Tarpy Walker, sales manager for Circuit City in Franklin, says that the 16-9 ratios are standard in most big-screen televisions.

"Eliminating the black bars from the sides of the screen would be exciting. We tell people up front, if you are viewing a movie in high definition, the movie won't extend to the ends of the screen. Sometimes people try to bring back their system; they think it's broken," Tarpy said.

In addition to the innovative screen shape and size, the theater boasts a frosted-glass dome above the theater system that mimics the dome above the staircase in the Titanic ocean liner.

"We even have a bookcase that has a hidden button that allows the case to swing open into the pub room. Very James Bond," Hackett said.

5. Etched bronze ceiling with barrel arches in Villa Abbazia

With Gothic arches cut into the barrel ceiling and underscored by wooden corbels, the dining room ceiling is architecturally beautiful. The embellishment of a burnished copper and gold treatment adds an Italian rococo touch.

"We wanted a typical representation of Italian architecture. The arches are quite common in Italy and add depth to the room. It is bold and dramatic in a room that will be used for formal and informal gatherings," explained Lee Shacklock of Lee Shacklock Interior Design.

The faux treatment was rendered using layers of metallic paint and red oxide. The intricate etching over the paint layers was hand cut.

"I spent at least 40 hours on the dining room ceiling alone. The bronzing technique is not only beautiful, it works as a neutral, one you will never tire of," said artist Robbie Calvo with Pro Faux Finishes.

6. Red onyx countertops in Havenwood

"The red onyx is rarer than the granite we have been seeing so much of. It is almost a work of art to see the striation and color in a red onyx," Kandy Whitfield said.

Whitfield works with OHM International, the largest marble and granite supplier in Tennessee.

"We are definitely seeing a trend toward a bolder stone for counters. The onyx is a bit more fragile than granite or a man-made substance. Part of the charm of using this stone for many folks is in the patina the stone acquires over time. It is a very European concept," Whitfield said.

Sealing granite slows down the aging process, but Whitfield says the onyx is meant to age as would an antique piece of furniture.

7. Kohler Overflowing Sok Bath in The Canterbury

"My wife loves a spa treatment. This is meant to bring that spa atmosphere to your home, but with a beautiful aesthetic," said builder Alan Looney with Castle Contractors.

The Sok Bath is an ultra-deep reservoir with continuous flow of water. It appears the water is falling over the sides of the tub. Instead, the water goes through the hidden reservoir and continually recirculates.

Looney says the pampering master bath is still a huge trend that homebuyers love.

"We have heated tile floors, spa-style showers to create a spa-style retreat that will physically relax the body," Looney said.

8. Stacked stone and glass radius shower in La Casa Del Ray

This circular shower features a Waterhill Vertical Spa Set that includes four body sprays and a hand-held spray. All the fixtures are fabricated in a dark, rubbed bronze.

According to Jean Atkinson, designer of La Casa Del Ray as well as owner with husband Charles, the unusual use of stone in the shower is a nod toward the overall design in the home.

"We wanted the shower to feel very natural, like a waterfall. We used stone extensively throughout the house because it has such a Mediterranean feel. The radius shape of the shower is also a nod to the arches that are a constant in the design," Atkinson explained.

The natural stacked stone ledge complements the tile while still creating a neutral palette.

"It feels very restful. A shower can be the only time you have to relax. This one is designed and decorated for that time," Atkinson said.

9. Mosquito-control system at The Canterbury

"You don't have to do anything but program the system. It is the easiest way to get rid of mosquitoes here in Middle Tennessee," said Chris Mock with Mosquito Squad of Middle Tennessee.

Mock installed the system, which utilizes a nontoxic plant-derived spray to kill pesky mosquitoes. The system uses copper pipe risers and nozzles set in the landscape beds and attached to the eaves of the home to disperse the spray.

"This product has been used for years in the horse and cattle industry. We use a much lower concentrate for home use, but we offer to take the system out and refund your money if you don't think it works. I put 24 in Williamson County and have never taken one out yet," Mock said.

The system sprays automatically and can be programmed to spray prior to outdoor functions or at even intervals.

A 55-gallon tank is used to store the repellent. Mock estimates the tank must be filled about once a year.

"You'd have to use a lot of bug spray to keep a house this big bug-free. It is just an upgrade that helps people enjoy the landscape."

10. Tiled barrel arch in Villa Abbazia

"What makes this ceiling so fresh is the addition of tiles that are actually covered in metal. Design teams are really pulling natural elements in the aesthetics of a home with wood, stone and metals like copper and bronze. It used to be used only in the kitchen, but now you see it throughout," said Jennifer Earnest with Mission Stone and Tile.

The barrel arch ceiling in the kitchen above the prep island at Villa Abbazia is architecturally imposing. Designers added the design element of basket weave pattern in traditional stone tile and the new metallic "Aurora" for impact, Earnest said.

"In the past year, we have used metallic tiles in the bath, of course the kitchen and now in bed and living areas. I even used them on the exterior of a home a few weeks ago. They will never go out of style because they are a natural element. Stone and metal naturally complement," Earnest says.