This is another entry in a series of posts titled “open house” in which we offer photographic tours of selected projects.
In Frances Mayes’ book Under The Tuscan Sun, the protagonist of the story finds herself renewed after the impulsive act of purchasing and restoring a villa in Italy. This house’s story was not one of wanderlust but of roots; our particular hero built this home with his deep roots in a bucolic North Carolina town. His head and heart, however, were high in hills of Tuscany. Perched atop a ridge on a rolling foothill, this house appears almost as a little Italian village. The reason for this is due to the fact the design is broken down into rambling buildings. All these gather round in conversation, creating and witnessing outdoor spaces outfitted to enjoy the temperate North Carolina weather. Masonry stucco, reclaimed clay tile shingles and cut Indiana limestone accents are the key materials on this house – all allowed and encouraged to patina with time. The masculine interior is lined with pecky cypress, a lovely and versatile material with the benefit of built-in ravage.
Finding oneself was not the journey of this house and its travel-savvy owner. Rather, celebrating the distinctly beautiful Italian lifestyle was the path that was sought and won.
Faithfully,
Greg Tankersley for McAlpine Tankersley
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