By Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al Email the author | Follow on Twitter on September 26, 2014 at 7:00 AM, updated September 26, 2014 at 7:06 AM SPANISH FORT, Alabama – Mike McElmurry has built at least 10 houses that have been featured in past Parade of Homes events, but this year is the first time hes had an opportunity to build a showcase home. The result combines traditional Southern style with the casual, breezy elegance of coastal architecture in a house that is centered on a lovely fountain in the lake that Rayne Plantation is being built around. Sitting on the comfortable outdoor sofa on the covered back porch that overlooks the lake, and hearing the soothing sounds of the fountain, McElmurry cant help feeling relaxed. He seems to know hes built a winner, the dont-miss house on the tour, which takes place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27 and 28, and the following weekend, Oct. 4 and 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath showcase home has 3,722 square feet, plus 600 square feet of outdoor living space. It is listed and marketed by the builders wife, Tamatha McElmurry, a member of The Judy Niemeyer Team of Fairhope-based Ashurst & Niemeyer Real Estate. As McElmurry Homes in-house designer, Tamatha chooses paint colors, light fixtures, finishes and more for the homes Mike builds. Since 1998, the McElmurrys have worked on 180 houses together, she said. In recent years, the couple has started incorporating details theyve observed in their travels to beachside towns in Florida such as Seaside, Watercolor and Rosemary Beach. In the showcase home, everything is coastal, starting with the basic color palette that includes soothing Sherwin-Williams shades such as Oyster Bay, Front Porch and True White. The custom-designed front door, made of knotty auger, opens into an inviting foyer that provides an immediate, stunning view of the lake behind the house through the large windows along the back of the family room. The family room is open to the bright kitchen, where even the appliances have an elegant look, Tamatha said. A bar separates the two areas, and a cheery breakfast area overlooks the back yard. Open gathering spaces are more the trend, Tamatha said. In the living room, one wall has a built-in, recessed bar area with cabinets and a rustic-looking countertop made of worm-eaten pine – I like it because theres no way to duplicate that, Mike said – with tiny wooden tiles of different colors forming a backsplash behind it. The builder combines several natural materials in the great room, including a modern-looking ledgestone gas fireplace with a remote control. The floor in the open living area is wide-plank pine. The vaulted ceiling is made of whitewashed pine. Cypress beams echo the rough cypress columns on the front porch. The furnishings and accessories were provided by Malouf Furniture and Design of Foley. Two large, colorful abstract paintings by John-Richard, a Malouf-owned producer of art and accessories, flank the fireplace. The furniture is a study in contrasts: linen and leather, neutrals and pops of color. Were so happy with the way it turned out, said Tamatha. The furniture brought it alive. Outside that large window, on the covered porch, an outdoor seating group is arranged around a remote-controlled, rectangular fire pit. I wanted to keep the furniture low so I wouldnt obstruct the view, said Beverly Fortner, an interior designer with Malouf. Beyond the covered porch is a cobblestone patio built by Drew Lindsey of Lindsay Landscape, with an outdoor dining table and six chairs. The kitchen is, like all of the McElmurrys kitchens, site-designed, Tamatha said, to make it operate more efficiently. The island, topped with quartz, overlooks the family room. Spherical pendant lamps made of nickel hang over the island, echoing a similar light fixture in the entryway. The countertops are black leathered granite. The kitchen cabinets, designed by TK Woodworks in Fairhope, have helpful features such as self-closing drawers and a few doors that open with the push of a knee. On either side of the stove, drawers open to reveal spice racks. Next to the refrigerator is a convenience pantry, but in the hallway just to the right of the stairs is the real pantry, which is deep and extends underneath the staircase. Thick cove molding (7 5/8 inches tall) is painted the same shade of white as the kitchen and family room walls, uniting the space and making it feel bright and airy while giving it the clean, minimalistic look Tamatha wanted. Another of Tabathas many touches in the home is on the staircase, which is tucked away beside the eating area. The risers on the steps are painted Seaworthy Blue, a crisp contrast to the white paint on the walls. Thats a throwback to my love for Midtown houses, she said. Unless someone requests that stairs are stained, I paint them as a nod to my Midtown memory. Down the hall beyond the stairs is the master bedroom suite. The bedroom overlooks the lake, as well. The closet is something to behold. Designed by Custom Closets by Kenney-Moise, its a closet for two people and a dressing room in one, with matching built-in dressers and shoe racks as well as an abundance of hooks and hangers. In the spacious master bathroom, theres a walk-in shower as well as a graceful freestanding tub. Double sinks sit in a quartz vanity that is lit from beneath, for a built-in night light. Throughout the house, several areas can be used in more than one way to accommodate different homeowners needs. For example, the dining room, located off the foyer, has pocket doors so that it can be completely closed off from the rest of the house. It could also serve as an office or den, Mike said. The bar area in the living room could function as a china cabinet. A mudroom-type space tucked away between the dining room and kitchen could also be a bill-paying space or small office. Upstairs, the large bonus room over the garage – which would make a perfect media room or play room – has its own closet, so it could be a fifth bedroom if needed. After months of planning and work, the McElmurrys look forward to hearing what people have to say about the house as the come through during two weekends worth of the Baldwin County Home Builders Associations 25th annual Parade of Homes. Tamathas goal is to have the future homeowners come home and feel like theyre at their lake house, she said. Im very proud of it. Its really surreal to see it all come together.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 17:50:05 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015