At Home | Spring 2016 by pscommunications

Spring 2016

Do-it-yourself projects gone wrong

Can you identify these northwest-area landmarks?

Bathroom and kitchen trends

Old house, new life

Not your typical abode

Downtown Stokesdale, past and present

Decluttering your home

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At home in northwest Guilford County

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Published every fall and spring, atHome offers a glimpse of the history and personality of northwest Guilford County, ranging from the people and culture to the physical surroundings.

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In this spring edition we’ve highlighted downtown Stokesdale, which evolved around the A&Y Railroad in the early 1900s. Though hitching posts and train whistles have long since given way to parking spaces and motorized vehicles, today’s downtown area is still occupied by a variety of small businesses that welcome passersby and locals alike.

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On the somewhat humorous side, several brave souls agreed to share their most memorable experiences with tackling doit-yourself projects. Their lessons learned are sure to give you a chuckle (anyone who has tackled home projects must have at least one such story of their own). We think you’ll enjoy reading about one of the most uniquely designed and furnished homes in northwest Guilford County, which rests quietly and unobtrusively on 50 acres in Oak Ridge. And last but not least, on the practical note, one of my “favorite” home-related topics is covered in this edition: clutter. I’m so inspired by this article that as soon as we wrap up this edition I’m going to tackle a big pile of disorganized-looking mess … once I decide which one to begin with. Thanks to our spring atHome advertisers for making this edition possible. Patti Stokes, president/owner PS Communications

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With the help of Linda Southard, chair of Summerfield’s Historical Committee, we also enjoyed taking a memory walk through the 175-year-old Martin house, which was purchased by the Town of Summerfield last November. Rich with history, the two-story brick house was once home to the illegitimate son of a North Carolina governor, to Dr. Joy Harris Glascock, the third woman licensed to practice medicine

in North Carolina, and to Andrew Jackson Ayers, Southard’s grandfather.

Spring 2016

brought to you by publisher of the Northwest Observer contact us (336) 644-7035 • info@pscommunications-inc.com location: 1616 NC 68 North • Oak Ridge, NC 27310 mail: PO Box 268 • Oak Ridge, NC 27310

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Do-it-yourself projects

gone wrong by Annette Joyce

Television channels and websites such as HGTV and Pinterest have exponentially boosted the number of do-it-yourselfers. But let’s face it, not every person is cut out for tackling home projects on their own. I’m one of those people. My husband Kelly probably falls into that category also, although he’s more reluctant to admit it. Over the years, I’ve had hundreds of DIY projects that have failed miserably. One of the worst involved our front door. It started when I noticed several small places on the door where the paint was flaking. I finally convinced Kelly that we needed to take care of it and since it was my idea, I trekked off to the store to purchase the needed supplies. I was delighted to find a spray product that claimed you

could spray it on painted surfaces and the paint would magically fall away.

Just to be prepared, I purchased two cans. Long story short, it didn’t work. The only paint that came off was on the interior side of the door, which meant that now we had double the work. Kelly started sanding the streaky mess I had made on the front side, working all day and into the night. In the end, the entire finish had been

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sanded away and we were left with a gray metal door that was scratched so badly it needed to be completely replaced. On a positive note, some of our neighbors thought we meant for it to look that way and commented that it looked rather “cool.” We ended up purchasing a new wooden door and having someone else finish it for us. We did learn a valuable lesson from this experience. We’re definitely not the DIY type and should stick to what we know best. For my husband, that’s doing anything involving computers. He’s a genius in that area. And as for me, it’s writing about other people and their DIY adventures. ••••• As a former owner of what was once Dawn Acres golf course in Stokesdale, Randy Stewart spent a lot of time involved in DIY projects. Both he and his wife Sandy say that was probably not the best use of his time, since things usually didn’t turn out as hoped. One of Stewart’s most frustrating experiences involved a broken lawn mower. To fix the mower, he disassembled it completely. It was a job he said should have taken about two hours. Six hours later, he had the mower reassembled but it still wasn’t working.

After all his efforts, he ended up taking it to a repairman. It turns out the only thing wrong was that he had put one small part in backwards. Of course, that was the part that kept the mower from working. When asked about her own DIY projects, Sandy admits she’s had a project that hasn’t turned out so well either. “I’ve been working on Randy for 41 years and I haven’t mastered this project yet,” she says with a laugh. ••••• Melissa Stallings of Oak Ridge got more than she bargained for when she decided to swap out her old stovetop for a new one. “I tried to pull a fast one on my husband right before Thanksgiving one year,” she says. “I measured my old stovetop, ordered a new one and scheduled the delivery for after he went to work.” Having watched numerous YouTube videos on how to replace a stovetop, she says she was “totally prepared.” At least that’s what she thought. Stallings allowed the deliverers to take her old stovetop away, and then got down to business. As she began placing her new stovetop into the existing hole in her granite counter, she was shocked to discover the stovetop was a half-inch too wide. “In my effort to continue hiding this new addition, I got out the sandpaper and started sanding the edge of the counter,” she says. “Four hours later and no movement, I finally had to call for professional help.” Stallings confesses her husband wasn’t

continued on page 26

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Details, details We all look around us as we go through our daily routines, but how closely do we really look? See how many of these northwest area details you can identify. Hint: They can all be seen along heavily traveled roads and are on or near public, commercial or historical buildings.

