Real Estate News
C H A R L O T T E
page 2
home design dedicated to showcasing charlotte’s distinctive homes
“Southern charm welcomes the many newcomers who bring their own cultural influences to make York County a vibrant and exciting place to live.” – Drew Choate, Keller Williams Realty
York County Find a little bit of everything in this bordering South Carolina county - story on page 4
real estate news What’s new p2
design instyle Comeback kid p10
real estate spotlight Alan Simonini p14
straight talk Small projects p18
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THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
SUNDAY MARCH 8 2020
what’s new? compiled by Whitney Berongi
BOB BUNZEY RECOGNIZED AS TOP-PRODUCING AGENT FOR WILKINSON ERA REAL ESTATE For the fifth straight year, Bob Bunzey has been recognized as a Wilkinson ERA Real Estate top-producing individual agent in 2019 in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Bunzey is also recognized as a top performer nationally, ranking in the top 0.5 percent of all agents. Bunzey achieved 36 transactions generating over $22 million in sales for 2019. Bunzey is known for embracing and adapting to the challenges of today’s real estate market and serves as a role model for the industry. Wilkinson ERA Real Estate has 11 offices and over 850 agents in North and South Carolina. With sales over $1.4 billion in 2019 and over 4,753 closed sides, Bob Bunzey Wilkinson ERA Real Estate is the top ERA real estate firm in the Carolinas and second in the United States. 2020 DESIGNER CHARITY SHOWHOUSE The Interior Design Society (IDS) of Charlotte will host its 2020 Designer Charity Showhouses event benefiting Motor Racing Outreach in conjunction with The Hendrick Family Foundation, the Dale Jr. Foundation and Operation Finally Home. The one-of-a-kind event features three custom homes $1.6 million and higher by three custom homebuilders and designed and styled by 45 premier Charlotte interior designers. All three homes are conveniently located on one cul-de-sac in the Narrow Passage neighborhood in Davidson. The event kicks off with a VIP opening gala on March 13. Gala attendees will enjoy an exclusive tour of the three homes followed by a private cocktail party with celebrities, a Southern supper and live auction. General admission tours are available March 14 through April 4 with several special events scheduled, including a designer panel, vendor day and garden and landscape tour. More than 100 local businesses sponsored the homes located at 19617 Shearer Road. Tours are available Thursday through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 1–4 p.m. Tickets start at $40. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit idscltshowhouse.com.
from the editor If you’re a subscriber to weekend issues of The Charlotte Observer, you may be familiar with Home Design. After a solid run as part of the Saturday Observer family, we’re excited to celebrate almost six years as a publication with a move to Sunday. Look for us now every other week. It’s our mission at Home Design to showcase the many distinct, character-rich homes filling the Charlotte landscape. After years of doing just that, we can tell you there is no shortage to choose from. Our real estate market is booming—such a welcome sight after wading through the recession a decade ago. If you’re a loyal reader, you can expect even more great content. We’ll continue bringing you conversations with the movers and shakers of the building, real estate and design industries of the Greater Charlotte area. Each week, we’ll visit a different community, giving you a tour of the homes and hitting up local hot spots. We’ll bring you the latest design trends, real estate news and home maintenance tips—sprinkled with a dose of humor. If you’re new to Home Design, we hope you’ll find us a welcome addition to your Sunday lineup.
– Christina Email real estate news to homedesign@charlotteobserver.com. C H A R L O T T E
home design Editor
Christina Darnell
Coordinator/Designer Melissa Kennelly
Creative Strategy & Real Estate Advertising Buck Brice, bbrice@charlotteobserver.com
New Home Builder Advertising
Suzanne Parker, sparker@charlotteobserver.com
Sales Director
Vic Bowers, vbowers@mcclatchy.com 336-402-4673 Section published by The Charlotte Observer • 550 S. Caldwell St., Charlotte, NC 28202. Editorial material in this section is the responsibility of the Observer Content Studio, 704-358-5185. It did not involve the news staff of The Observer.
Is there a neighborhood you’d like to see featured? Do you know of a new design trend on the rise? Did you use one of our ideas for your own home or home purchase?
We’d love to hear from you.
homedesign@charlotteobserver.com
facebook.com/TheCharlotteObserverHomeDesign *Copyright 2020 by The Charlotte Observer. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without written permission.
