When you have pets, you look for a home built with texture, pattern and low-maintenance surfaces. This home, nestled into a hill in Loch Lloyd, is owned by Kim and her husband, who share it with two pets — a Maine Coon cat and a Scottish Terrier. The family often entertains company of the four-legged variety: Kim has been a longtime volunteer with a local Scottish Terrier rescue group and has had as many as six terriers staying in her home at once.
The home’s builder, Ryan Ray of Cecil and Ray Homes, moved 750 dump loads to prepare their double lot. The result of so much moved earth is spectacular.
The owners opted for a neutral color palette on both the interior and exterior of the home. A variety of materials enliven shades of cream, beige and gray and give the house a sophisticated vibe.
The living room sets the indoor theme. The glamour of a crystal halo chandelier from Restoration Hardware, the Montpellier oak hand-scraped engineered floors sourced from Kenny’s Tile and the fisheye mirror above the mantle to the wide range of textures and patterns designer Laura McCroskey used to upholster the inviting furniture all make the room comfortable and welcoming.
The homeowners selected Aurea Stone for the kitchen island. A low-maintenance option, Aurea Stone is an engineered product that marries the beauty of natural stone with stain and heat resistance. Set in the island is a Kallista sink complete with a variety of pop-in accessories including a colander holder, a flatware tray for rinsing cutlery and a plantation teak cutting board. The sink itself is slanted, making draining and food removal extra easy.
The home’s neutral color scheme continues to the master bedroom where McCroskey selected an imposing bed from Century Furniture and nightstands from Hickory. She mixed those hard surfaces with a rug reminiscent of pebbles in a stream and a variety of tactile treats — including the smooth delights of a sateen duvet cover and the animal-friendly luxury of a faux fur throw. Sliding French doors open directly onto
the patio.
The master bathroom is spacious and filled with natural light. It showcases a porcelain mosaic floor, walk-through shower, easy-care glass tile and Caesarstone — another engineered stone requiring minimal maintenance.
Also on the main floor is a sitting room that can do double duty as a home office. Papered in a Phillip Jeffries print with custom rivets, the room boasts a vaulted ceiling and stunning views.
A sunroom with natural stone walls and plenty of natural light holds club chairs covered in a wooly fleece that begs for a good book and a cup of tea. The brushed metal of the coffee table and unexpected details like the horse bit at the base of a hide-covered stool create a visually interesting space. The room is further enhanced by its views of the backyard and patio.
The patio uses Arterra porcelain pavers (a material that combines the look of natural stone with the benefits of porcelain) to create a refined outdoor space. The engineered grass surrounding the pavers is perfect for the homeowners’ beloved pooch, and the native Kansas limestone retaining walls create a private oasis.
The swimming pool was constructed with dogs in mind. There is a shallow sun ledge where the terrier loves to lay during the summer. The front of the home has a courtyard with an iron fence so the pets can roam around the front of the home without running away. The artificial grass in the backyard turf is also for the benefit of the animals.
Visible from the pool deck is a feature unique to the house — a screen porch designed for the homeowners’ Maine Coon cat. The screens can withstand cat claws, and a whole wall is dedicated to cat play. If the weather turns cold or rainy, cat doors allow the much loved feline access to the laundry room and heated garage.
The homeowners’ love of texture is also evident on the lower floor. Even the banister — an organic design by local artist Jon Cale — invites touch.
A room dedicated to entertaining mixes velvets, faux fur, stone, a variety of woods, tweed and art, much of it sourced from Eva Reynold Fine Art Gallery. It creates the kind of space where guests long to linger — and maybe even pet the dog.