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Bathroom, kitchen

trends by Anna Chang-Yen

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Many real estate agents will tell you that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. If you’re making renovations, these rooms will give you more bang for your buck when it comes to resale value. Here are some bathroom and kitchen trends that are hot right now.

GRAYS Gray is showing up in every room of the house, and kitchens and bathroom are a great place to employ this color palette. Instead of brightening up your dark cabi-

Statement lighting can take a kitchen from boring to bold.

nets with a coat of white paint, consider choosing a shade of light gray. Pair it with wood grains for a more traditional look, or go with grays, blues and metals for a more modern aesthetic.

STATEMENT LIGHTING Lighting in the kitchen can be far more than functional. Gone are the days of the fluorescent bar light in the middle of the room. A large metal pendant or a statement chandelier above the island can take a kitchen from boring to bold. Go oversized with extra-large fabric shades. Contrast can add interest to lighting pieces, as well. A fancy crystal chandelier inside a weathered

metal cage is a daring choice that will draw the eye. Swap a simple flush-mount fixture for a semi-flush light with metal scroll detail for an inexpensive update. Fancy lighting also can find a home in the bathroom. Hang a chandelier above a free-standing bathtub or a pair of eyecatching pendants over separate vanities.

STORAGE Pull-out drawers with built-in organizers, utensil crocks nestled inside cabinetry, built-in onion and potato bins — today’s homeowners are looking for touches that make life in the kitchen

continued on page 30

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Old house, new life The Martin house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was purchased by the Town of Summerfield last November.

by Emily-Sarah Lineback

walk down Memory Lane takes Linda Southard to the corner of Summerfield Road and Oak Ridge Road in Summerfield. What most locals refer to as “the Martin House,” she best remembers as her paternal grandparents’ home. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house has been a landmark

in Southard’s family for almost a century. She recently sold the house and a .62acre lot to the Town of Summerfield. “It’s fitting for the town because it holds so much of this area’s history,” Southard, who also chairs Summerfield’s Historic Committee, says as she hugs a bundle of documents that outlines details of the property’s heritage. The house is situated on land which dates back to Charles Bruce, after whom the area was once called Bruce’s Crossroads. After Bruce died, his son sold 872 acres in 1835 to brothers James and Valentine Allen; James sold his share to Valentine two years later, and it was shortly thereafter that the Greek Revivalstyle house was built. The oldest known brick structure in Summerfield, it’s also documented as one of the county’s larg-

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est brick houses of the era. “My grandparents [Andrew Jackson, or “A.J.,” and Mattie Ayers] raised 10 children in this house,” Southard says as she walks through the rooms, describing what used to occupy the space. The front room during the Ayers’ ownership saw incarnations as A.J.’s office (in addition to farming, A.J. was a justice of the peace and notary public); in later years when the second-story stairs were too much of a climb, the room became the couple’s bedroom. In more recent decades the house was split into apartments and the front room served as a living room for first-floor renters. “When it was first built, we think this room was used by travelers as a public dining and resting space – the reason for its separate front door,” Southard says. “Peering outside, one can imagine

families traversing dusty crossroads back when boarding houses and private inns were rest area choices.” In 1838, Allen sold 448 acres including all structures to Alexander Strong Martin, the out-of-wedlock son of Alexander Martin, North Carolina’s first governor. Martin owned the property for 11 years, after which it passed through several owners including Cicero Harris, whose six children inherited it around 1896. Harris’ daughter, Dr. Joy Harris Glascock, became the third woman licensed to practice medicine in the state. “When my grandfather bought the house and 100 acres in 1919, he cut a door from his office into what my grandmother used for her fabric shop,” Southard says. “She had all kinds of cloth. Many people bought from her because back then, everybody sewed.” Even with the structure’s needed renovations, Southard succeeds in transporting present-day visitors into her mind’s eye, where she envisions it as a

large rock sits in the yard. “That’s where Grandpa would cut the watermelons.” She mentions the rock has been moved, but it doesn’t lessen the fond memories. “Our intersection will remain a critical crossroads…and purchasing this house was strategic,” says Summerfield Town Manager Scott Whitaker of the purchase agreement the Town of Summerfield entered into last November with Southard; the sale was contingent on the Town preserving the primary structure, excluding add-ons. Whitaker confirms that the primary intent of the purchase was historic preservation, which aligns with the Town’s comprehensive plan.

(Above) The Alexander Strong Martin house, built in the late 1830s, is located across from the Summerfield Town Hall at the corner of Oak Ridge Road and Summerfield Road. (Left) Former owner Linda Southard points out the National Register of Historic Places marker on the front of the house. File photos

special place of past and possibility. Then she pauses at a doorway and touches the surface: “These walls are 18 inches thick with handmade bricks, all of them.” Original remaining details – an ornate wooden mantel, never-painted wood doors and old, wavy window glass – are another part of what makes the structure historically meaningful. And for Southard, this meaning is inextricably sewn into her personal history. She moves through each room, conjuring up different points of the past with sweet ease: an upstairs room that was her Aunt Helen’s beauty salon (“that’s the sink she used”); a spot in front of the staircase where a table sat (“when my aunt lived here, she always had an arrangement of flowers – real flowers – on it”); the hallway, before her daddy closed it up by adding a closet (“when we’d run through from one end to the other!”).

