6 minute read
A Labor of Love
THE ENTRANCE:
The front doors, designed and installed by Ron, are made of 100% genuine Honduran Mahogany.
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A LABOR OF
RON AND LISA BATTEN’S DREAM HOME
story by JOHN RIDDLE / photography by JOY SUMNER PHOTOGRAPHY
The home of Ron and Lisa Batten in Blackshear combines the best elements of a modern, open floor plan with classic design features and traditional southern touches. It is their dream home with great attention paid to every detail, especially the cabinetry. Ron is a master craftsman who owns Ron Dee Cabinets that specializes in custom builds for high-end homes. And, the detailed planning and meticulous craftsmanship show through in every room of the house.
“I had been collecting house plans and images from magazines for years with the hopes of one day building again,” Lisa explained. “We took two house plans to a draftsman who Ron knows. He took our favorite elements from each plan and designed our dream home.”
Those “must-have” elements included a big front porch, four bedrooms with walk-in closets and private bathrooms, as well as an upstairs and a downstairs laundry room. “I was determined that the girls were going to do their own laundry,” Lisa said.
There are three bedrooms upstairs. The two front bedrooms, designed for their two oldest girls, Lexie and Bailey, mirror each other. “I wanted each of the girls to have the same design,” Lisa explained. Their youngest, Brooke, was born after construction began. Her favorite toys occupy the large bonus room above the garage, complete with a kitchenette and television that also serves as the girl’s hang-out space.
One of the areas where the woman of the home traditionally has a long wish-list is the kitchen. Not in this house. “I let Ron have his way with the kitchen design. I knew he was the expert in that area. The only request I had was white cabinets,” Lisa explained. In fact, some of her favorite features are the hidden storage pop-outs and the pot filler at the range, which she didn’t think they needed but that Ron insisted on. “I’m so glad Ron didn’t listen to me and put them in any way.”
ABOVE: Lexie, Bailey, Brooke, Lisa, and Ron Batten with Jasper, their Goldendoodle, and Mattie, their Maltese.
THE FOYER IS INVITING WITH A COZY BENCH AND A SERIES OF VINTAGE TURKISH RUGS. THE TONGUE-AND-GROOVE HEART PINE FLOORS WERE HAND SANDED WITH A CUSTOM STAIN AND SATIN FINISH TOPCOAT. THE COLOR PALETTE FOR THE INTERIOR DESIGN INCLUDES AQUA, NAVY, AND CORAL TO CONTRAST THE WARM FLOORS AND THE WHITE KITCHEN CABINETRY.
For the interior design work, Lisa chose Kristen Boyett with Lott’s Furniture, who helped her develop a warm, inviting feel with the colors she loves.
“Lisa wanted something to contrast the warm, heart pine floors. We chose a color palette including aqua, navy, and coral. These brighter tones add a fresh touch against the crisp white cabinetry and molding. It also highlights Ron’s beautiful woodwork,” Kristen explained.
The furniture is very functional. The sectional and accent chairs allow for plenty of seating in the living room. A wool rug provides a cozy floor space where Brooke loves to play with Maddie, one of the family’s dogs.
“I wanted the great room to be a comfortable and cozy place with a splash of style. We needed enough seating for our family to spread out and relax,” Lisa explained. “This is our fourth set of furniture. I kept trying to give Ron a stand-alone recliner, but it just didn’t work. Kristen solved that issue by choosing a sectional with two wall-hugging recliners that do not interfere with the sofa table.”
The bright white kitchen is the “command center” of the
THE KITCHEN:
The kitchen cabinetry is painted an Oyster white. The island is accented with a darkblue color hand-mixed by Ron. The cabinets feature a beaded face frame with inset doors and drawer fronts. There is an integrated sub-zero refrigerator and dishwasher. A breakfront, with glass doors and LED lighting, separates the kitchen from the great room.
THE DINING ROOM:
The dining room, off the foyer, features a table hand-crafted by Ron from 2-inch-thick quarter sawn white oak with a white painted table apron and legs. The custom draperies and skirted captain’s chairs with coordinating fabrics, and layered rugs were designed to soften all of the wood.
The recessed china cabinet, also built by Ron in the same style as the kitchen cabinets, was another of Lisa’s requests. “I wanted the walking space around the dining table to be free and clear without having to walk around a piece of furniture such as a china cabinet.
THE LIVING ROOM:
Varying styles of artwork and accessories highlight the color palette and keep the living room stylish yet comfortable. The expansive built-in bookshelves provide a place for family photographs trickled throughout the décor. A proud pair of native blue herons are perched above. Pillows are coordinated with each fabric. A sofa table softens the view from the kitchen.
BOTTOM RIGHT:
The back porch opens to the living room for easy flow. Ron handcrafted the tongue-andgroove cypress porch ceilings with the help of his family.
home and is centrally located in the open floor plan. It boasts a large island where the family gathers around appetizers and hangs out while meals are being prepared.
“The most used area of the home is probably the kitchen. We gather around the island for most meals, but we always eat in the dining room for lunch on Sunday,” Lisa said.
The back porch is another favorite spot. “The back porch is where we enjoy coffee on the weekends. Ron also loves to sit out there and listen to the rain,” Lisa said. “When the weather is nice, we open the glass doors to the living room and listen to music from the speakers built into the back porch ceiling.”
Lisa and Ron Batten’s home is a true labor of love both in the planning and installation. All of the cabinetry, interior moldings, trim, treads, stair railing, and even down to the porch handrail and newel posts were made by Ron and installed by him with Lisa’s help. The front doors, which he designed and constructed, consisted of fifty-plus hours of labor alone. “I had no idea there was so much work in constructing two doors,” Lisa deadpanned.
With its full-length porches, spacious floor plan, and inviting flow, the home makes gathering and entertaining enjoyable, especially on holidays and special occasions. But, it’s everyday life in every room that reminds them of the main reason behind their labor of love - their family. OL
THE BACK PORCH: The back porch opens to the living room for easy flow. Ron handcrafted the tongue-and-groove cypress porch ceilings with the help of his family.
