This Southwest Roanoke home’s master suite – inspired by a historic phone booth – is a welcoming retreat with a calming color palette, scenic views and design elements that add character and encourage relaxation.
The story below is from our March/April 2015 issue. For the full story download our FREE iOS app or view our digital edition for FREE today!
The kitchen may be the heart of the home, but for many homeowners, where they lay their head each night is just as — if not more — important than any other room in the house.
When Doug Hyre and Dyron Knick set out to build their custom home in Southwest Roanoke, they drew inspiration from a very unique piece of Roanoke history: an original phone booth from the Hotel Roanoke.
“When the Hotel Roanoke closed in 1989, the fixtures and furniture were auctioned off,” Hyre says. “The owners of the company that I worked for purchased the phone booth and kept it in their home for many years. In 2008 as a result of downsizing, the phone booth and other select furnishings were offered for sale, and it was at that time that we purchased it.” The wood finish and craftsman-style design of the phone booth carries throughout the 3,800-square-foot home, including the master suite.
Upon walking into the master bedroom, you are immediately soothed by the soft blue-gray walls. Two floor-to-ceiling windows offer outstanding views of the Blue Ridge Mountains just behind their home. And their Wheaten terrier, Nelly, is always close by and ready to welcome you.
What makes the space unique is not only the custom-made bedding or the high ceilings. It’s the details. From the clean lines and classic design of the Stickley bedroom-suite furniture to the paneled doors and crown molding, every aspect of the room was chosen with the intention of maintaining a sense of simplicity and character.
Benchmark Builders went above and beyond with the construction of the craftsman bungalow. In an effort to maintain the style of the hotel phone booth, which sits in the foyer of Hyre and Knick’s new home, Benchmark built custom cabinetry for the master bathroom as well as custom organization systems for both walk-in closets, all of which perfectly reflect the style and design of the bedroom suite and the original wood finish of the phone booth.
“We were impressed that the cabinetry emulated the Stickley bedroom furniture,” Knick says. “It tied the spaces together, making the bathroom an extension of the bedroom rather than a separate space.”
The custom cabinetry, however, is not the centerpiece of the master bathroom. Sitting in the very center of the room is a sleek, contemporary Treece Acrylic bathtub from Signature Hardware, a welcome contrast to the otherwise craftsman interior. Knick, an archivist with the Roanoke City Public Library, says the bathtub is his favorite part of the bathroom.
“I have always enjoyed soaking in a hot bath after a long day. The shape and depth of the tub lends itself nicely to this.”
The granite countertops also stand out: unique leather granite from Stone Dynamics in Martinsville. This is one of Hyre and Knick’s favorite features of their new home.
“The organic look and feel [of the bathtub] was the draw for adding a leathered finish to the granite,” Knick says.
Though they moved in only a few months ago, Hyre and Knick are enjoying every aspect of their new home.
“Our previous house was built in 1916, and as you would expect the rooms were all defined by walls and doors which made entertaining a challenge,” Hyre says. “The open concept coupled with the outdoor spaces of our new house allow for a larger gathering space and good flow conducive to entertaining.”