SUNDAY MARCH 8 2020
CINDY BARNES
Montibello Pocket Listing! Priced to sell “as is” -- $600K Call Cindy for more info..
BEAUTIFUL 62 ACRE PRIVATE RETREAT. Great Hunting! Lancaster Co. MLS# 3497885 599 CHARLIE STACKS ROAD | $500K PRICED TO SELL IN GATED BURNING TREE Light & fresh with updated kitchen. MLS# 3492099 6359 WAKEHURST ROAD | $439,000 Considering downsizing? Overwhelmed? If you need a place to start, call me for a practical, step-by-step approach.
HAND IT OVER
Cindy.Barnes@allentate.com | (704) 367-7203
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BATHROOMS • KITCHENS ROOM ADDITIONS OUTDOOR LIVING AREAS
SCREEN ROOMS • SUN ROOMS
ROOM ADDITIONS FROM $15,995
ROOFING, SIDING AND WINDOWS
KITCHENS FROM $17,995
BATHROOMS FROM $9,995
FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH NO MONEY DOWN!
CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE!
980.299.5475
WWW.RCBCONSTRUCTIONMGMT.COM
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|living in york county DID YOU KNOW? The movie The Patriot with Mel Gibson was filmed in Historic Brattonsville.
by Julie Cooper
EAT
Napa Featuring California cuisine and wine from Napa Valley, Napa at Kingsley provides fine dining without the drive to Charlotte. napakingsley.com
PLAY
Spring Lake Golf Course Tee off in the rolling hills of upstate South Carolina at this must-play course loved for its unique design and picturesque setting. springlakegolfcourse.com
EXPLORE
Historic Brattonsville Immerse yourself in the history of this Revolutionary War site, which features live reenactments, living history programs and more than 30 colonial and antebellum structures. visityorkcounty.com
Y
ork County capitalizes on its prime geographical location. Nestled in South Carolina adjacent to the North Carolina border, this area has a lot going for it. Think low South Carolina taxes combined with a quick-and-easy commute to bustling, culture-rich Charlotte, making it quite a hit with homebuyers who want it all. “York County is known for its excellent school systems and quality of life,” says Keller Williams Realty’s Drew Choate, known affectionately as The Lake Wylie Man. “Lake Wylie is, of course, a big draw with 325 miles of shoreline stretching into North and South Carolina. Then, there is our proximity to the airport and to Charlotte, which is convenient for commuters. However, many also find employment right here in York County.” The area also shines as one of the friendliest. “Southern charm welcomes the many newcomers who bring their own cultural influences to make York County a vibrant and exciting place to live,” Choate says. “We also have a beautiful and recreation-rich area that people are attracted to, promoting an active and healthy community.” One of the most unique things in York County is the lake lifestyle. Folks here are privy to double the neighbors—in a good way. “People who live on the lake actually have two neighborhoods—their traditional land neighbors who gather around the cul-de-sac and their lake neigh-
bors who gather around coves,” Choate explains. “Parties of boats anchored on a sandbar create new communities, mixing people from different cities, counties and states. People on the lake tend to socialize with others, sharing drinks and conversations on their docks in a way that folks in the ‘old days’ would gather on a front porch.” The “old days” here extend way back, too. York County is steeped in history. It gives the area an exciting mix of old and new. “We have a rich history with links to our past, found in the Brattonsville Historic District and the Olde English District in York,” Choate says. “We also have small-town charm found in downtown Fort Mill, ‘Old Town’ Rock Hill, York and Clover. Then, we still have all the metro conveniences and influences from Charlotte.” It’s a great mix, offering something for everyone. New developments are constantly being erected, providing even more. “There are many new developments, especially in Lake Wylie and Fort Mill,” he shares. “Being closest to the border for commuters, there has been a building boom in the past five years or so. This development will stretch to the south as we look forward to the development of the Carolina Panthers training camp and headquarters that will be complete with an entertainment complex and shopping. It’s expected to open in 2022.” The area is also abundant in housing variety. While much of the
shoreline in Lake Wylie has been developed, areas like Tega Cay, River Hills and lake communities along the shoreline continue to remain popular and feature living options from modest homes and condos to luxurious mansions. Outside the lake, there are a number of communities offering proximity to shopping, great amenities and even golf. “Springfield is desirable because it’s a golf course community, and its proximity to I-77 is wonderful for commuting,” says Melanie Wood Wilson with Keller Williams Realty. “For those looking for a gated waterfront golf community, River Hills is the best bet. Baxter Village remains popular with its mixed-use retail area and restaurants and proximity to I-77. And, while new developments are too many to name, Arden Mill and Pecan Ridge in Fort Mill and Paddlers Cove and Camburn in Lake Wylie are nice ones that are selling fast.” Wilson says the real estate market has been great. She credits the school system in Fort Mill and Clover for spurring the area’s massive growth and says the lower South Carolina taxes and easy commute are also big draws. “The real estate market is doing very well in York County,” she says. “The inventory is low in some price points, though, making it hard to get in to see homes quickly enough. Since it’s more of a sellers’ market, we are seeing higher prices than we have seen in the past.”