Standing in what once was the dining room, Southard points to the middle and says, “Right there was the table where we’d all eat” in shifts. “The whole extended family would come for holidays – and I have 20-some first cousins! We’d draw names for Thanksgiving…and we’d each have a gift for Christmas.”

“It’s exciting to think about the changes,” Southard says as she imagines how the house might be used in the future. “A museum would be wonderful.” Then she begins to surmise where a public restroom could be added, or what the downstairs hall would be like if it were completely open again. “I can’t wait to see what’s next!” exclaims Southard.

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Structures, too, contain much more than memories; they capture a time slice and part of us. And in returning to them, like a funhouse mirror, we are reminded of who and what we were when we hadn’t yet become who we are. Southard looks out every window of every room upstairs and envisions it all: past, present, future. She recalls former businesses and proprietors long gone from an era when almost all of life was lived on a hyper-local level. As she works her way to the back porch, Southard sighs. Beyond her, a

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Glass-enclosed home in woods is

not your typical abode by Annette Joyce Photos provided by homeowners

Editor’s note: To protect their privacy, the owners of this home wished to remain anonymous; for the article’s readability, we’ve referred to them as Doreen and Kevin Smith.

Taking over two years to build, this home in Oak Ridge was influenced by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, with details evolving along the way

Sometimes a house is so in harmony with its surroundings, it looks as though it just naturally grew right out of the ground. Such is the case with the unique abode that’s nestled amid over 50 acres of untamed woods in Oak Ridge, just off N.C. 68. Completed in 2003, this wooded retreat took over two years to build. The result was well worth the wait, as the design perfectly reflects both the owners’ personalities and lifestyles.

Influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, a modern American architect, the 5,000-plus square-foot structure is simple and airy. Nearly every exterior wall features a large expanse of glass. These aren’t the type of windows you see in most homes. We’re talking about the large, plate glass windows that are found in storefronts. The ones that don’t open and don’t pass residential building codes. The owners were able to satisfy building inspectors by installing exterior doors in all the bedrooms. Speaking of bedrooms, surprisingly, there are only two. One entire wing of the home is devoted to the master suite. A long hallway passes by his-and-her baths, which are joined by a 7-by-12-foot tiled

continued on page 14

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continued from page 12 shower. The shower’s exterior wall is constructed of a combination of regular glass and privacy glass. Just down the hall, the master bedroom features a door leading out to a cozy screen porch and a deck that overlooks the pool. The second bedroom with a private bath is located on the basement level. Knowing that such a large home with only two bedrooms would be a resale nightmare, the owners designed the huge open downstairs room so that it could be easily converted into two additional bedrooms.

says Kevin, who spent nearly every day onsite with the workers. In building the house, the owners chose to feature a lot of natural elements. To this end, there’s a great deal of stone, both on the exterior and in the massive fireplace that’s a focal point of the great room. “There’s at least 20 tons of stone throughout the house,” says Kevin. The fireplace hearth is made of one large stone slab. The owners can laugh now as they recall how the slab was so heavy that it fell through the floor when it was first put into place.

When designing their home, the owners had an idea of the look they were after but developed the details as the house was being built. While many of the features are based on ones the couple had seen during their travels, others came about during the building process.

In the family room, the couple used their creativity to successfully create a look that has industrial features, yet is cozy. First, there’s the openness of the floor plan and its towering cathedral ceiling. The room is supported by sturdy timber frames that are secured with heavy plates and bolts. Metal tie rods extend from one side of the room to the other – a little extra protection to ensure that the frames won’t kick out.

The kitchen also has a bit of a warehouse feel, with walls that stop short of the ceiling and cable lights over the island. An oversized pantry makes up for a minimum number of cabinets, allowing a glass backsplash that provides additional natural light.

“A lot of the ideas came from the people who were working on the house,”

Doreen says watching the frames go up was an amazing thing to see.

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The great room is open and airy with a wall of windows overlooking the woods. “It was like putting up a barn,” she says.

where Doreen and Kevin enjoy spending time and dining al fresco. Although one of the smaller features of the home, the transparent floor deck that rises up about 50 feet into the air is a definite conversation piece. To make it sturdy enough, the floor is constructed of two half-inch pieces of glass with a clear plastic layer sandwiched in between.

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In the kitchen, a minimum of cabinets have allowed for a glass backsplash. The idea for the deck came from one of their travels. “We wanted to do something different,” Kevin says. “We had been to Niketown in Boston where they had used (transparent floors) and we thought it was pretty cool.” The couple thoroughly enjoys the deck, but admits that not all of their guests can muster up the courage to venture out on it. The home also includes a library, wine cellar and a theater complete with a 100-inch screen and theater seating. Two sides of the house surround a dark bottom saltwater pool that blends naturally with the landscape. In decorating the house, the Smiths have used a minimalist approach with a scant amount of furniture. In fact, the mas-

The home’s dark bottom pool was designed to blend into the landscape.

ter bedroom has a bed, two nightstands and a chair. Rather than opting for an abundance of furniture, they have chosen to use their home as a showcase for their passions – art and pottery. It’s a look that fits perfectly with the style of the home. Over the years, the Smiths have allowed their home to be used for commercial purposes. Furniture companies have shot both television commercials and catalogs at the home. At one point, their dog even ended up in an ad campaign. Whether they’re opening their home to companies or to guests, or simply enjoying it themselves, these Oak Ridge residents have managed to create a private oasis that’s tailored perfectly to their needs. It’s definitely one of the most unique homes in the area.

