water-conscious retreat
being
the first WaterSense
certified home in North Carolina places Iain and Becca Fergusson’s
Whiskey Creek house on the shortlist for one of the most water-
conscious homes in the area. All water appliances and fixtures are
certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s
WaterSense initiative, which DeChesere says is a rigorous process.
The solar hot water system was specifically designed to use the least
amount of water.
Every plank of the pine wood flooring came from the trees that
stood on the lot. The milled and finished lumber that came only
from the land where the home now stands provides a rustic base for
this environmentally conscious family.
“We definitely think being green is important, and we planned
on this being our forever home so we wanted to use things that
would last, were better quality and less impact on the environment,”
Becca says.
The kitchen island is also the product of repurposed, hardy
materials. The builder used discarded shells from an oyster roast
hosted by the Fergusson family to create one of the first kitchen
countertops his company made from shells and concrete. The
finished product is just as durable as concrete. For every square foot
of oyster and concrete countertop Christopher Building Company
manufactures, Bill Christopher says the company donates $1 to the
North Carolina Coastal Federation. Like the dynamic of an oyster
roast, Becca says everyone tends to gather around the kitchen island
when guests drop by.
“The way it is set up people just come in and sit here, and
I’m always cooking,” she says. “It’s breakfast, lunch and dinner
over here.”
Polished concrete countertops frame the rest of the kitchen, with a
color pop of sea foam green from the Viking oven and electric range.
“I just loved the look of the concrete with the thicker façade
showing and it is such a cool product,” Becca says.
Above the range, transparent subway tiles form the backsplash. Energy
Star appliances were also used along with low VOC paint throughout
the entire home.
Looking through the kitchen windows, the close proximity of
trees and the neighboring creek illustrates how this home coexists
with nature.
33
green grass and high tides forever
With a countertop made from recycled oyster shells and concrete, the
kitchen island serves as the gathering place for the family and guests.
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