Hi Folks! It is time for the 2020 Matsumoto Prize awarded to NC’s modernist residential designers. Asheville has always been well represented and this year is no different. Assembly Architecture and Build has the Westwood Wedge House, Brickstack Architect’s have their Bartram’s Walk House, and Retro+Fit Design has two homes: 9 Ellington and 4 Franklin Trace. Go HERE to vote for your favorite and find more information below. Cheers!

2019 First Place Winner | Sapphire Cabin by local architects Rusafova Markulis

The 2020 George Matsumoto Prize is North Carolina's highest honor exclusively for Modernist residential architecture. The unique design competition features a blue-ribbon jury of internationally known architects and online public voting. Vote for your favorite house in this year's competition. We've got a record number of houses from the mountains to the coast.  Voting closes at 5pm ET, July 1. Limited to one vote per email address. Addresses that are or appear to be machine-generated or fraudulent will not be counted. However, if you want to vote more than once, say from a home email and a work email, that's fine. Decisions on vote eligibility are final. Vote counts will not be released; only the recipients of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.  The 2020 George Matsumoto Prize is powered by Nichiha. Vote here. 

June is PRIDE month. Yeah! While we celebrate, as always, our GLBTQ brothers and sisters, 2020 has given us more reason than every to gather under a bigger umbrella of universal humans and love. In the words of Desmond Tutu, “We are made for goodness. We are made for love. We are made for friendliness. We are made for togetherness. We are made for all of the beautiful things that you and I know. We are made to tell the world that there are no outsiders. All are welcome: black, white, red, yellow, rich, poor, educated, not educated, male, female, gay, straight, all, all, all. We all belong to this family, this human family, God’s family.” Cheers! Kelly and Troy

39 MIddlemont Ave. | 2 Bedroom | 2.5 Baths | 2,234 SQFT | .27 Acre

Premiere modern "loft style" home dreamed and constructed from the bones of a former neighborhood church. With a clean and modern sensibility the simple and smart architect designed space offers flexibility for live/work, along with, separate guest quarters. The open main space encompasses a dramatic vaulted and trussed ceiling, original polished concrete floors, European kitchen, thoughtful and sleek accent lighting blended with original sanctuary fixtures and a floating wood burning fireplace by Fireorb.

Flanking the main space is a frosted glass partition dividing a bedroom, bathroom and walk-in closet. At the other end is a convenient half-bath and doorway leading to another bedroom en suite with built-in kitchenette and bath with a stainless Japanese soaking tub. Hansgrohe fixtures throughout. The home is located near Malvern Hill Park in West Asheville and just a few blocks from Patton Ave amenities and a few minute trip to downtown.

Give us a shout for more information or to schedule a tour. In the mean time take the tour here. Cheers! Kelly and Troy

92 Fenner Ave | 3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1,472 SQFT + Studio and Garage | .14 Acres

We are thrilled to bring another Earthtone Builders constructed home to the market. This 2016 award winning North Asheville modern home is affectionately known as the "Birdhouse" for its views perched within the trees. Among many things it is: Certified Net Zero, has one level living with a versatile basement, city and mountain views, walkable to Merrimon amenities and UNCA trails. What more do you want? The home designed and constructed by Earthtone Builders combines both the drama and simplicity of modern design. The main level has your soaring great room that expands out onto a large floating deck with a city view, along with, the three bedrooms and 2 baths. Basement has a large garage/studio space with natural light and tons of extra dry storage are that can be further finished for other rooms. Grid tied solar system, Net Zero, HERS Index of 9, Gold Level Green Built. Shared driveway. 2016 Parade of Home Winner for most Innovative Design.

And, of course, we would love to show it to you. For the moment see our virtual tour here. And Earthtone’s drone video here. Cheers! Kelly and Troy

28 Rhododendron Drive | 1 Bedroom | 1 Bath | 583 SQFT | .12 Acre

Hi Folks! Welcome to the real estate market our fourth cabin we have listed in one of our favorite little neighborhoods. This cool cabin in historic Homeland Park is just minutes east of downtown Asheville. The completely updated cabin has that storybook charm combined with the efficiency of an apartment. While cozy it has everything you need at your fingertips. The white painted log living and dining area share a freestanding gas stove with original stone fireplace, semi-open kitchen with washer/dryer, spacious bathroom and large bedroom with multiple closets and office area for today's live/work experience. The lot extends upwards into the sun to grow your own urban food garden {Chickens?} or a place to create an ADU, studio or workshop with its own road access. The 1930's charm will melt your heart while the updates will ease your mind. Live big by living small, on one level and close to everything. And don't forget the home makes a desirable rental as well. Come and see it or check out our virtual tour here. Cheers! Kelly and Troy

We have always loved Homeland Park for its location, small living and charm. Homeland Park is situated on a hillside at the intersection of Tunnel Road and Swannanoa River Road, you might be surprised to stumble upon a group of historic log cabins. Originally developed as a mountain resort almost a century ago, this rustic neighborhood is home to an eclectic mix of residents and has recently become revitalized.