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living in york county| LAKE WYLIE 5 Commodore Point Road, Lake Wylie, SC 29710 Price: $818,000 MLS: 3578803 Listing Agent: Melanie Wilson, Keller Williams Realty, 704-906-1973, mel.wilsonrealtor@gmail.com
Beautiful water views from every room and lots of natural light. Screened porch outdoor living area with wood ceiling and access to deck with fire pit. Freshly painted, new carpet, new stainless appliances with gas stove. Move-in ready. Master on main along with two other bedrooms. Bed and bath downstairs could be MIL/teen suite with its own entrance. Almost .75 acres. Private floating dock. Home is on a quiet cul-de-sac in the gated golf course community of River Hills. Neighborhood offers private beachfront resident park, playgrounds, walking trails, gardens, country club, marina and more. Seller offering HOA fees paid remainder 2020.
MELANIE WILSON
(704) 906-1973 MelanieWilson@KW.com www.WilsonKeatonRealtors.com WATER VIEWS
CAROLINA COVES CAROLIN 394 Stone Cliff Lane ~ Lake Wylie MLS# 3576506 | 4BD, 3.5BA | 3,525 SqFt | $568,000
RIVER HILLS WATERFRONT 5 Commodore Point Road ~ Lake Wylie MLS# 3578803 | 4BD, 3.5BA | 2,938 SqFt | $818,000
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|living in york county CLOVER 726 Frontier Road, Clover, SC 29710 Price: $1,199,000 MLS: 3518074 Listing Agent: Sharon Yoxsimer, HM Properties, 704-819-2567, sharon@ hmproperties.com
Custom low country farmhouse designed by Hal Tribble. Situated on over 8 acres, this property has wonderful potential as an equestrian estate. Every detail was carefully considered in this quality construction: heart of pine reclaimed flooring, heavy crown moldings and trim work, views from every room, access to the covered porches, generous living spaces, a chef’s kitchen and custom closets throughout. Family room on second floor and rec room on third level. This 5BR | 5.1BA | 7,179 sq. ft. home adjoins an additional 48-plus acres with a pond, pasture, creek and wooded section that’s also available for purchase (MLS#3551267).
CLOVER 123 Jamestowne Circle, Clover, SC 29710 Price: $899,000 MLS: 3468493 Listing Agent: Sheryl Hallow, HM Properties, 704-907-1144 sheryl@hmproperties.com
One-of-a-kind private estate on over 25 acres. Tranquility best describes this scenic property 30 miles south of Charlotte. Nestled among mature trees, fully-stocked lake with fishing pier and spectacular views. Main house features an open floor plan, large family room with cathedral ceilings, gourmet chef’s kitchen, rustic interior, hardwood floors, great natural light, two spacious master suites, game room and abundance of storage. Wonderful outdoor living, including a covered balcony and a pergola overlooking the 10-acre lake. Guest house offers open concept, combining a full kitchen, living room and bedroom.
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SOUTHPARK WAVERLY LAKE NORMAN
8 + ACRE ESTATE
2 5 + acre estate
726 Frontier Road
123 Jamestowne Circle
SHARON YOXSIMER
C l o v e r, S C 2 9 7 1 0
C l o v e r, S C 2 9 7 1 0
B ROKER | R EALTOR
5 B R | 5 . 1 B A | 7, 1 7 9 s q . f t .
速
704-819-2567
$ 1 ,1 9 9 ,0 0 0
sharon@hmproperties.com
4 BR | 4 BA | 4,439 sq. ft. $899,000
Custom farmhouse on 8+ acres w/an adjoining
Spectacular, one-of-a-kind estate home + 1,700
48+ acres available for sale. Quality construction.
sq. ft. guest house overlooks private 10 acre
Wonderful potential as equestrian estate.
lake. Wonderful outdoor entertaining options.
