Mill Pointe Project
This project has been a special one, in more ways than one. In February 2016, I received news that my grandfather had suffered a massive stroke. Miraculously, despite the initial reports from the doctors, he survived, but due to potential long term needs, it was decided that it would be in his best interest to move in with my parents. It was at that time that my parents found themselves opening a new, and unexpected chapter of their lives. Looking for a home to accommodate the needs of my grandfather, my parents found the real estate market to be in short supply of ADA compliant homes in the surrounding area of Burlington, North Carolina. Determined to find a home that would offer easy access for the needs of a walker or wheelchair, while avoiding an institutional feel, they decided a custom build would be the perfect solution. It was also in 2016 when Tennyson Studio was born.
As I took a leap of faith to begin my design firm, I began the bittersweet process of helping my family plan a home they never intended to build. We said goodbye to my childhood home, and my parents became my first custom build residential clients. It’s all still incredibly surreal.
Built with two masters and an open layout on the first floor, this home was designed and built with an incredible amount of intention to detail and a special amount of care. Not only was this home designed with the needs of my grandfather in mind, but for my parents as well. This isn’t the first time they have had to take care of an aging parent, although it is the first that they have had to take into their own home. They have firsthand seen the benefits of “aging in place,” a term defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as "the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.” My parents, although healthy, wanted a home that they too could continue to grow into without the need to move due to limited mobility as they age. Factors we had to consider were 36” doorways, building on a slab, eliminating the need for a ramp to get into the home, large lip-less showers, and toilet paper holders that double as grab bars, just to name a few.
During the design process, my parents decided to go for a transitional southern style, and made requests for color, but still wanted the home to feel light and airy. Ultimately, we landed on a color scheme of grays and blues with pops of coral for the main living area. A list of paints, furniture, and fixtures can be found below.
The home was also built with my sister and guests in mind. The finishing decor touches are still being put on the second story, as well as a few other rooms in the home, and I look forward to sharing those photos with you once the second part of the home is completed!
Paint Colors:
Office- Sherwin Williams 6251 Outerspace
Living, Kitchen, Dining- Sherwin Williams 7066 Gray Matters
All Other Rooms- Sherwin Williams color match for Farrow and Ball Cornforth White
Furniture:
Century Furniture Casa Bella Dining Table
Century Furniture Leatrice Side Chair
Host/Hostess Chairs- Century Furniture Corso Host Chair
Century Furniture Blackwood Sofa
Century Furniture Blackwood Ottoman
Century Furniture Westbury Cocktail Table
Century Furniture Chairside Drum Table
Lighting by Butler Lighting
Floor Plan by Dan Thompson
Construction by Covenant Construction
Electrical and HVAC Crabbe Service
Flooring and Tile by Burlington Carpet One