CityView Magazine

STORY BY KATHRYN GAGE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE COLE, JOHN HALL AND AMANDA SMYTHE

Brad and Jody Spivey are about as unpretentious as any couple could be. Brad greets me from his front steps in blue jeans and tennis shoes with a friendly, “Come on in” and a gesture for me to follow him.  He calls for Jody, and her reply is “Oh no, I’m cleaning and I’m a mess!”  When she appears, she’s tanned to a golden brown, clad in shorts, a tee and flip-flops, and apologizing profusely for an unmade bed somewhere downstairs.

Sounds like regular folks, right?  Yes they are, just as friendly as can be, but there is nothing “regular” about the home in which I’m standing.  As I traveled to Morristown to visit them, the countryside became more rural, quiet, open, green and lush: beautiful East Tennessee farmland.  Then there was the house, grand in scale, behind a stonewall with an iron gate.  Pink petunias in the hot summer sun made the scene welcoming and comfortable, while the circular fountain spraying lofty plumes of water and mist rendered it cool and inviting.

This is a unique home. Architect Stephen Davis has artfully merged scrolling staircases, art niches, bull-nosed corners and seemingly miles of white Botticino marble inlaid with chocolaty brown Emperador accents. Even with immense open areas and vaulting ceilings, the home feels comfortably cozy; the light flooding in gives amazing warmth.  And Brad and Jody, standing there smiling amid it all, make me feel at home at once. This beautiful 15000 square-foot home, sitting on a 26-acre estate, is faced with limestone, brick and stucco, with stunning leaded glass doors.  Its gas lanterns are aged brushed gold, in a subtle floral detail. The home is new, but feels as though it has been part of the land for years.

Brad guides me through the spacious six-bedroom home (with six full baths, three half-baths, and a six car garage) that took five years to complete.  He describes each detail and the thought processes behind it as we walk.  Jody tells me that somewhere during the fourth year she threw up her hands and said, “Brad, take the wheel, I’m done!”  She had only one main request: a GRAND entrance.” And its clear that she got what she wanted.  She also found herself somewhat overwhelmed at the thought of furnishing and decorating such a large home, and was grateful for the assistance of her long time designer Sharon Blair. “Sharon worked with us on three of the homes we’ve lived in previously, as well as our lake house.  She knows me, she knows what I like, and I trust her completely.”

As I look about, I am drawn to the floor-to-ceiling bay windows that grace the far wall, noticing how the light the provide influences the feeling of the rest of the home. The custom designed curving stair, with its exotic Brazilian Kumaro wood treads and ornate ironwork railings, carries the eye upward, and I find myself eager to explore.  To the right is the dining room.  While the couple awaits its furnishings, the custom built-in china hutch with its dark marble surfaces is already a major focal point.  The tray style drawers for sterling are a special addition, and at its center, framed with handsome millwork is a massive built-in mirror.  With the white finish and oversized mirror the feel is almost contemporary, yet still remaining classic and unquestionably elegant. The Bottocino marble flooring, carried through much of the main floor, gives the room a sense of grandeur not often seen.  Says Brad, ”It wasn’t my original intent to use so much marble, but there was no natural break in the flow between spaces, so we carried it through.”  The result is nearly a museum-like quality, yet still warm and comfortable.  A glossy white frieze molding complements the living room trims. Here rectangular moldings are artfully and symmetrically arranged to add visual interest to the soaring space, and to carry the eye upward to the coffered ceiling.  The chandeliers are masterpieces; each selected by Sharon to captivate the eye with light refracted through delicate crystal teardrops.  And most of them can be view close-up from the second level of the home.  The inverted domed acanthus medallions from which they hang are reminiscent of the Renaissance – intricately embossed, patterned and perfectly antiqued with a shimmering copper and bronze glaze.  Artist Regan Hunt, who created all the faux finishes throughout the home, has created a feel that is truly stunning.

Opposite the dining room is the library, a resplendent space awash in a sea of natural cherry wood.  Floor to ceiling cabinetry showcases a handsome collection of leather bound books that the couple has collected, many of them from an old library in Chattanooga, where Jody grew up.  A stately desk and a pedestal globe are the only items in the clean expanse of Kumaro wood flooring.  A winding staircase, matching the one in the foyer, appears to lead to an upstairs nook, but in fact leads to another space containing still more shelving, with interior lighting highlighting the bright white finish.  It also connects with the rest of the second level, where the couple’s 16-year-old son Jake has his room.   Three staircases all converge in the center of the open space, with curves and filigree illuminated by crystal chandeliers: truly a work of architectural mastery. Brad admits to one regret. “We’d planned to build a secret bookcase here, but it didn’t happen. Our son was a little disappointed, he thought it would be cool!”  Still the room is one of Brad’s favorites.

Horse Country
    Brad and Jody originally purchased the property here to raise Tennessee Walking horses.  Brad’s father, an avid horseman, had been in he business for many years and they planned the venture together: to build a barn, buy and train horses, including brood mares, and to raise foals.  Brad, who is employed by a pharmaceutical company, still owns two of the original eight horses, but doesn’t plan to continue the business except to dabble on occasion. “”We have so many memories here already.  My dad loved carpentry so he really enjoyed watching the house come together.”  I asked Brad if he also took a hands-on approach to building the home.  He laughed. “I like to supervise!”

If you’d seen this land before, you wouldn’t have believed it,” says Brad. There were a few falling-down farmhouses and trees, banks and brush that had to be cleared and leveled. But if you can find property to purchase here in Hamblin County, it’s a great investment. It’s very small, land-wise, so availability is limited.”  The county boasts proximity to Panther Creek State Park, Cherokee lake, Cumberland Gap National Park and the Bristol Motor Speedway.

