THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 1995 TAG: 9510060062
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARCIA MANGUM, HOME & GARDEN EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
THERE'S A CERTAIN ease and grace associated with Southern living, and the 1995 Showcase Home in Williamsburg displays that comfortable, familiar style from the welcoming front porch to the brick patio out back.
The home in the Holly Hills development is one of 20 houses throughout the South created by Southern Living magazine and Lowe's Companies to showcase the latest in home building and decor ideas.
This year the magazine teamed with Lowe's for building materials and some furnishings and Willis Wayside Furniture of Virginia Beach for furniture and finishing touches to make the look more accessible to local residents. So far, more than 6,000 people have toured the house, raising over $12,000 for local charities.
The two-story, 4,100-square-foot house is modest from the front but contains a surprising amount of functional space and numerous conveniences and luxuries.
The home was designed by Stephen S. Fuller of Design Traditions in Atlanta, who has created numerous homes for Southern Living. Fuller's trademarks are present: the open, inviting living room that is the focal point of the house; the cozy kitchen with an updated farmhouse feel; the old-timey high ceilings and crown moldings; and the numerous windows and doors that invite the outdoors in.
Builder Jerry A. Parker of Homes Inc. in Williamsburg added custom touches, ranging from raised custom vanities in the bathrooms to built-in recycling bins in the kitchen and durable Fiberglas trim outside.
Mary McWilliams, Southern Living's interiors editor, and Melanie Dunn, designer for Drexel Heritage furniture, fashioned interiors that provide some familiar looks with new twists, such as the formal dining room with fully upholstered host and hostess chairs at each end of the pedestal table.
``The palette we've chosen includes a wide variety and mixes neutrals with deep colors,'' McWilliams said. ``We wanted to keep a comfortable feel in the home without compromising taste and beauty.''
McWilliams' hand-painted touches add a note of the unusual. There's a playing card and coaster painted on the stairway landing to look as though someone just left them there; a backsplash behind the bar painted to look like ceramic tiles; and a bird cage with showy plumage dominating a wall in the room over the garage.
The house has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, two-car garage, optional office and generous storage. Highlights include: DOWNSTAIRS
Dining Room: Dark green walls are accented by classic Greek chair rail, raised wainscoting and Raleigh Tavern crown molding. Ten-foot ceilings and oak floors re-create the feel of an older home throughout much of the downstairs.
Study or Sitting Room: Wallpaper has a tortoise faux finish, and a fountain-pen fabric adds a whimsical touch to the desk chair and accent pillows. The room also has built-in bookshelves and speakers, recessed lighting, masculine desk, dark green leather love seat and paisley upholstered chair.
Master Bedroom: Oversized, masculine furniture is balanced by cheery floral chintz and light plaid fabrics.
Guest Room: A mahogany sleigh bed is surrounded by dramatic black and matte gold accessories.
Living Room: A wall of windows, French doors and a half-round window make the outdoors the focal point of the spacious room, and magnolia print fabric furthers the botanical feel. The marble-front fireplace has remote-controlled gas logs.
Kitchen and Breakfast Nook: The kitchen, equipped with every modern convenience, is bright - lots of light and white everywhere: on the tile floors, appliances, cabinets and counters. But the kitchen is warmed by a muted red wall; upholstered strawberry-colored chairs; round, maple-wood table atop a braided rug; and folk-art window covering. UPSTAIRS
Girl's Bedroom: A large window opens out on the balcony, and a pastel pink, yellow and green plaid fabric gives an updated feel to this traditional pink-walled room.
Boy's Bedroom: A nautical motif is carried out with two ``sail cloth'' striped chairs, sailboat accessories and boating artwork.
Room Over the Garage: This generous-sized room could be used as a bedroom, family room, office, workout room, children's play or study room or a sewing or project room. A smaller room added by Parker under the eaves across the hall could serve similar purposes. EXTERIOR
The brick exterior is extended to the front porch and the raised-brick patio out back. Wrought-iron-look furniture and a gazebo invite backyard relaxation, while the front porch provides a view down the sloping front lawn. Both front and back yards are professionally landscaped.
The house is being marketed for $580,000. Furnishings will be auctioned off after the tour concludes Nov. 19.
The 1995 Parade of Homes, sponsored by the Peninsula Homebuilders Association, also will be held in Holly Hills on Nov. 4-19, and Parker will have another home open for that show. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo courtesy of Homes Inc.
The front porch encourages the kind of know-your-neighbor
friendliness associated with Southern living.
by CNB