They say inspiration can come from anywhere, and for this family of five living in Greater Dayton, the inspiration for their dream home came from the mountains of Colorado. After spending multiple vacations skiing the slopes of this state, the family fell in love with the mountain-style homes they saw there.
Wanting to bring a piece of that rustic elegance back to Ohio, the homeowner began her own visionary journey, meticulously collecting photos and references as her North Star. To pull all these elements together, she partnered with Dan DeVol of Daniel DeVol Custom Builder and his team of expert craftsmen.
“When it came time for my team to join, the homeowners already had a clear idea about what they were looking for,” DeVol explains. “We specialize in helping our clients select the right materials that bring their vision to life.
Carefully crafted
The home’s exterior is framed by real stone, which is then carried inside throughout the kitchen and great room. DeVol sourced the stone from out of state to get the precise color needed for the project. Hand-scraped maple hardwood floors, and custom millwork throughout the home further embrace the natural design.
The kitchen features an array of materials and textures, combining contrasting wood, stone, and metal into a harmonious fusion. The farmhouse sink, which looks as though it was dropped in directly from one of the homeowner’s inspiration pictures, is custom-made of copper. This metal acts as an accent theme in the kitchen, culminating in the hand-made hammered copper range hood.
An entertainer’s haven
At first glance, the bright kitchen, spacious great room, and sunny outdoor space might feel like the go-to place for entertaining, but the family’s secret showstopper is their wine cellar and basement bar.
Thanks to the couple’s many trips to California, their wine collection has grown extensively over the years, resulting in a need for storage. “The interior of the wine cellar is lined with reclaimed barn wood for a rustic touch,” DeVol says. “We coupled that with a modern display structure that showcases each wine label so they can really absorb their collection.”
A large glass window looks out over the rest of the bar which is made from white oak. The bar is finished with a custom countertop and features ample storage for everything from spirits to specialty glasses.
Fit for function
A functional layout was key for this family, ensuring each room had a purpose and they had plenty of places to relax.
The kitchen touts a hidden walk-in pantry with an oversized lazy Susan, while built-in storage keeps countertops free from mess and clutter. And, to stop any potential clutter before it enters the home, a mudroom lines the garage entryway with designated locker-style cubbies for each of their children.
A combined laundry-office-craft room serves as a catch-all for the family’s day-to-day activities, while the upstairs level serves as a playground for their three children. The space was intentionally made versatile enough to grow as they did, supporting their changing hobbies and interests. The dance studio, a once-popular place for their children to practice their dance and cheer routines, has since been transformed into the preferred dressing room for school dances, while the craft room now often serves as a mess-free nail salon.
Soak up the sun
Another favorite is their expansive back yard, complete with a two-story outdoor living space, a
pool and hot tub, and backyard bar. The pool, with its stone wall and waterfall, is a popular spot
for their kids and their friends. The stone wall is often used as a jumping point, while the hot tub
makes the outdoor space enjoyable year-round.
“If we’re not in the kitchen, we spend a lot of our time outside. No matter where we start in the
house, we always seem to end up out there,” the homeowner laughs. “One of the reasons we bought
our land was for the sunsets, so whether we’re lighting a bonfire or having a glass of wine, we’re
probably ending our days outside.”
The landscaping was carefully chosen by Doug Rhinehart and his team at Grandma’s Gardens
to balance the need for easy maintenance with regional suitability. Again, referencing their rustic
vision, aspens and similar plants surround their home, bringing a bit of Colorado into Ohio.
An extended family
“I worked with Dan and his team almost every day for two years, so it got to the point where they all felt like family,” says the homeowner.
One key member of the “family” was Bruce Landes, who worked on the DeVol team as their cabinetmaker for close to 20 years. “Bruce was brilliant; I’d bring the wildest ideas to him, and he was able to run with them and bring back something better than I had ever imagined,” the homeowner reminisces. Bruce passed away in May of 2022, but his knowledge and keen eye are still celebrated in the family’s dream home.
Today, the family makes great use of every room in the house, enjoying both solo time in their individual spaces and time together outside or in the great room.
“Designing and building our dream home is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” the homeowner proudly shares. “I wanted to create something timeless for our family, and now we get to live in something we love for years to come.”
RESOURCES
Builder Daniel DeVol Custom Builder Architect Gay Mercer Designs Kitchen designer Farrington Woods Landscape designer Doug Rhinehart, Grandma’s Gardens Lighting Ferguson Painting Sherwin-Williams Furniture Linda Haines, Today’s Home Interiors Flooring Louisville Tile Windows Pella of Dayton Doors DeVol Millwork Fireplace Dayton Fireplace
KITCHEN
Countertops Pietra Natural Backsplash Louisville Tile Sink Hammered copper, Ferguson Faucets Brizo, Ferguson Appliances Thermador, Appliance Gallery of Dayton
BATHROOM
Countertops Pietra Natural Sink Kohler, Ferguson Faucets Newport Brass, Ferguson
Article by Sydne Santo | Photos by Aaron Farrier
Article originally appeared in July 2024