NRV Home
A Home Study in Contrasts
Text by Joanne M. Anderson | Photos by Kristie Lea Photography Welcome to a little horse farm, on a dirt road, with the requisite outbuildings, a couple beautiful horses, a view across open fields and a renovated house that includes crystal door knobs and chandeliers. Lipstick red is the accent color among two-tone gray walls and white trim. The living room, dining area and hall rugs are matching contemporary, swirlpatterned, floor coverings in gray, black and red, while the large stone fireplace commanding attention in the living room hearkens to natural materials expected in a rural setting. The outdoor patio off the kitchen looks like something you’d see in a national homes and lifestyles magazine with multiple seating clusters and colorful cushions. The firepit down in the yard is as country as things come. Ralph and Shelia Collins purchased this 4-acre property just over two years ago, and set about clearing 18
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land for pastures and renovating the 1900-or-so-square-foot house. Constructed by Leon Akers in the 1960s, the home has a full basement, lovely hardwood floors, the stone fireplace in the living room and a wood-burning stove in the lower level fireplace. “We painted the walls everywhere and completely gutted the kitchen prior to moving in,” Shelia states. The couple did most all the work themselves, and Shelia is responsible for the colors, style and décor. At the time, long-time New River Valley resident Pete Gotkiewicz worked at Lowe’s. “I’d never met him, but when I explained what we were doing, what I liked, how I wanted things to turn out, he stepped right in with advice in all the places I needed help. He suggested the darker gray accent walls in the living room and kitchen and helped me choose the white kitchen cabinets.” The hardware is vertical, S ept/Oct 2021
