City Living features a Castle of Ones Own
Read the full article at CityLifestyle.com.
Downsizing does not mean living without luxury.
Empty nesters Chad and Jill Wright were looking for a home that would fulfill their needs now and in the future. A smaller place where they would not have to worry about climbing stairs but still large enough to host family and friends.
“Most days, it’s just my husband, myself, and our Labrador retriever,” says Jill. “But on the best days, our daughters, son, son-in-law, and three more dogs occupy the home.”
In order to get exactly what they wanted, they hired custom-home builder Castle Homes in Brentwood. “Many of our clients want an empty nester home that is very well appointed with high-end finishes and high-quality natural materials like we put into this house,” says Alan Looney, its president and founder.
He and his team of project managers, interior designers, a VP of production, an estimator, and others collaborated with Glenn Oxford of Oxford Architects, landscape architect Daigh Rick Landscape Architects, and Rozanne Jackson with The Iron Gate to bring the couple’s vision to life.
“Castle Homes worked side by side with our architect and design team to create something really special,” says Jill. “There were times when something looked good on paper, but the knowledge and expertise of the Castle team assured that it actually looked good and functioned well in reality. The functionality of the home took center stage in the design process.”
Since the home needed to be a fundamental gathering space for the family, Jill and Chad wanted the primary living areas open and centrally located and preferred the bedroom suites away from one another for privacy.
The modern and sleek kitchen includes a huge island with seating for six. “I am also really loving having a back kitchen,” she says. “Having the extra space to prep and clean up and then close a door has helped decrease the stress of entertaining in an open space.”
The total square footage of the home, including the basement with its yoga studio and workout room, is just shy of 4,000 square feet. “It’s in a gated community and tucked away on a ridge in Williamson County, right in the middle of nature and very peaceful,” says Alan. “They chose to build in that location because they wanted to feel connected to nature.”
Adds Castle Homes’ interior designer, Lexi Lange, “They wanted everything to be very earthy and to kind of bring nature inside with the big windows and a lot of stone and natural materials flowing from the outside.”
Indoor/ outdoor living was a key focus for the couple. “The indoor/ outdoor aspect of the home really allows the space to expand and contract as we need it,” says Jill. The backyard is like their own private little resort with lovely trees, a pool, and a patio with a fireplace.
She adds, “Designing and building a home is not for the faint of heart and Castle Homes was organized and engaged for every step of the process.”
Alan says the company’s design process sets them apart from other builders. “Being a design-build firm allows us to appropriate the right amount of time on the front end of the design phase, working with clients’ architects to pull together the plans and price every little item and detail so there are no surprises at the end.”
He explains that many companies still follow traditional methods, which can lead to challenges in the process. “Probably 97% of companies still build on a cost-plus basis. They don’t really do a thorough estimate on the front end and instead do a kind of a guesstimate, and then they have massive overruns.” This results in very unhappy and frustrated clients.
“We’re proud of what we do whether it’s a high-end custom home design-build, a big remodel, or an addition,” says Alan. After being in business for 30 years, he still gets excited about and enjoys the whole process. “It’s amazing how at the very end it all comes together and just looks spectacular.”
“It’s amazing how at the very end it all comes together and just looks spectacular.”