BARB E R RO CK
HANDSMILL on LAKE WYLIE
8122 Clems Branch Road Indian Land, SC 29707 5 B R | 4 .1 B A | 3 ,7 73 s q . f t . $650,000 This well-maintained home is move-in ready! Many upgrades, open plan, office with built-ins, large kitchen, perfect outdoor entertaining area.
MAREN BRISSON-KUESTER B ROKER | R EALTOR
1 0 L o t s Av a i l a b l e Yo r k , S C 2 9 7 1 0
速
MAREN BRISSON-KUESTER TEAM
704-287-7072 maren@hmproperties.com
0.35 to 0.88 acre lots $90,000 to $295,000 Beautiful lake community with a spectacular amenity center and community dock. Bring your own builder or not. 3,200 sq. ft. minimum to build.
H M P RO P E R T I ES .C O M
SHERYL HALLOW B ROKER | R EALTOR 速 SHERYL HALLOW TEAM
704-907-1144 sheryl@hmproperties.com
HELEN ST. ANGELO B ROKER | R EALTOR 速 704-839-1809 helen@hmproperties.com
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RECENTLY REDUCED
PROVIDENCE WOODS SOUTH ~ 3040 Rock Ridge Pass ~ WEDDINGTON MLS# 3553824 | 4BD, 5 FULL BA | 5,109 SqFt | 1.47 Acres | $634,500
WALK TO SCHOOLS
MALLORY MANOR ~ 734 Stanhope Lane #30 ~ MATTHEWS MLS# 3592060 | 5BD, 2.5BA | 3,736 SqFt | .51 Acres | $615,000
FEATURED HOME
CAMERON CREEK ~ 6263 Cloverdale Drive ~ TEGA CAY MLS# 3596915 | 3BD, 2.5BA | 1,933 SqFt | $274,900
CAMERON CREEK ~ 5093 Waterloo Drive ~ TEGA CAY MLS# 3575557 | 4BD, 2.5BA | 2,881 SqFt | .14 Acres | $375,000
Terry Alfero
Your North to South Connection 704-608-8300 (mobile) terry.alfero@allentate.com www.TerryAlfero.com
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YORK 172 Charlotte Highway, York, SC 29745 Price: $1,209,040 MLS: 3580476 Listing Agent: Robin King, Allen Tate Realtors, 803-526-1225, robin.king@ allentate.com
Here’s your chance to own a piece of the famous Flowe Farm. This is some of the prettiest dirt in York County, lovingly maintained by the family for generations with a nice creek for potential pond and stunning home sites sprinkled across the pastures among historic hardwood trees. Level land that’s great for an air strip, personal farm, mini farms of 5-plus acres, recreational use or agriculture. Just seven minutes to Lake Wylie and 20 minutes to Charlotte. Total of 172.73 acres.
