Owner-specific modifications:
Fewer windows, because of local codes
Replaced wood-burning fireplace with ventless fireplace
Added two-level deck off of dining room
Added hot tub in courtyard
Raised snack bar for display purposes
Converted Bedroom 2 into guest room
Converted Bedroom 3 into TV room
Heavily insulated walls to contain TV noise
All doors were widened to accommodate wheelchairs
Tucked away in the woods of central North Carolina, a shining copper-top roof beams from
the boxed-out window of a sturdy brick home. A railed front porch completes the inviting facade,
behind which you'll find the charming floor plan of Donald and Nancy Kehoe's home.
A retired couple, the Kehoes decided to downsize, because with four acres to mow and an exterior
that required painting every few years, their former home was becoming too difficult to keep up.
The Kehoes' needs were typical for a retired couple. They were looking for a one-story layout for ease of movement,
a low-maintenance brick exterior and a spot for their motor home around back. After looking through several plans,
the Kehoes found Plan L-498-CSA. As Nancy puts it, "It just fit all of our needs."
Theirs was the first home to be built in their wooded development, and it's a beauty.
The porch opens to the living room, where an art niche displays some of Nancy's collectibles.
A handsome fireplace and rich wood floors lend the room a warm ambience, and an open layout grants
a view of the dining room and kitchen. Nancy is an avid collector of Swarovski crystal,
and a gorgeous crystal chandelier over the dining room table sends refracted light glittering throughout the home,
thanks to the open layout.
Just off the dining room, the Kehoes built a fantastic two-level deck.
The deck's two levels are connected by a short, easily navigable stairway, and it's a favorite retreat.
"We get out here [on the deck] all summer long and are never bothered by mosquitoes," Donald says.
An outdoor hot tub, which they installed in the courtyard off the master suite, serves as another retreat.
Back inside, the master suite boasts a private bath with dual sinks, a garden tub and a separate shower.
A walk-in closet serves the spacious bedroom. The Kehoes modified the secondary bedrooms to suit their needs.
The second bedroom serves as a guest room, while the third bedroom makes a perfect TV room,
with an entertainment center installed in the closet.
Even though they used a stock plan that's available to anyone, the Kehoes have made it their own.
According to Donald, "There's not another house around like it anywhere. It's one of a kind." We think so too.
|
|
