|
Designed as the primary residence for an active retired couple, the home's old world style is a favorite for its builder, Phil Nichols.
"This style of home has a very informal feel to it, but is still very elegant. I call it 'sophisticated casual'."
Nichols, who builds an average of eight high-end custom residences a year, attributes the success of this project to a good working relationship between client, architect and builder. "These clients had very specific ideas about what they wanted to see in their home. They had traveled extensively throughout their lives and wanted their home to capture the ambiance of a classic European village. Our challenge was to make sure that the selection of materials and the execution of the work met their vision."
"Because they have a large family, they wanted to be able to accommodate frequent visits from their children and grandchildren," says Nichols. "One of their key requirements was to have a lot of outdoor entertaining space so that they could all really enjoy the great local climate."
The pool and spa are intended to serve as the focal point for the rear entertaining area, says Nichols. "But my clients were also very concerned about safety issues so both are designed with automatic cover systems." All of the mechanical and filtration equipment necessary for the pool and spa operation is located in a specially-ventilated subterranean room to keep it out of view and to minimize noise.
Because the home is located in a golf course community, special care was taken to internalize the outdoor space through the use of privacy walls, says Nichols. "They wanted to be able to enjoy the outdoor spaces any time they chose, year round." A roof deck provides views of the golf course and mountains that are not available from the ground floor living areas.
The home's façade, fireplaces and distinctive archways feature a rough stone finish that is actually a custom, cultured product, says Nichols. "We did not go with a man-made stone as a cost-saving approach but because it gave us the look that we wanted to achieve. We went through a lot of samples before everyone was satisfied but the result is that it really looks and feels like just like the real thing."
The artificial stone was also much lighter and easier to work with than natural stone, says Nichols. "If this had all been real stone we would have really had to beef up the structure to accommodate the additional weight. We would have had to use a tremendous amount of steel for support."
The home was completed in October 2003.
|
Related Stories
Custom Builder
Floodproof on a Floodplain
An impressive addition to the IDEA Home series, the NEWLOOK Experience Home is a master class in engineering and creative design, with builder Michael Freiburger out-thinking an exceptionally tricky lot
Custom Builder
3 Questions Answered About Reliable Energy in Home Construction
Energy expert Bryan Cordill makes a case for why and how propane is an answer to growing concerns about reliability and resilience in home construction
Business
Custom Builder to Talk Color Design with Becki Owens at IBS
At this year's IBS, renowned designer Becki Owens will sit down with host James McClister, editor of Custom Builder, to discuss a variety of topics from basic color play in design to the Allura Spectrum palette, a collection of Sherwin-Williams colors curated for the benefit of pros
Business
PERC Highlights Sustainability and Efficiency at IBS with 'Clean Build Conversations'
Hear from industry standouts Matt Blashaw and Anthony Carrino at this hour-long Show Village event
Custom Builder
Telling a Story That Preserves the Past
Custom builder and historic restoration and preservation expert Brent Hull walks us through the careful details of his Pennsylvania Farmhouse project
Business
Defining Outdoor Living in 2024
Residential experts weigh in on outdoor living trends in new report
Construction
How to Air Seal the Garage
A poorly sealed wall or ceiling between the garage and the main house can let harmful fumes into the living space
Business
Taking Advantage of Incentives Through Weatherization
Industry insider Kristen Lewis walks us through the basics and benefits of weatherization
Custom Builder
2023: A Year of Case Studies
A look back at the custom homes and craftsman details we spotlighted last year
Customer Service
A Smart Home Built Smart
Custom builder August Homes blends efficient, high-tech home automation systems with high-performance, sustainable building strategies