The story below is from our May/June 2023 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
Photos By Taylor Reschka
One Hardy property underwent thoughtful yet practical upgrades that adapted the couple’s knowledge into a truly unique home.
When Giovanna Hewitt and Chuck Roylston decided they wanted to relocate to a mountain property, they had a few ideas about what they were looking for. Since they both work from home, they’d need the right ratio of work to living spaces, and while they wanted some land and to be away from the main roads, they still wanted proximity to town.
Finding the balance became the theme of the Hardy property they purchased and renovated in 2021. TBS Construction helped execute thoughtful yet practical upgrades that enhanced the best aspects of the home and incorporated some of the couple’s knowledge and ideas to create something truly unique.
The bulk of the remodel took place in the great room. The former owner ran her medical billing business in the finished attic, which was accessible only through the second-floor bedroom. Giovanna loved the ready-to-use office space but not the awkward entry.
TBS removed almost all of the second-floor bedroom space, creating a two story vaulted great room below. The ceiling received a tongue and groove stained wood to accentuate the space. The staircase, which was previously quite steep, was completely rebuilt to a more comfortable and code-compliant rise. The cable railing added to the stairs and balcony created an open, loft-like vibe, though it necessitated a new front door that could open freely within the new dimensions.
“We went with a more modern look,” Giovanna says.
It was Giovanna who had some rather unusual and technologically innovative plans for the home, some of which were a first for the crew at TBS.
“TBS was really wonderfully flexible,” Giovanna says. As the VP of Sales for Horton Automatics, the creators of the first automatic sliding doors, she had a number of ideas for some technological components she wanted in the home, with her sights set on one feature in particular.
“I always wanted to have automatic doors in my house,” she says.
The three manual sliding doors they added to the house are a remarkable feature, and the installation process was a new challenge for TBS. Typically used in storefronts or for ICU units due to their highly functional breakout feature, it is rare to find this style of door in a residential building.
Lew Hewitt (Giovanna’s father) and Dee Horton set out to design these doors in the mid-1950s when they noticed that swing doors were causing trouble for storefronts in windy Corpus Christi, Texas. The invention revolutionized pedestrian access to businesses, and Horton Automatics has been designing, manufacturing, and selling their automatic and manual sliding doors since 1960.
Giovanna and Chuck ordered the custom doors through Horton, opting for a dark bronze aluminum trim that matched the new stair railing. They replaced two sets of front windows and some French doors in the back. When closed, the doors appear as floor-to-ceiling glass windows, maximizing the mountain views and expanding the great room even further. Open, the doors create an ideal indoor-outdoor flow for easy entertaining, or simply to enjoy the mild and pleasant seasons of the area.
Watching Giovanna engage the breakout feature makes it appear as if she is opening the house’s entire facade. The couple dream of creating a screened-in outdoor deck one day to further enjoy their favorite element of the home.
TBS also installed a new kitchen, removing a wall between the great room and the eat-in area, and in conjunction with ZSM Construction, the hardwood floors were modified with an integrated tile design that they continued throughout the first floor and into the entryway. In the kitchen, Giovanna’s flair for technological details shines.
The smart appliances are all thoughtfully chosen to maximize on functionality while minimizing their spatial footprint. With a modern look in mind, the couple installed a Samsung Flex refrigerator and a Flex Duo smart microwave/oven combo that both allow for selective and adjustable temperature changes. The Delta Voice IQ Faucet is touch activated and can be controlled through Alexa. Demonstrating their flexibility and ability to blend and mix styles, the appliances were all chosen in chrome due to COVID-related supply chain issues, but the hardware they ultimately chose was black nickel.
“We must have looked at 40-50 pieces of hardware before we found this one, and it was just right,” says Giovanna, who thought they would originally go for a champagne color. The faucet is a brushed gold, which they decided was appropriate in the end.
“It is a showpiece!” says Chuck.
But the faucet also offers accessibility that can add significant value to a homeowner planning on aging-in-place. “If someone had arthritis, for example,” Chuck explains, “and had trouble holding a heavy pot and maneuvering the faucet, the voice activation feature makes that easier.”
Another showstopper is the Invisacook induction cooktop. Mounted under a Dekton countertop, the stove is completely invisible, appearing as a slate counter.
“I installed these lights to show where to put the induction pans,” Giovanna says, indicating the strategically placed lasers tucked beneath the cabinets that point to the cooktop. “They’re actually garage lights!”
Unlike marble, granite and other popular countertops, Dekton does not need to be sealed, making it a more cost-effective choice than stones that need initial and then maintenance sealing. It is also highly durable and scratch, chip and flame resistant.
TBS also created a new mudroom, raising it from a previously depressed level and installing a dog shower that the couple jokingly refers to as “Chuck’s shower.” Here they also installed a final sliding door between the mudroom and the garage.
“This is actually the core product that Horton sells,” Giovanna says, indicating an all-glass automatic sliding door. “It’s what you might see in a grocery store.”
“She couldn’t help herself!” says Chuck.
“Since I know how great they are and what they can do,” Giovanna says, “I just always wanted them in my home.”
The couple have continuing plans, including building the deck, choosing new furniture, and finalizing landscaping, but they are enjoying the break for now.
“We were warned that you’ll always be $2,000 away from the next cool upgrade,” Chuck says.
In the meantime, they are working on personal projects and enjoying their one-of-a-kind mountain retreat.
The story above is from our May/June 2023 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
