THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609180700
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Marcia Mangum
LENGTH: 72 lines
THE HOUSE THAT readers built is nearly ready for viewing. The outside is complete, and the interior is ready for carpet, wallpaper and other finishing touches, says the builder.
Charlie Anderson, who designed and built The Virginian-Pilot Reader Home, says the house has been painted, trim work completed and cabinetry installed, and landscaping is about to be done. Sharon Webster, interior decorator and manager for Hudgins Interiors, is coordinating furnishings.
More than 1,800 votes were cast during a four-week survey to determine reader preferences for the home. The resulting transitional ranch-style home, with a second story above the garage, will be displayed as part of Homearama, Oct. 5-20, at South Shore Estates in Virginia Beach.
Several readers called or wrote with questions about the house after we unveiled the survey results, floor plan and sketch of the house in June. Some of those questions were from people wanting to know why their particular choices weren't included, such as why the house had a study instead of a formal living room. The majority of readers preferred a study over a living room, but the front room of the house could be adapted to any use.
As we explained in the story, it was impossible to include all the reader choices within the limits Homearama sets for size of the house and building budget. That was the overriding consideration in Anderson's decision to build a one-story, with a partial second story above the garage.
Some readers, however, raised good questions based on our report. For instance, our artist's rendering of the floor plan failed to make clear placement of some windows. The house, in keeping with reader preferences, is very light and airy, with large windows in the family room and kitchen, and even windows in the laundry room and bathroom.
Another reader questioned whether the $265,000 maximum house cost stipulated for Homearama included the lot cost. Anderson says the Reader Home costs $263,500, including the $61,000 lot. That cost, however, includes some donations and discounts from various subcontractors and merchants, he notes. It would cost at least $230,000 plus the lot cost to build the same home outside of Homearama, he says.
There have been a few modifications since the early planning stages, partially due to materials and services provided by various vendors, Anderson says.
Among those are a decision to use ceramic tile on the kitchen floors, even though readers were about evenly divided between tile and vinyl.
Other features that have been added or modified include:
A solid-surface kitchen countertop from Fountainhead that includes a molded sink.
Cherry cabinets from Dave's Cabinets, with a medium stain finish.
Deck and spa by Creative Exteriors.
Awning over the deck by AA International.
Central vacuum donated by Safe Harbor Security, which is also installing the security system.
Specialty painting in two bedrooms by Dottie Martz and master bedroom pan ceiling painted by Ch'i Interiors.
Landscaping with a natural look by Brooks Landscaping. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
AND THE WINNERS ARE . . .
Two participants from each week of The Virginian-Pilot Reader
Home survey were randomly selected to receive a pair of Homearama
tickets, donated by TBA. The winners are:
Lester R. Tysor, Chesapeake
Mary Ives, Chesapeake
Judy Krol, Norfolk
Connie Salsgiver, Portsmouth
Rosemary Flaman, Virginia Beach
Paul Hastings, Virginia Beach
Denise Smith, Virginia Beach
Cynthia Tademy, Virginia Beach by CNB