House
2614 square foot partial underground, passive solar structure featured in 2007 March/April issue of Ky. Homes and Gardens magazine. Built by owner/seller over 10 year period between 1984 and 1994. The structure is a post and beam construction with stair step concrete slab/retaining walls poured on solid stone base.On the roof is a beautifully landscaped garden with a round cupola built atop of a cylindrical central stone element. A cantilevered spiral staircase wraps around this creek stone rock faced element in the interior great room featuring 20 foot ceilings, handmade arched windows and a south facing solarium.
Heating/Cooling is provided by two 3 ton variable speed (Trane) heat pumps and an auxiliary soapstone woodstove. The house is super-insulated and utility bills are low. Water/Sewer bills are nonexistent as the water comes from a spring source, gravity fed into the home and filtered through state of the art (Dalton) ceramic filters.
A large deck with hot tub spa off the kitchen dining area looks out on the spectacular view. The two and a half tiled bathrooms are custom built inside the 12 foot diameter cylinder mentioned above. Bedrooms include a master bedroom suite with adjoining bathroom, guest bedroom, and a double partially divided bedroom. All rooms in the house have huge 6 by 14 inch exposed hemlock beams. Other rooms include a full sized studio with storage loft and utility sink, dedicated laundry room, and library-study.
All cabinetry is cherry or walnut made on site. The kitchen is adorned with an antique stained glass arched window and a large cherry bar adjoins the dining area. A sunken music area with closet and adjoining wood storage room lives below the staircase. The wood stove is enclosed by creek rock lined alcove with hidden cherry entertainment center. Dish and DSL provides access to the outside world.
A 12 X 12 screen porch features cedar siding and ceiling and arched screen windows, custom made. All flashing is solid copper, high up ventilation windows have electric motors for easy operation. The exterior siding is local cedar board and batten…no maintenance.
There are too many other extraordinary features to name; all created as a labor of love over many years.