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When Scott and Sam decided to build a new home, they knew exactly what they wanted. Living in Asheville, an area that helped establish and still embraces Arts and Crafts design and architecture, they wanted a home that embodied this traditional style, but with a “unique take”.
After exploring numerous options, they were worried their home would look like any other Arts and Crafts bungalow—until the day they noticed the Deltec model home and decided to check it out.
“We were intrigued with the concept of living ‘in the round’ and it really got our creative wheels turning. How about a round Arts and Crafts style home? Now that would be unique,” says Sam. Using their respective interior design and engineering backgrounds, they worked together to design their Deltec home.
One of the distinguishing features that excited them about a Deltec home is the absence of load bearing walls within the interior of the home. This opened up limitless possibilities with space planning and gave them the freedom to place walls exactly where they wanted them, affording them the ability to have a large, open living and dining space with the kitchen overlooking the living area and the mountain views beyond. Sam points out it also gave them the freedom to have fun with unique angles, steering away from the standard square room concept.
They were also excited about the energy efficiency inherent to a Deltec home. They knew Deltec had a long history of promoting green building and new energy-saving technologies and, with the assistance of Deltec’s green technology team, they chose to insulate the home with soy-based foam insulation and thermal pane windows. Additional energy savings came about with the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system, and a Rinnai tankless hot water system. The Varns love burning a fire on cold winter days, which can often be an energy waster. To avoid energy loss here, they installed a QuadraFire glass front fireplace insert with an adjustable fan to force heat into the living space. It also uses additional venting to send supplemental heat to the playroom area below. Scott assured us “We stay warm and cozy on the coldest of winter days!”
As much as they were excited about a round house they felt the need to add an individual touch. Hence the creation of the “tower,” which provides them with a formal entrance to the home, a private office space above, and additional workshop space below.
They used an earth-toned color scheme on the exterior to create an Arts and Crafts feel for their home, which also helps the house to blend in with the surrounding environment. A continuation of these colors on the interior enhances the Deltec quality of bringing the outdoors into your living space. Traditional Arts and Crafts materials were used both inside and out: on the exterior they used cedar shake, board and batten siding, and pebbledash stucco siding (which is only found in the Asheville area). They also incorporated stone work to give the exterior a more organic and rustic appearance. Sam & Scott love the warmth and richness of finished wood, so all trim, doors, and cabinetry are stained, not painted, for the interior. Door styles, hardware and lighting fixtures have elements found in Arts and Crafts design, and since their move three years ago, they have continued to fill their home with functional art, comfortable furnishings and antiques to create a living environment that’s warm, cozy and inviting. Sam and Scott definitely feel they achieved their goal—that of creating a personal living space that is unique in design, yet familiar and comfortable in terms of style.