“Over the past 20 years, Homeland Park has transformed from a somewhat sleepy neighborhood to a vibrant community,” says Susan Rhew, who owns three of the cabins, and lives in a carriage house she designed and built in 2009. Residents chat from their covered front porches, help one another with lawn care, offer assistance if someone has a crisis and get together for community gatherings with shared food and music provided by neighborhood musicians.

Enjoy the rest of this article from Frances Figart here.

Let’s pause today and give both thanks and prayers for all those who serve us both yesterday and today. Whether you are keeping our global community safe or our local one we appreciate you ever so much. Cheers to all of you! Kelly and Troy

Hi Folks. Yes, I’m on a floor kick here. What is the one thing you see the most while entertaining yourself and working around your home? Your floors of course. And when we are done with all this you may have just worn them out! Or it may be that you are visual like us and automatically reimagining what your space could look like. I found this nice article from our friends at Atomic Ranch that walks your through several flooring options weighing the Pros and Cons. Take a look HERE. Enjoy and be safe. Cheers!

This post came through one of our many design feeds this morning and really caught my eye beyond seeing our signature shoes. I was skeptical when I saw the first image, but looking through the collection I found some fun flooring options that make me want to do some remodeling. So, let me keep this short and simple and share the link here. Enjoy!

Hi Folks! As Realtors and design enthusiasts we are often challenged with how to describe styles. Often there is confusion out there in what is Modern and what is Traditional. However, there is a wide valley of home styles that fall in between. The Transitional Style is one of those. Because it seems neither modern or traditional it can be seen as not having a style. In truth it is a mindful blend of the two. What you see going on today in the trend of Modern Farmhouse could be seen as version of the Transitional Style Home. And if you have ever watched the design show Nate and Jeremiah you will see that most of their interiors are of a Transitional Style.

Given our new listing at 116 Hawk Ridge {pictured above} is defined as such I wanted to dig a little deeper to better to tell its story on behalf of our sellers. In my search I came across this nice article from Sandy Spring Builders I’m copying below. Please take a moment and enjoy. Cheers!

Three Defining Features of a Transitional Style Home | by Sandy Spring Builders

Looking for a sweet spot between the elegance and intimacy of traditional style and the edginess of modern design? A transitional style home may be the perfect balance for you.

What is transitional style?

Transitional homes are classic with a contemporary twist. They combine elements of both traditional and modern home styles to create a seamless balance between both worlds. The result is an elegantly enduring design that boasts comfort, clean lines, neutral colors, light and warmth. Transitional home design allows you break the rules and add your own twist. It gives you the freedom to embrace a more contemporary edge or convert back to more of a conventional classic. It’s up to you how you choose to bring harmony to a transitional style home.

What are the defining features?

It’s hard to pinpoint what truly defines the transitional style, as it is a beautiful blend of elements from both the traditional and contemporary designs. However, there are a few distinguishing features most transitional style homes incorporate into their design: neutral colors with textured elements, clean lines and minimal accents, and a ton of natural light.

Warm Neutrals With Textural Elements

The transitional color palette is meant to evoke a clean and serene atmosphere that is relaxing and uncomplicated. It relies on warm neutrals, such as taupe, tan, vanilla, cream, or khaki with dark browns or grays as accents.

Since the color palette is subtle, textural elements are often the star of the show. The transitional style uses a mix of textured materials such as wood, lacquer, fabric, metal, or steel to add depth, appeal to the senses, and help balance the overall aesthetic.

Clean Lines and Minimalism

Stealing from modern-contemporary architecture, most transitional homes use clean lines and minimalism in their design. There is limited use of accessories and ornamentation. Instead, transitional style embraces minimal artful details, such as one large piece rather than several smaller pieces. While less sharp and less dramatic than modern styles, transitional homes try to balance the warmth of the color palette with crisp lines and straightforward style.

Oversized Windows

A transitional home is just as likely as a modern-contemporary home to showcase large, expansive windows, and an interior filled with natural light. However, a transitional home might invite nature in through oversized double-hung windows rather than large casement or picture windows. The idea is similar to that of a modern home, but the execution is similar to a traditional home.

An effective luxury transitional style home is a harmonious fusion of traditional and modern elements, with a result that is comfortable, classic, and chic. One of the best perks of building a custom transitional home is the freedom to choose your favorite elements from each style without sacrificing the beauty, value, or quality of the final product.

Looking for a Transitional Home? Ask about our listing at 116 Hawk Ridge. Cheers!