Antebellum Charm

Antebellum Charm

Two families, one home, and a lot of history in between. From the outside the home on the corner of Montclair and Hoyt stands tall and stately, capturing the attention of those who pass by. One wonders about the history of such a house, the memories that it has seen, and the lives of those who have lived there. Indeed, this home is full of history, and it seems its journey has just begun.

Putting Down Roots

In the early ’90s, Anne and Jim Hugman were hard at work building their Architecture and Construction business from the ground up. Prosperity grew, and alongside it so did their family. They found that they required a larger space than the small, detached garage that doubled as their offices offered, and with that realization came a great idea. They would purchase two lots of land on the corner of Montclair and Hoyt and design the perfect home to grow their family in.

Surrounded on three sides by a different street, the irregular lot layout provided a few design difficulties. Not one to turn down a challenge, the Hugmans revised their plans to fit the mold. The entrance to the home faces easterly and is complete with a rounded driveway accessible by two of the three streets. While the front facade of the house faces Montclair. This allowed the Hugmans to use the space to create a spacious backyard, complete with room for family-friendly activities.

When laying down architectural design ideas, the Hugmans were inspired by family trips to South Carolina. The design that emerged is what they lovingly call “Charleston row house meets the Southern Carolina beaches.” The result was the southern gothic-inspired two-story home, which captured the attention of locals. It quickly became a stop on Longview’s parade of homes.

Southern Antebellum Ambiance

Enticed by these southern vibes, Melanie Northcutt purchased the home in 2013. Growing up, Melanie always visited her Aunt and Uncle’s farm in South Louisiana where she sat on their sprawling screen porch hoping to catch glimpses of sparkling lightning bugs through the Spanish moss with the sound of the dragging of tugboats in the background. The home on Montclair, with its fully screened back porch, pulled on these fond memories and drew her in with its southern charm. A self-proclaimed hometown girl, Melanie is also a prominent entrepreneur in Longview. Building her real estate brokerage deep in historic downtown, she dedicates herself to providing traditional southern hospitality both on and off the clock. It was crucial that her new home had ample space for entertaining. The open floor plan of the Montclair home was perfect, complete with a clean flow through the two living spaces and dining room, and the bedrooms tucked away upstairs.

Melanie loves the placement of the home on the “peninsula” style lot and was enamored with the unique shape that the Hugmans originally created. The spacious backyard with its distinctive zigzagged fence flanked by budding crepe myrtles and fiery azaleas continues to bring daily joy.

The Home of Entrepreneurial Magic

The Hugman’s are not the only notable entrepreneurs who have called this beautiful property home – In 1996 they sold the home to Dr. Steven Littlejohn who built his own practice in Longview, he then sold the property to attorney and future Chief Justice, 6th Court of Appeals, Scott Stevens. In 2007, the home passed into the hands of local realtor Marshall Jackson and he, in turn, sold it to Melanie Northcutt, owner of Sugar Magnolia Properties, in 2013. The Hugman’s couldn’t be prouder of the history of their Montclair home.

Melanie’s Design Style

The home may have been built by the Hugman’s and called home by many a successful person, but Melanie has truly made it her own. Proudly coining her interior design style as “grandmillenial” she bases her design choices on mixing the modern with the antique. She believes in choosing pieces that create a representation of herself in her home. “Our homes should be our retreat, our safe space, and a reflection of who we are,” she says. True to this motto, you’ll find timeless and classic pieces featuring wooden accents, metallics, and velvet gracing the spaces of her home.

This cozy home and its charming neighborhood are the full package for those like Melanie who are closely tied to the heart of Longview. “I’ve coined the term “midtown” for this part of town, as we are so centrally located to downtown and uptown (fancy name for Target area). It’s especially nice to be five minutes from my office. My puppy, Chippy, and I love to walk in the neighborhood, and it’s fun to live a street over from some of my best friends.” Melanie says.

"Chippy"