Dennis and Diane O’Brien’s search for a work- and maintenance-free home led them to Truberry Group’s Ferndale, a generously sized villa with a wide-open main floor.

 

The Dublin empty nesters had been using only the first floor and finished basement in their two-story residence and decided they wanted a home without the second floor all together.

 

They also were giving up a second residence in Florida and wanted a health club, spa and social center easily accessible. The upshot: a stand-alone one-floor plan in Cortona Villas where they are beginning to enjoy the amenities of Corazon Club & Spa.

The O’Briens worked with Truberry planners to shape the home they wanted in the development where they have found friendly neighbors of similar interests.

 

Starting at the arched entry, they selected a solid mahogany door with fluted glass around it. Since they selected the model because of its openness, the O’Briens chose to open their home even more by eliminating two walls for what was to be an office to the right of the entry.

In the open space is their dining room that also opens to the great room. On that side, they added round, white pillars that create an air of sturdiness and an invisible wall for the comfortable area.

 

To the left of the entrance, they transformed a planned den into a spare bedroom that includes features they put in place throughout the home: wall shelves or niches molded into walls and used for decorating; custom-built closet interiors with shelves, open storage compartments and conveniently-placed hanging rods; and rounded rather than squared protruding wall corners. In an adjacent full bath, they selected a granite sink top and travertine, a stone-base tile-like material for the floor.    

To capitalize on the openness they treasured in the window-walled great room, they selected maple flooring from the entry to the kitchen and dining area and plush white pile carpet elsewhere. Rather than a traditional island, they chose a counter that’s angled to create a separation between the kitchen, adjoining eating space and great room. It has three-stool seating on one side.

The kitchen was custom built using black granite tops and maple cabinets with contemporary hardware compatible with stainless appliance fronts. The exception is the dishwasher, which has a maple-covered door. Cabinet doors have panels of the same fluted glass that’s around the front door.

They used adult-height base cabinets and stacked 36- and 15-inch wall cabinets that extend nearly to the 9-foot ceiling where they are topped with crown molding. The microwave is built-in at countertop level. A television is on an eye level niche rather on a countertop. Diane selected a five-burner gas range top and a unique commercial-grade exhaust hood. Double convection ovens are built in one wall.

 

The outdoors is close at hand out of the great room windows. They overlook a natural area that will remain in perpetuity and separates the O’Briens from other residences well off in the distance and not visible in warm months.

 

The kitchen eating area opens into a sun room, standard for the model.

The O’Briens decided on a slightly smaller opening to allow another pair of columns to compliment the pair in the dining room.

The rear of the home is U-shaped with the sunroom on one side and the master suite on the other. An elevated stone and paver patio fills the space outside of the window wall. It’s accessible from the sunroom and has the same floor level.

 

For the master suite, the O’Briens took advantage of ample square footage. They have space in the bedroom for a comfortable seating area rather than having it separate as in their other home. The elongated bathroom area was changed considerably by eliminating a Jacuzzi, something they never used. That allowed a much larger glass shower with a bench on one end, where water can be directed from three shower heads in the wall. They also enlarged the linen closet and built in laundry and dry cleaning hampers. Twin sinks in a granite top are separated by a section that’s at vanity rather than adult height. The floor is heated.

 

The O’Briens share the large walk-in closet, which also was custom built by Truberry carpenters. Storage is arranged so that nothing is on the floor. Rods are placed to take into account that Diane usually wears pants suits and hangs few dresses.

 

Opposite the suite is the laundry room, enlarged to allow a large front loading washer and dryer, a row of wall cabinets and a utility sink with a granite top.

 

From the great room, stairs with maple rails lead to the lower level. The rails extend across part of the room. Rather than spindles, Diane designed and carpenters built a geometric lattice that is painted black to pick up the black kitchen accent.

 

In the lower level, one large room is finished for television viewing. Off that room is a small “kid’s bedroom.” Another room is an office the two share. A traditionally finished bath is nearby. Dennis said they wanted one away from the main entry because he often uses somewhat unsightly paperwork and he wanted to be able “to shut the door and walk away.”

 

Because they expect to use fitness facilities at Corazon, they replaced a bonus room that was used for exercise equipment in their former home. Instead, they created a set aside of the main seating area for an indoor golf range, a treadmill, a television and a tanning booth.

Diane says the couple has enjoyed a “tremendous transition” meeting neighbors who are similarly situated and with whom they have become friends. They’re looking forward to Corazon as it swings into full operation, and that includes restaurants and meals there with their neighbors.

Duane St. Clair is a contributing writer for Luxury Living Magazine.