BLACK HOUSE White House

STORY BY LIESEL SCHMIDT PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUMMER DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

They say that not everything is black and white. But in the case of the Little home in the Verandas subdivision of Fairhope, it’s all black and white.

The classic modern farmhouse stands one-story high, clad with bright white Hardy plank and white painted brick that stands out against the accents of the massive black shutters, black French doors, and custom-built black sliders that accent the center front entry doors running along the front facade. A large front porch offers a welcoming place to sit, and metal accents on the front porch roof which are complimented by metal accents over the front windows and three-car garage.

Built in 2020 by ARK builders and slated to be their Parade of Homes entry for 2020, the house was almost complete when Garry and Kim Little signed a contract on the home in August of 2020 and moved in on October 30, 2020. They worked exclusively with Ron and Amy Cuny (ARK Builders) to complete the interior and exterior finishes of the 3,062 square foot home. What they achieved matched the exterior aesthetic—a modern farmhouse style with clean lines and white painted nickel gap complimented by provincial English oak flooring and comfortable, inviting furniture. Charles Phillips accent pieces and a unique pantry door provide a contrast of warm wood tones with rustic charm.

The home itself is spacious, comprised of four bedrooms; three and a half baths; a three-car garage; a flex room; foyer; mudroom; large open concept kitchen, dining room and living area; and a Gunite pool that was added after the Littles closed on the house. “The first thing that people notice when they come to the house is the attention to detail,” says Kim, who retired from a career in retail sales and management, while Garry is a retired Special Agent in the Air Force. “As you enter the home, you’ll see beautiful Chicago brick on each side of the foyer and black metal framed glass sliders. The great room is both inviting and cozy, with a beautiful Chicago brick fireplace, floating wooden shelves, transom windows above the door openings, and a warm coastal palette. Most people are immediately drawn to the 12-foot sliding glass doors that lead to the large rear patio and pool, where we also have motorized retractable screens. As you step down into the pool area, a retractable Sunbrella awning provides 300 square feet of shade.” theverandasfairhope.com

The Estates at The Verandas, 3-5 acre estate lots on rolling hills for Custom Homes only.

The Estates at The Verandas exceeds expectations.

I will exceed your expectations as your real estate professional for ALL your real estate needs. I make the entire process of buying and selling real estate SIMPLE, EASY, and FUN...just like it should be!

Michelle Bigler

Associate Broker

251-367-1111 michelleDbigler@gmail.com

Wise Living Real Estate

MichelleBigler

MichelleDBigler

As beautifully appointed as the home is with its many design details, the kitchen is naturally a showstopper. Boasting custom white double hung cabinets, the kitchen is an echo of the home’s exterior—all white save for accents of black in the vent hood and the spacious center island. Leathered granite countertops with muted gray and black veining compliment the contrasts of black and white, and the undermount farmhouse double sink in the island features a black faucet. Stainless steel appliances include a six-burner gas top range and French door double oven, with a pot-filler mounted over the range. Three glass pendant lights are suspended from a nickel gap ceiling that extends to the dining area, where an antique German dining table is offset by a large Arhaus crystal chandelier. On the opposite end of the kitchen is a spacious walk-in pantry with a custom Charles Phillips door as well as a coffee bar with free floating wooden shelving from Charles Phillips. The backsplash features grout-less glass tile that flows into the pantry and coffee bar, and a century-old wooden beam sourced from a warehouse in Chicago extends across the ceiling in the great room to provide a visual delineation between the two spaces.

This being the home that the Littles have retired to, the master suite has been designed as the perfect retreat space—starting with the hallway leading to the master bedroom, which has crystal wall sconces, rustic shiplap and a slider door to the laundry room. Inside the generous master, you’ll find a nickel gap feature wall with a Charles Phillips accent piece and soft white toned furniture accented with a small seating area and bench. A custom slider leads into the spacious bath, where a claw foot tub is prominently featured under the glow of a beautiful upside-down tree chandelier from Arhaus and offset by a feature wall. Separate custom white vanities with gray granite countertops and white porcelain sinks are anchored by two-foot by four-foot gray slate tile flooring, and a zero-entry walk-in shower with rain garden shower head and separate wand providing a spa-like feel. Black metal mirrors and lighting enhance the white spaces of the bathroom, and a pocket door leads to a massive “his and hers” walk-in closet with custom built shelving, vanity, and storage. Another pocket door leads to the adjoining laundry room, which is finished with leathered granite countertops and a white porcelain sink as well as an ironing and folding station with a matching granite countertop.

“God had His hands on us in finding and creating this home,” says Kim. “We originally were going to settle in Florida near Destin, as we were once stationed at Eglin AFB and liked the area. However, when it came time to start looking, we couldn’t find anything we liked. We stayed with our long-time friends in Mary Esther, Florida, who told us to come visit Fairhope. We did—and that ended our search in Florida. We love this community, so as much as we enjoy being retired, we have found several ways to give back. We’re active in a small group at 3 Circle Church, and we volunteer at Thomas Hospital by driving the golf carts once a week. Garry is also involved in Vet Connect at 3 Circle Church, and he serves on the U.S. Armed Forces Honor Guard of Baldwin County, which provides military honors at Veteran funerals and civic events in Baldwin County. It has been amazing to make this house—and this community—our home.”

14625 RIDGE ROAD SUMMERDALE, AL 36580

$2,495,487

The pinnacle of luxury meets Fish River. This stunning 3157+/- square feet home sits on (3) acres on a private cove with over 200 feet of water frontage that does not flood. The home was completely renovated in 2022 with over one million dollars spent to complete this masterpiece. As part of the renovation, a fully enclosed (high strength screening) gunite infinity pool which is heated and decked with travertine was constructed. As you make your way down to the water and the large dock, you are greeted with a quaint pier house with amazing views. Moving inside, you are welcomed by an inviting open area with (10) foot ceilings and (8) foot doors along with whitewashed white oak floors throughout. The living area includes tastefully done built-in bookshelves on either side of the wood burning fireplace. The formal dining area is masterfully put together with House of Hackney wallpaper. The kitchen boasts custom cabinetry adorned with Cotswold Green, and the stunning quartz countertops are illuminated by (3) island pendant lights. The kitchen features a panel front refrigerator, panel front dishwasher, double oven, and an induction cook top from Bertazzoni. The large walk-in hide-away pantry accents the kitchen subtly while providing efficient and adequate space. The large primary suite provides independent French door access to the pool area. The en suite bathroom includes custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, marble floors, Triton subway tile, a frameless glass shower door and a beautiful cast-iron soaking tub. Every detail in this home was carefully thought out down to the finishing touches. The built in bookshelves in the living area as well as the cabinetry in the kitchen and primary suite bath are accented with hand finished Armac Martin hardware made of solid brass.