Angie Dressman and her fiancé, Blake Shephard, are incredibly busy. With two children, 10-year-old Pierce and 7-year-old Parker, and a baby girl on the way, the couple recently moved into a stunning new home that offers plenty of space for the growing family. “It was already under construction when we purchased it. We loved how the layout would accommodate our family and busy life with kids,” says Angie, “It flows efficiently in the main areas of the home as we come and go from work, school and sports.”
Modern farmhouse with a twist
The new 4,300 square-foot home was built by R.M. Clemens Company on a half-acre lot in the stunning Highview Terrace neighborhood. “We wanted to do a style of home that we’d never done before, so we thought it was a great time to build a modern farmhouse home; it’s the only one of its style in the neighborhood,” says Molly Dullea, the operations manager at R.M. Clemens Company.
From the open floor plan to interior spaces like the kitchen, breakfast nook and great room, this home teems with uniqueness. “The style we tended to lean towards was modern farmhouse but, with styles constantly changing, I didn’t want to be too trendy,” Angie says. “So I mixed in some traditional selections and neutral colors.”
Angie selected a fairly subdued color palette, with paint hues like Sherwin-Williams’ Agreeable Gray and Super White granite kitchen countertops. The kitchen has undoubtedly become one of the home’s most aesthetic centerpieces and gathering places. “I absolutely love the big open kitchen; it truly is the center hub for our life,” Angie says.
“We didn’t want to take up a large amount of space to force a pantry in the kitchen, so we created a built-in pantry cabinet that has drawers and shelving,” Dullea says. “I love the herringbone tile used as the kitchen backsplash, as it adds a modern touch to the timeless white cabinets.”
“The pantry has tons of space: a wine rack on top, tall shelves inside for baking and canned goods, a spice rack on the inside of the doors, and huge pullout drawers that make it convenient for the kids to grab snacks,” says Angie.
Cozy gathering spaces
Angie opted for a breakfast nook instead of a formal dining room to provide “a rejuvenating morning light and a view of the patio and back yard,” she says. But this is just one aspect of the layout that delights her. The wow factor really begins with the front door.
“Once you walk into the entry of the home, you notice all the beautiful windows lined across the back wall. It feels very light, airy and open, which is what I envisioned,” Angie says. “The first room you come to is the living room, which feels very inviting. The fireplace is surrounded by open shelving stained to match the floors and a unique X-beam ceiling gives visual interest to the space.”
Angie decided to go with shiplap instead of traditional stone around the fireplace, since there was already a stone fireplace on the outdoor patio. “I was happy with this decision because it gave balance to the open space as it carried over some of the unique features that matched the kitchen, like the shiplap around the bar island and the marble herringbone backsplash,” she says. “We sit on the patio and enjoy the natural reserves the neighborhood offers.”
Everything about the home’s setup is tailor-made for a family of five. “We love this home because we and the kids have our own spaces,” Angie says. “But it also really gives us a feeling of togetherness.”
RESOURCES Builder R.M. Clemens Company; Residential design Harshman Home Design; Lighting Quorum International; Maxim Lighting; Z-Lite; Factory Lighting; Paint Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray; Flooring Shaw Pantheon HD Plus Fiano LVT, Flooring America; Windows Pella ProLine; Doors Masonite, Wholesale Hardwood Interiors; Fireplace Heat & Glo, Dayton Fireplace Systems; Kitchen cabinetry T-Road Woodworking; Kitchen countertops Super White granite, Distinctive Marble & Granite; Kitchen backsplash Precious Herringbone, Florida Tile; Kitchen sink 36-inch stainless farmhouse, Stufurhome; Kitchen faucet Moen Arbor MotionSense
Article by Abby Weingarten/Photos by Dawn M. Smith
Article originally appeared in Housetrends Dayton – October/November 2019