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LOT 1 PINE MOSS Customize this Lake Wylie waterfront dream home to YOUR specifications and Six King will build it for you on this 3.81 AC lot w/Master and terrace overlooking water and your dock. $1,060,000
LOT 4 PINE MOSS Custom Craftsman Cottage will be built for you on this 1.63 acre waterfront lot w/dock. Full finished basement to customize any way you like with Six King. $813,000
Robin knows DIRT! You
13424 SAGE THRASHER Build your dream estate in The Sanctuary on 9.4 waterfront acres! You CAN pick another plan! Pier permit. $1,570,888 Or buy the lot @ $475,000
You
4188 TOBE EDGEMOOR just 10 min. f/Rock Hill. Upscale cabin surrounded by 166 acres of recreational paradise. $780,000
172 Acres Charlotte Hwy between Lake Wylie and York. Historic farm with gorgeous pastures, hardwoods and creek for possible pondsite. $1,209,040
(10)1+ACRE Neighborhood Lots Rambler Ln Blacksburg $13,000 each
You
501 RIVIERA PLACE in Rock Hill's prestigious Waterford Glen golf course community just 30 minutes f/Charlotte. $348,000
3004 ASHWOOD PARK DR. .76 ac Belmont's Reflection Point $40,000
You
3609 VENETIAN WAY The Lakes at Derby Downs. Meticulously maintained, endless wood floors with master and 2nd bedroom on main, gorgeous 1 acre yard. $350,000
2 acres Caroline acres Road Indian Land In established area. $180,000 2.46 acres McFalls Dr., Indian land in established area $220,700 CAROBROOK in Fort Lawn Lot water/sewer available $7500
VOLUNTEER • DONATE • SHOP 4084 Charlotte Hwy., Clover, SC 29710 (803) 324-1960
1000 Village Harbor Dr Lake Wylie, South Carolina
You
PINE MOSS 4 WATERFRONT LOTS on Lake Wylie, 3 with docks, 1 with dock permit. 1.6-3.8 Acres $258-450,000
16432 HERE AT LAST NEST HOMES NEW CONSTRUCTION craftsman cottage in NEW River’s Edge next to The Palisades on 1 wooded acre w/seasonal water views $629,900
10620 Sweetleaf 4.4 wooded acre home site in The Sanctuary $120,000
803-526-1225
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|design instyle
Wallpaper ties colors together making it easier to experiment with decorating / ballarddesigns.com
Comeback kid
Modern wallpaper has the power to transform an ordinary wall into magic—and is much easier to use than wallpapers of the past by Vicki Donatelli
I
t never went away, we just stopped using it. Wallpaper has always been the go-to for designers. Now that homeowners are becoming adept at DIY projects, they have rediscovered wallpaper and its wonderful possibilities. If you purchased your first home in the 1970s, you more
than likely spent many an hour scraping faded, out-of-date paper from some—or all—the rooms. It was a project worthy of turning even the most enthused DIYer into a wallpaper hater. Luckily, today’s papers are a distant cousin to those of the past. The adhesives are easier to work with, and the paper
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Floral prints are traditional paper favorites / ballarddesigns.com
easily releases when you’re ready to redecorate. Some papers are even available in peel-and-stick format. Still, wallpaper is more of a commitment than paint. It costs more, takes more time to install and makes a gallant statement—so it is important to understand why you want to add paper to your décor and what your options are. Wallpaper is one of the best ways to personalize a room. Its purpose is to breathe life into a space and make it your own. It can add texture to your walls and give them architectural dimension. It can be light-hearted and playful or nostalgic and traditional. Purchasing wallpaper in the past meant long afternoons at the paint store flipping through page after page
of samples, then lugging home three or four gigantic books to see if the design worked. The shopping alone was daunting. Thank goodness for the Internet. You can search sites based on your specific wants and order a sample for $10 or less. So much easier. So, what’s trending? Let’s start with murals. They offer so many possibilities—they are storytellers. Most are custom-sized and allow you to capture moods, themes and dreams. Some murals are based on nature, gardens, birds and landscapes. You can also select from abstract, ombre and geometric patterns that can transform shapes as they travel down a wall. Floral-patterned papers have always
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been a favorite for powder rooms and bedrooms. Now trending are floral patterns that have a quirky edge to them. The colors are brighter and bolder. Brett Design’s watercolor patterns have a floral edge to them but they are more interesting and available in rousing colors. Painterly looks in floral motifs, oversized imagery and landscapes are top trending designs. Big bold graphics like Voutsa’s Lips on Black Wallpaper is a great example of rich pigment design. It’s pricey at $350 a roll, but it does make a statement. Grasscloth is also in vogue. Annie Selke’s Rhodes grasscloth is one that exhilarates a tone-on-tone space. Other papers are available in almost any color and variance in weave volume. Ballard Designs offers papers that have tactile texture as well as visual illusions that add dimension to flat paper. At $59.25 a double roll, the Birch Bark wallpaper provides the look
of wood without the cost or hassle. Stripes are classic wallpaper patterns. They are perfect for transforming plain-painted walls into tailored spaces. Ballard’s Canopy Stripe paper is available in four colors. The stripes add much needed visual height to spaces with low ceilings. Paper ties together colors, provides visual effects, adds texture to flat surfaces and allows you to express your designer ego. It transforms an ordinary wall into magic. That’s why wallpaper will always make a comeback.
Vicki Payne Donatelli is an interior designer, project coordinator and popular speaker for renovation and new construction projects. She is the host of the national PBS series “For Your Home.” Visit her blog at ForYourHome.com.
