5 minute read
A Bluegrass Château
Written by Jen Dotson / Photography by Andrew Kung
With one weekend to find a house, Derek and Wendy Weiss ended up with both 16 acres of Lexington’s esteemed farmland and a home nestled in the heart of the city. “We decided we couldn’t pass on such a beautiful piece of property, and we always wanted to build a house to our own taste,” Wendy admits.
Their taste, easily defined as chateau-inspired, topped with a touch of old-world European elegance, could also be described as a daunting task for most design teams. Having lived abroad and in New Orleans, Derek and Wendy meticulously cataloged certain architectural aspects their new home had to include. Gas lanterns, arched wooden doorways, and windows – flanked by hinged plank shutters – and uniform tile roofing with copper trim were just a few aesthetics on the list. “New Orleans was full of gorgeous doors and doorways. We had to incorporate them,” Wendy says.
When the Weisses decided on their design duo – Tom Padgett, Padgett Construction, and interior decorator Shannon Lisk – they knew their château-esque vision would take form. “Padgett is sincere about quality and incorporating our unique design ideas and Shannon is simply phenomenal,” Wendy stated.
The exterior, though stately and prior to the 18th century could have been defined as hôtel particulier, is comfortably warm and family-friendly once inside. The couple had a vision for every room - all 6,500 square feet of finished space - especially the decorative furnishings: French country, old European, and somewhat whimsical.
The ceiling in the dining room, coffered with dark Tuscan antique wood beams, ascends 14 feet high to accommodate the 10-foot-tall arched knotty alder doors and is grounded by two modern high-back tufted wingback chairs discovered by Lisk.
A pair of modern high-back tufted wingback chairs flanking the towering fireplace in the living room and add a perfect dash of whimsy to the formal space.
The ceiling in the dining room is coffered with dark Tuscan antique wood beams.
Another homeowner favorite is the intimate screened porch off the den, strategically placed toward the sunset, thoroughbred pasture, and paddocks. Knowing this would be “Wendy’s Room,” Lisk filled the space with cozy outdoor wicker pieces, a beaded chandelier, candles galore, and an iPod dock with speakers for all of Wendy’s playlists – she admits to “having one for every mood.”
One of the wife’s favorite rooms is the intimate screened porch off the den, strategically placed toward the sunset, thoroughbred pasture and paddocks.
The kitchen’s open floor plan flows gently into the family room and is accented by wallpaper hand-painted to resemble an authentic trowel stucco effect. “This process took a very long time. I think the wallpaper team lived with us for about two months,” recalls Wendy. Decorated with a fleur-de-lis tile backsplash, copper farmhouse sink, and concealed appliances, the kitchen exudes French flavor enhanced by the intricate hand-laid brick flooring creating a comfortable informality suggested by Lisk.
Decorated with a fleur-de-lis tile backsplash, copper farmhouse sink and concealed appliances, the kitchen exudes French flavor enhanced by the intricate hand-laid brick flooring creating a comfortable informality.
The children’s playroom Juliet balcony overlooks the family room, and its wrought-iron adds an elegant contrast to the exposed cedar beams. With the couple’s strict “no built-ins” policy, Lisk discovered a robust handcrafted wall unit constructed of reclaimed French country barn wood, providing ideal symmetry to the room’s focal point: a stunning hand-laid stone hearth and fireplace.
Fresh in daylight and intimate at night, the winding staircase, complete with detailed iron railing, leads the way to the second floor. The stairwell, lined with large rectangular windows and the delicate glimmer of faux gaslight sconces, provides the touch of whimsy Wendy requested.
The guest bedroom graciously greets you at the top of the stairs. Wallpapered to perfection in a powered blue theme, the guest room, outfitted with its personal Juliet balcony, offers pretty and practical touches allowing guests to feel right at home. One must take note of the antique loveseat recovered in rich velvet-lined taffeta and tufted with brilliant crystal earrings, the perfect embellishment. “We entertain frequently and have a lot of out-of-town guests. I want their stay to be perfect. I even keep a baby bed in the closet,” said Wendy.
The children’s rooms, each also with private baths, needed careful attention. Wendy wanted them to be livable yet elegant and transitional with age. Custom pieces such as a white vanity decorated with colorful sections of broken china – 12 additional pieces were scattered throughout the white tile flooring to match the vanity – coupled with purple hues of silk bedding and a dark tiled floor complete with pebble accents against a color scheme of navy and red finished the children’s retreats.
Framing the setting in the first floor master is a set of large Knotty alder doors.
Framing the setting in the first-floor master is another set of large knotty alder doors softened by luxurious curtains opening to a veranda overlooking the saltwater pool and raised hot tub, complete with fountain. “We keep the hot tub open yearly. It is great in the winter and a nice treat for guests.” Keeping with their desire for an adult sanctuary, the spacious master bath offers a standing shower, separate vanities, two cedar-lined walk-in closets, and two toilets. “There are some things I just don’t like to share,” admitted Wendy. Stealing the show is the custom porcelain claw-foot whirlpool tub, imported from Sweden.
Imported from Sweden, the heated whirlpool spa in the master bath mimics a vintage claw-foot tub.
The mudroom, strategically connected to the butler’s pantry, incorporates the laundry room, offering what Wendy describes as total efficiency. “Presents can be wrapped, laundry can be folded, and since we added the copper prep sink and refrigerator, food can easily be prepped.”
The sense of whimsy and architectural creativity carries throughout the rest of the home with the brick composite turret, porte-cochère, seven fireplaces, 60 light dimmers, and garage space for six cars. No stone was left unturned and in tandem with the couple’s formal yet inviting style, the details work to ensure one thing: the right design duo makes all the difference.
A typical weekend for the Weisses includes entertaining overnight guests, swimming, and fishing in the stocked entrance pond with perfectly poised weeping willows and a spectacular floating fountain. Surrounded by neighboring horse farms and Elkhorn Creek, Derek and Wendy agree, “The scenery is amazing from every angle."
