MAKE YOUR MODERN | Fairview Deck House
Kelly and I often use the phrase “Make Your Modern” here in the mountains of North Carolina. Most of our creative and design minded clients are looking for a tailored home that fits today’s lifestyle which is a much more functional and edited home. In doing that we help them search all options including new built modern homes, land to build on or homes to remodel for them to achieve their dreams.
Clients Dave and Blair moved here from Colorado looking for a contemporary home for themselves. This Deck House in Fairview caught their eye. The two main criteria for what they were looking for was a “mountain home” and an opportunity to host guests. This one had the potential for both with appropriate modifications. The early 80’s home had the appearance of owners moving in at the time of completion and not making any alterations. That was about to change.
The open living concept has evolved from the 50’s to today. Walls that first were simply penetrated with openings to create connections were later completely removed for better flow and light. The 80’s marked a halfway point as you can see with the photo on the left below. The couple immediately removed more walls and added beams making it a more California style Post and Beam home while being sympathetic to the origins of a Deck House. Simply doing this allowed for more light and views between the kitchen, dining and living room and advanced the indoor/outdoor livability of the home. Now, no matter where you are you can engage multiple areas both inside and outside.
The eighties kitchen {below} had all the appropriate attributes with original oak and formica cabinetry topped by those creatively constructed florescent lighting runs we all loved. Not! In rethinking the kitchen entertainment was key. Now that some of the walls were gone the barriers to dining, both indoor and outdoor, were gone making the kitchen a dynamic part of the experience. The island was recreated positioning a new wine refrigerator and drawers for dining and hosting utensils. Working areas became more defined allowing for multiple people to access and use the kitchen efficiently. Materials were chosen to contrast all the warmth with coolness. While blue has been popularized over the past few years for them it was about connecting the inside with the outside and reflecting the mountains and sky and embracing the natural beauty that surround them.
Remodeling the Master Bedroom was, once again, about strengthening the indoor/outdoor relationship. They immediately removed Grandma’s cabinetry {No offense grandma!} allowing the bed to sit in a more natural space architecturally. This move created both an easier flow to the outside deck and a more natural view while reclining from the bed.
Hosting guests is something the couple very much enjoys. They original came to us looking for a Bed and Breakfast which quickly became challenging. This home offered more square footage than they needed for themselves so they modified the home to create a second living quarters. Through a closet on an exterior wall they created an outside entrance close to exterior parking and a fire pit. One bedroom became a living room with a convertible sofa while keeping a second bedroom in place accommodating one couple or two. They cleverly created a rolling kitchen closet that tucks into an internal vestibule door of the home creating a barrier as needed, but allowing the home to remain as a four bedroom home for the future. They project the short term rental could garner them close to $1400 per month.
Dave and Blair mindfully altered the home to both preserve the originality of the Deck House while making it more functionally appropriate for today’s lifestyle. They, also, carefully blended 40 years of aesthetics so the house wasn’t stuck in one timeframe, but became more universally timeless. Considering the present day the private home allows them controlled guest accommodations. They can host distantly with the guest suite or within a safe range inside and out given the more open spaces they have created. The overall function of this home tends to be what most people are looking for — a main level open living space, master suite and office while having versatile living spaces on the lower level and an opportunity for income. Well done!
Looking to “Make Your Modern” here in the mountains? As realtors we have the vision to guide you through options. Give us a call. And for more inspiration check out our book here. Cheers!