Gracious living
The sunlit living room is spacious and airy. Jody is quick to point out that the furnishing s will soon be changing. “I found exactly what I want in a magazine, and Sharon is helping me pull it together.”  She points out a display cabinet, which houses her collection of biblical statuettes, depicting scenes from the life of Jesus.  It blends beautifully with the stone hearth with dark marble accents that houses the Isokern Fireplace System.  The fireplace is designed with gas logs, but is still able to burn wood if desired.)  And decorative wall panels with shimmering faux copper inlays add depth and warmth.  Above the fireplace is a large, retractable oil painting, which disguises the 50-inch plasma television.

The kitchen, family room and breakfast room all flow together seamlessly. The kitchen’s custom stained woodwork and maple cabinetry blend beautifully with the coffee glazed wall colors.  The stained cherry wood island and range hood are a rich complement. Hardware and fixtures are finished in brushed and antiqued nickel, and the triple bowl sink features a pot-filler faucet.  The countertops are Delicatus granite, and the backsplashes are tumbled travertine marble with pewter tile inlays.  Asked about her cooking prowess, Jody answers wryly, “ Sure, I’m a great cook!  I just haven’t learned to work the stove yet, but I microwave things all the time.  I do enjoy baking though, I guess I bake more than I cook.”

The breakfast area, where the family dines most often, has an old world style table, with high backed leather and brocade chairs.  The table sits in a windowed corner and provides a lovely view of the pool below.  The spacious family room, with stacked stonewalls and a pair of large chandeliers, is warm and comfortable.  The stone hearth sits ready to heat the space on a cold day, and a wall of custom shelving and cabinetry houses a flat panel television.  Wall sconces and luxurious leather seating, along with a large upholstered sectional, give the rooms an old world feel.  Situated in an alcove is a marble-topped bar area with a wine rack, icemaker and wall-to-wall cabinetry.

Even the laundry room puts on a show. Custom maple cabinets with a hand applied coffee glaze, a Swanstone laundry sink, slate flooring and a clever tiled “rug” inlaid near the sink, provide a gorgeous backdrop for mundane chores.

It’s all about compromise
For the master suite, Jody was adamant about plush carpeting.  Brad preferred hardwoods.  No problem. They used both, with an artful curved seam between that adds one more unique touch.  The room balances masculine and feminine touches.  Decorative wall niches flank the entry to the room, and a deeply stained door enhances the beauty of the space.  Delicate lighting beneath the cathedral ceiling adds a restful touch to the space, and a sturdy four-columned bed with silky linens completes the look.  Custom cabinets feature raised panel profiles and French antique glazing. The fireplace (again Isokern) is accented with Bottocino marble in a handcrafted Bombay design. “The craftsman had never done a project like this before,” says Brad. “He meticulously pieced it together at home over a period of weeks before he installed it here on site.”

The adjoining sitting area, separated by French doors, has an octagonal ceiling design with stained woods, custom cabinetry, and exotic hardwood flooring. “We wanted to give the ceilings throughout the house a different look,” says Brad.

The bath is exquisite.  Milky white, with marble, mirrors and light flooding in – it has an ethereal quality.  The floor has an incandescent glow. Tuscan columns flank a dark marble whirlpool tub, which features a chromotherapy option on its handheld remote.  I daydream aloud about an afternoon soak with a good book and a glass of wine.  “Well,” says Brad,” we have never actually used it. But we will.”  He prefers his Bottocino marble shower with Emperador dark marble inlays – less for its beauty than for its steam unit.  Beauty and function.  The cabinets repeat the French antique glaze and are accented with reeded columns and acanthus molding. Countertops are dark marble with antique bronze fixtures.  A multi-level tray ceiling provides options for both task lighting and soft ambient illumination.

The downstairs is really a complete home in itself, and Brad admits. “This is my favorite part of the house.”  I can see why.  It includes a full kitchen with distressed hickory cabinets, a pool table, poker table, and a theater – a haven for the boys.  The stadium style theater smells of new leather and vintage movie posters and film reels decorate the walls. The couple plans to use the area to entertain friends once they are settled, but Jake already makes good use of it. “Jake loves the pool, he loves the theater: We think it’s fantastic that his friends like to hang out here.”  The level also boasts an exercise room, a dry sauna, and soon will have a wine cellar.  “We’re not connoisseurs, but I think it will be neat.”

Accessible by elevator or stairs, there is a mother-in-law suite that is a private, comfortable retreat for Jody’s mother who visits often. This area also has a separate kitchen, with sage toned marble counters.  Multiple bedrooms and baths provide space for guests to kick back and stay awhile.

Soak up the sun
Jody’s golden tan is a testament to the sunbathing potential of the custom pool, designed by local pool gurus, WaterShapers.  The pool and the home are both heated with a combination natural gas/geothermal technology system from Geothermal heating and cooling.  The pool area features a 12-foot waterfall and adjoining hot tub. The organic shaped, saline pool has a slate blue color, making it seem more like a natural pond than a manmade pool. And a nearby outdoors grill and hearthside seating area make for delicious weekends in the sun.  The pool house will doubtless be the site of many parties for Jake and his crew.  It, too, has a full kitchen, a full bath and a delightful outdoor shower.  The pool area is completely as stylish as the rest of the home. Eric Johnson Design designed the stone patio and landscaping.

Taken all together, this home and its surroundings are proof that even the most gracious and stylish space can be comfortably suited to a laidback lifestyle.  As Brad reiterates, “We’re simple people,” and I agree.  The Spivey’s are simply gracious, kind and down-to-earth people, who happen to have incredibly good taste  - reflected in the beauty and ambience of Stone Crest.