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Growing up around the railroad A boarding house was among the many businesses that once served those arriving and departing on the A&Y passenger trains that came through downtown Stokesdale

by Jeannette Clay Many drivers pass through Stokesdale on their way to or from home in one of the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many new housing developments, while others are just passing through on one of the highways that intersect the town. Though the downtown area is relatively quiet, some might be surprised to know

This photo shows downtown Stokesdale as it appeared in 1908. The Southern Hardware building is the brick building in the center.

Stokesdale once had a bustling downtown area that supported all types of businesses. Like many towns, Stokesdale grew up around the railroad. Although there was already a general store/post office in the area known as Green Pond (and later Pond), the area we know now as downtown Stokesdale emerged after the Atlantic & Yadkin Railroad came through in 1866 and built a depot here. The town was renamed Stokesdale after a Mr. Stokes, whose identity is a mystery. He may have been a railroad executive or conductor, or he possibly surveyed the area. Whatever the case, he was obviously held in

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true to its name, cost 3 cents) and buying a loaf of bread for a nickel – but you had to slice it yourself.

Photo by Jeannette Clay

Bob Simpson, 79, has similar memories. Simpson says he can trace his roots in Stokesdale for at least four generations, and both his maternal and paternal great-grandfathers served in the Civil War. Other than a three-year period, most of which he served in the military, Simpson has lived just a block off of Main Street his entire life. His father and uncle sold new Chevrolets and Pontiacs, and also ran a service station where the Carquest auto store is now.

Downtown Stokesdale as it looks today. Many of the buildings were constructed between 1910 and 1920, after the wooden buildings were destroyed by fire.

high esteem by local residents. Clifton Matthews, age 94, grew up in Stokesdale. His father was a farmer and a carpenter who built several homes in the area – including the one Matthews lives in. Matthews remembers when what is now U.S. 158 was still unpaved. That’s when the town had “dirty, dusty, washboard roads,” Matthews says. He recalls experiencing those roads firsthand in his father’s 1917 Model 490 Chevrolet.

describes. What is now Southern Hardware is clearly visible, flanked by several other wooden frame businesses; that landscape changed when the wooden establishments on Main Street burned in 1910. After that fire, a series of adjoining brick buildings – most of which were constructed between 1910 and 1920 – were erected. A boarding house across the street served those arriving and departing on the passenger train, and in 1911, a hotel was built.

A 1908 photo shows a bumpy, heavily rutted Main Street such as Matthews

Downtown Stokesdale was thriving when Matthews was a lad, supporting a

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drug store, grocery stores, hardware store, department store, and shoe repair shop.

Simpson himself worked for seven years as a brakeman on the A&Y Railroad. He was usually on the route from Greensboro to Mt. Airy, but sometimes worked the other end of the route from Greensboro to Sanford. After his father passed away, he took over the family business in 1965 and operated it as a garage/gas station for nearly 20 years.

Matthews says he didn’t always get new shoes, but instead had shoes repaired or resoled. “I wore repaired shoes a lot,” says the man who served as Stokesdale’s town clerk from 1990 to 1997. “At the grocery store, I remember taking a dozen eggs in and trading them for coffee or sugar. Trade was a big item, because money was scarce (for most farm families).” Matthews recalls drinking a soft drink called 3 Centa (which,

“You could say downtown was my

continued on page 28

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Enough with the stuff – time to declutter by Emily-Sarah Lineback Life is stuffed, and so is my space. I regularly edit items, yet I just discovered I own five (!) coffee measuring scoops between two houses. I could tell you my story (transitioning to less square footage – and those scoops are two sizes…), but that’s all it is. It’s easy to laugh about (and let go of) coffee scoops, but we all have stories. And many of us wrangle with our stuff, as evidenced by Marie Kondo’s two organizing books occupying the New York Times’ top 10 best-selling list.

Identify root cause(s) “I don’t ask clients why their homes are cluttered,” says Alli McVann, owner of Allicadabra, a professional organizing business. “Instead, I help people figure out the root problem.”

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“For young families, life’s volume and speed often leads to disorganization,” says McVann. “Also, empty nesters sometimes have grown kids who use their parents’ home as self-storage.” Other causes stem from life transitions such as familial or career change. “Sometimes we delay decluttering until there’s a big reason to do it, such as selling a house,” says Linda Weaver, a Realtor/Broker with Allen Tate Realtors’ Smith Marketing Team. Though external deadlines can spur us to act, Weaver notes we should deem our current homes worthy of streamlining.

Set up the process While each person’s clutter is different, organizing is straightforward – but not easy. “The process is to purge things – separate into shred, donate, sell, trash – and the system creates itself for what you keep,” says McVann. She doesn’t suggest tack-

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ling an entire category at once, cautioning that big jobs take time, and batching can set you up to fail. (Nothing squelches enthusiasm like dumping your entire wardrobe on your bed and having to push remaining pieces elsewhere at bedtime.)

Identify the “Why?” To follow-through, find a strong “why?” Why do you want a clutter-free home? “To reduce stress visually and mentally,” is one reason, says Stacy T. Hall, COO of Maria Adams Designs. “You don’t want to think about where you last put something or be reminded of that ‘pile’…when you’re trying to relax.” Another is to save time. “Safety can be paramount,” adds McVann, “especially where children or older adults live.”

continued on page 24

Are you in the Oak Ridge Historic District and considering remodeling or landscaping? Talk to us before you start work! Changes to your structure’s exterior or landscaping must adhere to the Historic District’s Design Guidelines. For more information, visit www.oakridgenc.com or call Town Hall at (336) 644 7009.

