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| Tour ISSUU Digital Publication |
When Mike and Stephanie Tuttle were ready to move to East Texas
after living in the Dallas area, they insisted on a few things: lots of a space
for their horses to roam and a comfortable home in the country surrounded by
the beauty of nature.
They found property in the Garden Valley area that has pine
covered hills, open pastures and a beautiful 25-acre lake. It was exactly what
they wanted. However, the decades-old house on the property was too small and did
not meet their needs.
“It was really segmented and very chopped up,” says Mrs. Tuttle.
The best thing about the house was that it was perfectly
positioned on a hill overlooking the lake on one side and trees on another.
Their solution was to strip the existing structure down to its
foundation, stone fireplace and studs and start over. They called in Bill
Andreason of Heritage Builders in Lindale to oversee the project.
The new home is a two-story story ranch with lots of stonework
and timbering. When pressed to define the architectural style, Andreason simply
calls it rustic elegance.
The first floor is dominated by a great room with a 22-foot high
pitched ceiling supported by large wooden beams. The great room encompasses a
living area centered around a towering fireplace. Dominant features include a
chandelier made from dozens of pairs of antlers and a wall of large windows
that looks out on woods where deer are spotted on many afternoons.
In another section of this open space is the kitchen with industrial-grade
appliances and marble countertops.
The first floor also houses the master bedroom suite and both
his and her offices. Mr. Tuttle jokes that his wife, got the better of the two
office spaces. In one of their previous houses, he had a huge office. This time
he wanted something much smaller.
The second floor houses three guest bedrooms, a workout room and
common space on the landing at the top of the stairs.
Mrs. Tuttle used the talents of interior designer Patricia
Ridnour of Dallas, with whom she has worked for years, to help her furnish and
decorate. Furnishings include antiques with sentimental value that have been in
the family for years and new pieces specifically selected for the home.
A pair of fat raccoons paddling a canoe filled with apples forms
the whimsical centerpiece on the table in the great room and reflects both
their love of nature and sense of fun. A portion of the weathered wooden
flooring saved from the original home was repurposed as a decorative element on
some of the walls.
The house also holds surprises. Space under the stairway is a
secret play room for their grandchildren. Some of the doors are disguised to
blend into the walls.
Mr. Tuttle’s favorite features are located outside where tons of
white stone mined from a quarry in Oklahoma create spaces for relaxation and
entertainment.
“Look at my redneck bathtub,” he says pointing out the tub
located in an open-air, yet private, bathroom in the back of the house. A
shower is only steps away. And yes, he sometimes uses both the tub and shower.
On another stone landing sits a fire pit surrounded by red
lounging chairs. Nearby, a fountain sprays out water which tumbles down a
rock-lined stream into a pond at the bottom of the hill.
Other outdoor features are a fully-functional kitchen and
covered living room and a screened-in porch that lets the breeze in but keeps
the bugs out. The Tuttles added a balcony off one of the second-story guest
room to take advantage of a spectacular view of the lake. Andreason, who builds homes in many sizes and
price ranges, says that the words cozy and comfortable kept coming up when
working with Tuttles.
“They wanted different areas, both inside and outside, that
would give cozy, enjoyable spaces to congregate in.” The Tuttles couldn’t be
more thrilled with the way things turned out. Mr. Tuttle says the ranch retreat
provides an escape from the pressures of work. Mrs. Tuttle says the house feels
intimate yet is big enough for when their grown children visit with the
grandkids and when they frequently have friends over to entertain.
From
comfortable furnishings, to relaxing porches to beautiful views, it’s a place
that puts people at ease.
For more information contact:
Glen Ehrhardt, President
Harvest Timber Specialty Products
PO Box 59
Lakebay, WA 98349
p. (253) 884-6255
f. (253) 884-6256
email windsweptwood@gmail.com
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