Annie Selke’s Rhodes grasscloth paper adds texture to a tone-on-tone living room / annieselke.com
DISCOVER THE + IN 55+ LIVING + 25 minutes from Uptown + Brand-new clubhouse featuring indoor pool, fitness center and yoga/aerobics studio
+ New homesites available now, some featuring basements + Exciting floorplans with flex spaces and elevator options ACT NOW FOR BEST SELECTION OF HOMESITES, PLANS AND VALUES! Charlotte’s best-located 55+ community 9 designer model homes, open daily New homes from the upper $200s to $500s
855 -799- 4084
CresswindCharlotte.com
© 2020 Cresswind is a registered trademark of Kolter Homes. Prices, homesites, home designs and other information subject to errors, changes, omissions, deletions, availability prior sales and withdrawal at any time without notice.
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MARCH 7–22, 2020
Treat Yourself To Beautiful
Take advantage of limited-time* incentives to include even more of what you want in your new home. From fixtures and finishes to cabinets and countertops, it’s the perfect time to create your perfect kitchen and bath. Explore the possibilities in Charlotte. Contact our Online Sales Consultant at 844-840-5263. TollBrothers.com/Charlotte I Priced from mid-$300s to upper $900s
*Offer, if any, is valid for new buyers who purchase a home in a participating community and deposit between 3/7/20 and 3/22/20, sign an agreement of sale, and close on the home. Offers, incentives, and seller contributions, if any, vary by community and are subject to certain terms, conditions, and restrictions. Not all communities, not all home sites, and not all options and upgrades are included in this Sales Event so see the Sales team in your desired community for specific details. Toll Brothers reserves the right to change or withdraw any offer at any time. Not valid with any other offer. See website for current sales office hours Homes available nationwide. Brokers welcome. Prices subject to change without notice. Images are for representational purposes only and should not be relied upon to confirm applicable features. See sales representative for more information. This is not an offering where prohibited by law.
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|real estate spotlight
Photo by Michael Hernandez
Photo by Charlotte Drone Company
Alan Simonini Founder of Simonini Homes by Bethany E. Starin
A
lan Simonini didn’t set out to be a builder, nor did he set out to become one of the most influential builders in the Charlotte region as the founder of Simonini Custom Homes. A Chicago native with a degree in biology, Simonini took a temp job fresh out of college helping his dad with his new hobby—building homes on Lake Wylie. Forty-five years later, Simonini is still at it and has built more than 1,000 homes across Charlotte and in Charleston, S.C., including Charlotte’s first $1 million spec home back when that was a huge risk— but one he says he’s sure glad he took. He says his houses are simple, elegant and visually quiet, homes that real people really want to live in.
Q: When did you know you were destined to be a builder? A: “I had no dream of being a builder. My whole life, I did whatever it took to make a living, and there weren’t a whole lot of biology jobs. So when my dad retired from his business in Chicago and offered me a job building houses with him, I moved to Lake Wylie. I thought it was going to be temporary—but, obviously, it has been 45 years now.” Q: Where did your years with your dad take you? A: “For the first 10 years, I was basically a laborer. I did everything that’s done on the work site. Pretty much self taught, my brother and I both got into the business with my dad and started building on
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Photo by Charlotte Drone Company Photo by Joe Purvis
Photo by Charlotte Drone Company
a lakefront golf course gated community on Lake Wylie. We built the first milliondollar spec home in Charlotte in 1990 right on the lake, which took a lot of guts! In 1996, we built the first $3 million spec house in Charlotte, also on the lake. We got a reputation and got to build 133 homes in South Charlotte’s Heydon Hall neighborhood.” Q: Do you think your success is due to a lucky break or the slow building of hard work? A: “A mixture of both. In the 1980 recession, my dad quit building houses, and a friend had me build 17 condos on the lake. That was a big turning point in my life— when a problem creates an opportunity!”