Oak Ridge Historic Preservation Commission

Promoting historic preservation in Oak Ridge (336) 644 7009 | www.oakridgenc.com

Spring 2016

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Let us introduce you to these THE BOBBIE MAYNARD TEAM – Experienced team of Realtor/Brokers with agents who focus on and live in NW Guilford County. We spend quality time and are dedicated to making your real estate dreams come true. We specialize in working with relocation companies to market your home for sale. Whether you are buying your first home, moving up or downsizing, we have an agent to fulfill your needs. We will put our years of experience to work for you!

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Experience ... Integrity ... Hard Work ... these are just a few words that describe the cornerstones of business for KERBAPPEALS. As a Realtor® in the Triad for 10 years, customer service is my #1 priority. If buying and/or selling a home is your priority, give me a call. I will work with you – and for you – every step of the way!

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Looking for a full-time agent that focuses on you and your needs? Look no further! I’m originally from Pennsylvania, but have lived in the Triad for 26 years. I live, work and volunteer in the northwest area and proudly give back to the community. With technical expertise and negotiating savvy, I confidently guide my clients though the home buying and selling process. Real Estate at a Higher Level – that’s DeDe’s Real Estate Group!

Serving buyers and sellers in the Triad area has been my passion for over 24 years! I began as an elementary teacher, and am mother of two wonderful children who graduated from Guilford County schools. My husband and I have lived in the Greensboro area for over 30 years. It’s a special place to call home and I enjoy helping others find their special place to live in our community. Give me a call – I would enjoy the opportunity to earn your business now or in the future!

DeDe Cunningham, Realtor/Broker

Sue Hutchinson

NC Licensed Contractor • BA in Architecture (336) 509-1923 • dedecunningham@kw.com

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If you are looking for a real estate agent, simply ask yourself: ‘Do I want someone who... 1) is a “full-time” real estate broker; 2) will work hard for me and put my interests first; 3) is thorough and will walk me through the entire process step by step; 4) is on time, honest and accountable; and 5) will provide me with professional, positive and satisfying results?’ If so, then feel free to contact me whether you are buying or selling. Then sit back and relax!

I am a ‘hometown’ girl, born and raised in Greensboro. I now reside in Summerfield. Specializing in working with buyers and sellers, I truly enjoy my career in residential real estate! My goal is to provide you with exceptional service and work with you hand-in-hand to reach your goals. I know the Triad well and have extensive knowledge in several counties. Please allow me to welcome you home!

Gil Vaughan Buyer & Seller Representation

Melissa Shelar

REALTOR®/Broker, ABR, CGP, CSP, e-Pro, SFR, SRES

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local Realtors What do I have in common with James Bond? Sure, he’s an international spy and I’m a Realtor, but we both place a distinct value in our ability to deliver. Like Bond, I’m a results-driven person focused on adding value through structure and accurate execution. I just do it in the real estate arena. In this ever-changing industry, I’m constantly searching to provide the most innovative and strategic service possible. Just call me Hess. Nancy Hess.

Details, details

On page 7, we asked if you could identify three small

photos taken from around the northwest Guilford County area. Well, here are the answers – how did you fare?

Nancy Hess

Call , for buying and selling State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser REALTOR®/Broker • (336) 215-1820 nancy.hess@bhhsyostandlittle.com

As a Realtor, my biggest thrill is seeing the joy on people’s faces when their goals have been met. I consider myself a fun-loving, get-the-job-done, no-pressure Realtor – traits my clients appreciate. A transplant myself, I know a lot about relocation and have developed trusting relationships with several large companies. I’m one of the area’s biggest fans and have shared my enthusiasm to the point that many friends and clients refer to me as “the Mayor” of Greensboro. Let me help you; call me today!

Julie Olive

Realtor/Broker, GRI, ABR, CMRS (336) 509-2346 • julie.olive@allentate.com

These hands of Jesus are outspread to welcome all who pass by the Ai Church cemetery at the corner of N.C. 68 and Alcorn Road in Oak Ridge.

This stylish modern gate blocks vehicular traffic after hours from entering Stokesdale’s Vulcan Materials, located on U.S. 158.

www.julieolive.com

Real estate has always been a big part of my life. I come from a family of builders, carpenters, plumbers, Realtors, engineers and developers. Plus, my husband Jay operates Triad Home Inspectors. Along the way, I’ve acquired a vast knowledge of the industry. I know how stressful buying and selling can be, so I strive to make it as effortless as possible for my clients. I’m passionate about exceeding their expectations, providing great communication and keeping their best interests at heart.

This intricate brick work is on the second floor of the historic Summerfield Town Hall, originally built as a general store in 1872.

Bobbie Gardner

CRS, GRI, EcoBroker, Relocation Specialist (336) 382-5939

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SUMMERFIELD OFFICE

Spring 2016

DECLUTTERING

continued from page 20 For me, good stewardship is most important. (Someone out there needs coffee scoops!)

Expect obstacles Even with motivation, obstacles are inevitable. Typical ones are: • A feeling of being overwhelmed by not knowing how or where to begin. • Misplaced frugality, i.e., when we keep things “just in case” they’re needed. • Lack of space/storage systems for what we want to keep. • Emotional connection to objects associated with special moments or people can be the toughest category.

Dig in McVann advises to start small and pick a place that will give you the most joy. She recommends the master bedroom “because that’s where you should be rejuvenated.” “There are several theories on how to organize items,” says Hall. “The best way is to put like things together.” Get honest. My husband is superorganized, yet he battles against “just in case” mentality. (Well-labeled boxes and bins of gadgets, from extra house shingles to countless arrays of electronic miscellany, are helpful…to a degree.) “Will you use the item within a year? Does it cost more to maintain or store it? How well or long does it ‘keep’?” asks Weaver. Maria Adams Designs is locally owned by Summerfield resident Maria Adams and Oak Ridge resident Stacy Hall.

McVann reminds us that “our unused stuff could be out in the world, blessing hundreds of people.” Beyond donating, the remedy for letting go of some items might be to sell them, using the best forum – newspaper ad, Craigslist, Ebay, estate sale, etc.

Call today for your in-home consultation

Think inside – and outside – the box. “Kids create a constant, rapid flow of school papers and stuff,” McVann says. “Put systems in place! For instance, get a bin for each child and teach them to use it.”

mariaadamsdesigns.com

“I see a trend of more ‘put away’ organizing,” says Hall. “I love the fact that bowls, vases and decorative glass, metal, wood, shell and recycled bone boxes are now be-

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ing used to contain everyday items…” “Clutter eats up space, making rooms seem inadequate and closets cramped,” says Weaver. “When you declutter and organize, in effect you add footage while highlighting architectural features.” “For those people who have small closets, floor-to-ceiling as well as onthe-door organizing systems are huge market sellers,” says Hall. Multiply your space by customizing closets, pantries or storage areas. “A neat, arranged closet with fully utilized space is satisfying,” says Ronnie Misenheimer, president of Deep River Closet Designs. Exact specs – from drawers and shelves to double-hang rods and jewelry displays – are specifically yours: “What will you put in here? What do you need? How many shoes do you have? Women tend to have a lot of shoes,” he adds, with a laugh. Get creative with keepsakes. “Going through sentimental things such as family heirlooms and photographs can be very emotional,” acknowledges Weaver. “Realize if you’re giving away Grandma’s records, you aren’t throwing out Grandma!” says McVann. She emphasizes, though, that people should be ready to let go. “No one likes to be forced” and pressuring a family member (or yourself) could cause emotional trauma. Find creative, practical ways to honor sentimental items. “Take photos of children’s artwork or scan pictures they’ve made,” says McVann. “Every year pick out 10 or 20 that are extra special to turn into a book you display instead of 1,000 pieces you never see.” Some of my son’s masterpieces become wall art, framed with removable backs to rotate pieces occasionally. Old clothes with special meaning are woven into rugs; instead of languishing in the attic, we enjoy the colors and memories daily while keeping our floors cleaner. Decluttering is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time act, confirms McVann. “Make it a fun, daily habit. And remember that you are ‘all that’ not because of stuff but because God made you…and you’re deserving of an organized space.”

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DIY gone wrong

continued from page 6 too thrilled, and had her hunt down the old stovetop. “The drivers had dumped the stovetop into a dumpster in Liberty (North Carolina),” she says. “Guess who had to drive to Liberty and go dumpster-diving the day before Thanksgiving?” Stallings learned a valuable lesson that day that she’s happy to share with other do-it-yourselfers – “you can’t sand granite with sandpaper,” so don’t even try. ••••• DIY projects aren’t usually a problem for Kelly Young. The Summerfield resident does a lot of his own home repairs and remodeling jobs. However, he got tripped up by a job that someone else didn’t do correctly. Young was in the process of doing some remodeling work on his home. It’s an older home and he had been told the walls were well insulated. With that knowledge, he proceeded to hang new sheetrock.

When cold weather came, however, he noticed the house just wouldn’t get warm enough and the lower portions of the walls stayed much colder than the top. After some investigation, he discovered the insulation had been blown into the walls from the top of the ceiling. Not a problem, except the horizontal piece of lumber that held the studs together was halfway up the wall, so only the top portion of the walls were actually insulated (the bottom portion had no insulation at all). Properly correcting the problem would have entailed tearing out all the sheetrock and redoing the work he had done. Instead, Young added some insulation on the exterior of the house; he says that has helped a bit, but hasn’t completely solved the problem. His advice for other do-it-yourselfers: “Always make sure you confirm what other people tell you.” ••••• Anna Carter of Kernersville considers herself a good painter, but she recently had a rather electrifying experience while

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painting her kitchen. She’d come to the end of the project and was painting the wall behind the refrigerator.

for the sake of a good story, he’s more than willing to throw his daughter, Sarah, under the bus.

While she’d taped up all the outlets, she realized she’d missed the one on this particular wall, but carefully went ahead with her work. Standing barefoot on the floor, she got quite a jolt when one of the wet bristles on the paintbrush accidently went into the outlet. Fortunately, although her wood floor ended up with some unwanted paint and she had a very memorable electrical shock, no one had to call the paramedics.

Before sharing Sarah’s mishap, Yanusz compares his daughter to DIY diva Martha Stewart and notes that Sarah has “decorated her first home like something out of a magazine. Great colors, textures and accessories,” he says. “Every room is beautiful and comfortable.”