Q: What would you note as the highest point of your career to date? A: “In 1993, my brother wanted to do something different, so I bought my dad and brother out and joined up with Ray Killian to go into business. Ray said to me, ‘What do you want us to do?’ I replied, ‘I want to be America’s best builder, win the National Housing Quality Award and become National Builder of the Year.’ He says, ‘OK, we are going to do that.’ And we set out on that path, and we did it. Those were really great years. When you build something and look back and people are living in it, it’s pretty personal.” Q: What was the lowest point? A: “The recession happened and we split
the company up, so we started close to scratch in 2011—it was a bad and good thing at the same time. Obviously, things are different, but I got to go off on my own and what I do now is even more rewarding—almost. We have very little risk, almost everything we do now is on contract and I get to create things without a lot of input from other people.” A: What part of the process makes you feel most alive, most fulfilled? Q: “Creating a concept that fits the environment it’s in. If it’s a lake house, creating the perfect lake house. If it’s a townhouse, creating a house that has everything you want in town. I like things fitting into the existing neighborhoods and environment so you can’t tell when
they were built. We built townhomes in Myers Park, and I got a lot of compliments because they look like Charlotte even though they are brand new.” Q: How has the Charlotte scene changed over the last 45 years? A: “Charlotte used to be very traditional, and a lot of houses looked the same— they call it five, four and a door. A twostory Georgian house made of brick. That has changed a lot and from outside influences coming in—people falling in love with the romance of different architecture has changed Charlotte in a good way. The funny thing is the old houses from Myers Park and Eastover, and Dilworth, that architecture exists there and we got away from it and then we came back.”
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– 2020 SUNDAY ISSUE FOCUS CALENDAR – SUNDAY ~ MARCH 8
22
SUNDAY ~ APRIL
York County
Space Reservation: Wednesday, 2/26 Art Deadline: Friday, 2/28
Davidson & Huntersville
Space Reservation: Wednesday, 3/11 Art Deadline: Friday, 3/13
5
19
SUNDAY ~ JUNE Uptown’s Mid & High Rises
Space Reservation: Wednesday, 6/3 Art Deadline: Friday, 6/5
28
Space Reservation: Wednesday, 6/17 Art Deadline: Friday, 6/19
Lake Wylie
SUNDAY ~ SEPTEMBER
6
Space Reservation:Wednesday, 8/26 Art Deadline: Friday, 8/28
Myers Park & Eastover
Space Reservation: Wednesday, 3/25 Art Deadline: Friday, 3/27
12
Asheville
Space Reservation:Wednesday, 9/9 Art Deadline: Friday, 9/11
17
Space Reservation: Wednesday, 5/6 Art Deadline: Friday, 5/8
31
Space Reservation: Wednesday, 5/20 Art Deadline: Friday, 5/22
Dilworth & South End
Cornelius
26
Space Reservation: Wednesday, 7/1 Art Deadline: Friday, 7/3
Urban Boom
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SUNDAY ~ OCTOBER
4
The Uptown Wards & West End
1
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Union County
Space Reservation:Wednesday, 10/7 Art Deadline: Friday, 10/9
The Carmel Corridor
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Space Reservation: Wednesday, 7/29 Art Deadline: Friday, 7/31
23
Space Reservation: Wednesday, 8/12 Art Deadline: Friday, 8/14
SUNDAY ~ NOVEMBER
Art Deadline: Friday, 9/25
18
SUNDAY ~ AUGUST
The Pool Issue & Outdoor Furnishings
15 20
Space Reservation: Wednesday, 4/22 Art Deadline: Friday, 4/24
The High Country NC Mountains Space Reservation: Wednesday, 4/8 Art Deadline: Friday, 4/10
South-CLT Country Clubs
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SUNDAY ~ JULY
14
Equestrian, Farms & Land
SUNDAY ~ MAY
29
Lake Norman
SUNDAY ~ DECEMBER
Custom Built Homes
Space Reservation:Wednesday, 10/21 Art Deadline: Friday, 10/23
13
Condos & Townhomes
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The Boomer Edition
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Elegant Estates
Space Reservation:Wednesday, 11/18
27
Rising Stars & Market Wrap Space Reservation:Wednesday, 12/16 Art Deadline: Friday, 12/18
Art Deadline: Friday, 11/20
Charlotte’s Premier Real Estate Publication All issues themes are subject to change.