••••• Oak Ridge resident Danny Yanusz is blessed with the ability to successfully tackle most DIY projects. “I am pretty proud as to how my projects turn out,” he admits. However,

When Sarah realized her bathroom needed a little something more, she decided to hang a piece of old tin ceiling that she picked up at an antique store on the wall above the toilet. “It was a pretty solid piece, with a great design,” says Yanusz. “She put a nail in the wall, hung up the tin and then stepped back to admire it.” Within seconds, the piece dropped off the wall, fell behind the toilet and sliced the water line to the toilet. “The one bath towel in the room at the time

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was nothing against the torrent of water, and the cutoff for the water was outside the house,” says Yanusz. He adds that the new downstairs ceiling, kitchen floor and upstairs carpet look great and have added to the home’s value. Unfortunately, Sarah is no longer allowed to hang anything on the wall. ••••• Stokesdale’s Richard Brackett is always piddling with some sort of DIY project, but more often than not things seem to go awry. Such was the case the day he says he nearly “burned the woods down” by his house. Brackett was burning a stump when the wind suddenly picked up and blew the fire into a clump of nearby trees. He ran into the house and told his wife, Karen, to grab a rake and come help him get the fire under control. Instead, she called the fire department. “What a mess,” says Richard. “Stokesdale’s finest came blazing down the road with sirens blaring and lights flashing.” A nearby neighbor heard the commotion and rode his golf cart over to see what was going on. When he saw what had happened, he sat on the side of the road “laughing his head off.” Brackett says it was more embarrassing than anything. Even so, he says he still hasn’t given up his burning habits. ••••• Valery Kepley’s disastrous DIY project is of a culinary nature. The Oak Ridge resident decided to make her 8-year-old son, Wilson, a gluten-free dessert after he got on Pinterest and found a recipe for a gluten-free, dairy-free Funfetti cake. It didn’t seem very difficult, but she had to invest in special pans and purchase all of the ingredients. She carefully followed the instructions and says the cake itself seemed to be okay. Adding the frosting proved to be her downfall.

“It looked nothing like the cake shown on Pinterest,” says Kepley. As for the taste, Wilson told her “it actually looked better than it tasted.” ••••• It’s not unusual for anyone who rides by Carolyn Brown’s Oak Ridge home to see her outside doing some sort of yard work. An industrious lady, she likes to keep busy and is willing to undertake most any project. One fall afternoon she was blowing the leaves off her sidewalk with an electric leaf blower when she noticed that her roof and gutters were covered with leaves. “I thought it would be fun to get up there and get the leaves off, so I got a ladder and climbed up on the roof,” she says. Shortly after she began, she noticed the ladder was no longer against the roof. At first, she thought someone was playing a joke on her and had moved the ladder. Then she realized the blower cord had actually knocked the ladder over. She didn’t have her cell phone, but fortunately it was Halloween and she was sure some trick-or-treaters would soon come to her rescue. As time passed, it got darker and colder and there she sat. Since no one seemed to be coming, she decided she couldn’t sit up there all night and would have to get down by herself. Using the gutter, she swung down to the outdoor gas furnace and began lowering herself to the ground. “I didn’t know whether the gutter would hold me or not, and I got half-way down, lost my nerve and pulled back up,” she says. “I finally did it and didn’t break any bones. About 20 minutes later the trick-or-treaters showed up.” Brown still likes to remove the leaves from the roof. But these days, she pokes the blower out the upstairs window and stays off the top of the house.

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Spring 2016

Visit us each month First Thursday – Saturday April 7-9 • May 5-7 • June 2-4 July 7-9 • August 4-6 • September 1-3 Photo courtesy of Bob Simpson

326 Litwin Drive, Thomasville • (336) 617-7423 chartreusellc@aol.com facebook.com/chartreusebarn

Mrs. Dwiggins Boarding House served those traveling on the A&Y Railroad between Sanford and Mt. Airy who needed a location for an overnight stay. The date of the photo is unknown.

DOWNTOWN STOKESDALE continued from page 19

Susanna Nunn Insurance Agency Susanna Nunn CPCU, CLU, LTCP

p (336) 993-4600 f (336) 993-4615 605 N Main St, Kernersville

Providing insurance and financial services

www.susannanunn.com

Spring 2016

playground because I was one of five or six boys who were sons of merchants,” Simpson says. “In the ‘40s, on Saturday mornings, there was always a crowd in downtown. The area was filled with family farms, and that’s when people would come to town to do their shopping.” Simpson likens Stokesdale of the past to a mall, because every type of store or service was available in the thriving downtown. Customers supported the three grocery stores in the downtown area, and Stokesdale Commercial Bank was the place to open a savings account or get a loan. New and used cars could be purchased, legal services obtained, and a barber shop and beauty salon catered respectively to their male and female clientele. An ambulance service and funeral home (originally the hotel) were operated by the same person, who assisted local families in both life and death. Simpson says the hearses were outfitted to become ambulances if the need arose.