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ALAN’S FIVE MUST-HAVES FOR SUCCESS 1. Respect “I like treating everybody with respect. I like to do things I am proud of, so I do things that are fair. I like people to feel good about what we have done for them.” 2. Faith “I am a Christian so I love everybody, and in my business I try to solve the problem and not change the person.” 3. Punctuality “I am obsessed with being on time. Fifteen minutes early is on time for me. I like being at work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. I feel like it is important to be there and be the face of the company.” 4. Family “My wife (who is the receptionist at our office!) and I have three kids—two in Charlotte, with one working in commercial real estate and one in advertising, and another son who lives in California working for Boeing. All of our children have the same values as us, which makes us feel good.” 5. Simplicity “I love really clean and simple, uncluttered, unornate, straight lines. I like things that are symmetrical. We live in a townhouse we built in Dilworth on Lombardy Circle. It’s what I love—I love glass and lots of light, lots of communication with the outdoors, kind of an organic house.”
Photo by Sayma Waleh
Cape Fear River Views
Historic Southport
239 E Bay Street 3BD, 2.5BA 3,003 SqFt $949,500 Cape Fear River Front
Historic Southport
102 River Drive 3BD, 2.5BA 2,650 SqFt $999,000 Cape Fear River Views
Historic Southport
231 E Bay Street 5BD, 3.5BA 3,418 SqFt $1,199,000
Kay Jolliff Discover Southport, NC
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|straight talk
Clear acrylic sheets on top of wire pantry shelves are easy to see through and will keep your items from tipping over.
Small projects Tackle these small indoor projects before spring arrives by Allen Norwood
T
here are umpteen reasons to place acrylic sheets across the tops of those ubiquitous wire shelves in closets and pantries. In closets, the smooth acrylic keeps tell-tale lines from forming on clothes and linens stored atop the wire. (Oh, my wife hated those lines.) In the pantry, the solid surface keeps small cans and jars—like, say, my Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy—from tipping over. Plywood or even cardboard would work, but you can see through the clear acrylic to spot that box of cornbread mix on the back of the high shelf. Acrylic is far better. But acrylic, especially thicker sheets, can be expensive. It doesn’t really need to be very thick to work on shelves, though. The wire provides all the support. So, here’s one affordable, easy-tomanage solution, courtesy of a helpful
clerk at Hobby Lobby: Check out the acrylic on the poster-framing shelf. We bought 24-by-36-inch sheets. They were $6.99 when I checked the price recently. Most wire shelves are about a foot deep, so a half sheet fits neatly. The sheets are only 1 millimeter thick, so the stuff is easy to trim to size with a utility knife and straight edge. Place it on a flat, stable surface and score it several times. Then slide the sheet to the edge of the work surface and snap it along the scored line. You’ll find helpful videos online. It’s soggy and cold as I write this, a good time to handle such small indoor projects you might have been putting off. (Might not want to tackle anything too big, because spring will show up with all its demanding outdoor projects in a couple weeks.) Here’s another project you might have considered but let drift to the bottom of
your to-do list. Consider this a nudge to go ahead and tackle it. You’ll be glad you did. It’s that brass door hardware throughout your house—if you’ve hated it, get rid of it. Just change out the knobs and spray paint the hinges and hinge screws. We chose brushed nickel, but this trick will work with almost any of today’s finishes—and you can keep the doors in place as you work through the house. Pick out a knob finish you like, and then go to the spray paint aisle and select a color that’s a decent match. The hinges and handles won’t be side by side, so pretty close will do. Remove one hinge from each door. I started with the middle hinges. Clean them well with sanding prep solution, especially if you’ve ever used lubricant on them. Lay everything out on a big sheet of cardboard and spray the hinges and
screws. When the hardware is dry, replace it. Then you can remove another hinge from each door and repeat the steps. Doing a few doors at a time breaks this project up into affordable, easily managed phases. Even if you do all the doors at once, you’ll only be dealing with a third of the hinges at one time. Realtors often recommend getting rid of brass lighting and door hardware before putting your house on the market. This is an easy way to start if you’re planning to sell this spring. Ask your agent to suggest a finish that complements other hardware in your house. I wouldn’t spray knobs, as I’ve written before, but the hinges I sprayed a few years ago are holding up fine. No squeaks, no loose screws.
Allen Norwood: homeinfo@charter.net
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C H A R L O T T E
home design
Nasty crawl spaces? We can fix it.
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Create a healthier living space and save money on utility bills while avoiding unnecessary repairs. You can even gain extra storage space! Symptoms of a Crawl Space Problem: Interior Drywall Cracks • Uneven Floors Foul Odors • Increased Allergy or Asthma Symptoms
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