When Simpson was in first grade, his parents’ home burned to the ground. It was 1944, and local residents worked together for the next several years to form a volunteer fire department. It took 10 years before they could buy a fire engine. Since there was no fire station at the time, the truck was parked beside a service station, which Simpson says was also the local beer joint. The location was logical, he says, since the first fire chief owned the establishment. D.P. Lemmons, a long-time Stokesdale business owner, was the proprietor of a general store on Main Street. Trying to stay current with the times, he eventually added appliances to his merchandise. “You could buy everything there from a spool of thread to a refrigerator,” Simpson says. And even though the town was small, competition existed. A 1955 edition of the Stokesdale Star newsletter, a weekly high school student’s project that lasted about two years, shows Lemmons’ store touting Westinghouse appliances, while Wood Furniture Co. advertised the sale of

continued on page 30

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BATHROOM, KITCHEN TRENDS continued from page 8

more convenient. If you’re replacing cabinets, look for special features your cabinetmaker can build in. Even some do-it-yourself cabinet systems have been updated with storage components, such as pull-out shelves, potand-pan organizers and appliance garages. These features add value to your home that buyers will appreciate. As in the kitchen, adding storage is a trend in bathrooms. If you have room, add a linen cabinet that matches your vanities. Or consider adding a large, eyecatching antique armoire or sideboard to combine style and storage.

SHOWER IDEAS A shower without a door opens up a bathroom. Glass panels uninterrupted by metal components allows for flowing open space. Another trend that will draw a buyer’s interest is a shower

large enough for two, or even making room for a wet room by tearing out the builder-installed garden tub and shower. These shower layouts also may make it easier for buyers to age in place by eliminating barriers to showering.

TECHNOLOGY Like all areas of our homes, bathrooms and kitchens are getting smarter. Smart homes are no longer the things of science fiction, and buyers will be looking for features that keep their homes connected. Give yourself the edge by making “smart” choices when you upgrade appliances and fixtures. Some great options include faucets that come on with the wave of a hand, wireless speakers built in to the shower head, ovens that preheat themselves with the touch of a smartphone button, and refrigerators that tell you when the water filter needs to be replaced. A smart thermostat can help save energy, which will mean savings for you and future owners.

DOWNTOWN STOKESDALE continued from page 28

Philco and Kelvinator appliances. The A&Y’s passenger trains stopped coming through Stokesdale in 1936, but freight trains continued using the track until about 1950. By then, the glory days of Stokesdale may have been realized. An article from a Winston-Salem newspaper, which Simpson believes is from the early 1960s, highlights the replacement of the shed-type awnings and hitching posts in downtown with new, aluminum awnings. “We got tired of looking like Coyote, Wyoming,” one businessman said in the article. “We’ve had them here as long as I can remember, and I’ve been working in stores here for 53 years,” Lemmons said in the same article. Some of the industries that were also located in Stokesdale have gone by the wayside, much like Main Street’s hitching posts, due to the loss of U.S. textile jobs and business mergers. Blue Bell,

which made jeans and sportswear and employed many local residents, was purchased by Wrangler and then closed down in the 1980s. Burlington Industries followed suit years later. Although most of the old businesses are gone, new ones have sprung up. Today downtown is home to accounting and insurance offices, craft and antique shops, a spa, hand-crafted soap maker, and a nonprofit group that wants to revitalize the area. In 1984, The Sentinel, a WinstonSalem newspaper that ceased publishing the following year, published an article on Stokesdale. In it, resident Billy Dee Fulp talked about his town by saying, “When I was younger, I used to think that growth was important. Now I think that if you’re happy the way you are, there isn’t any sense in changing. You’re much better off if you have the good life. That’s more important than having the big life.” Many of today’s Stokesdale residents likely agree.

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Spring 2016

for making this publication possible BUILDING & REMODELING

AB Seed......................................................25

Marshall Stone............................................ 21

Builders MD........................................... 16-17

BEK Paint Company....................................26

Old School Home Repair/Improvements..... 11

Dream Kitchen Builders................................8

Boone Decorative Fabrics..............................7

Piedmont Fence.......................................... 12

Don Mills Builders..........................................5

Carolina Shutter & Blinds............................ 19

Total Bliss.................................................... 14

Greater Greensboro Builders Association.... 15

Chartreuse..................................................28

Gunter Custom Homes.................................3 KC’s Improvement & Construction..............26 Morton Buildings...........................................9 Paradise Decking........................................32

Colfax Lawn Care........................................30 Crystal Clear Window Cleaning................... 14 Eanes Heating and Air Conditioning.............2

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS & SERVICES Ann Powell, Allen Tate..................................8 Bobbie Gardner, Keller Williams..................23 Bobbie Maynard, Allen Tate........................22

INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS & SERVICES

Dede Cunningham, Keller Williams.............22

Gladwell Insurance...................................... 18

Gail Kerber, KERBAPPEALS........................22

Susanna Nunn, State Farm.........................28

Gil Vaughan, Keller Williams.......................22 Julie Olive, Allen Tate..................................23

HHH Hearth Home & Patio........................ 11

MISCELLANEOUS

House of Stars...............................................6

Oak Ridge Historic Preservation..................20

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

John Hall Guttering.....................................27

NWO Real Estate........................................ 31

A Shade Better............................................29

Little Dave’s Landscape Management........ 13

Northwest FINDER...................................... 31

Ramilya Siegel, Allen Tate.............................4

A-1 Copper Roofing......................................6

Maria Adams Designs.................................24

PS Communications......................................4

Sue Hutchinson, RE/MAX...........................22

RS Hopkins Construction............................ 10

A guide to what’s happening right now in our local real estate market

Melissa Shelar, Allen Tate............................22 Nancy Hess, BHHS Yost & Little.................23

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