69 Above: Industrial meets refinements throughout the Batson home, expressed on the second floor porch with exposed I-beams, finished with polished epe floors. Glass panels beneath stainless steel handrails allow unobstructed views of Lees Cut. Opposite: Mark and Kelly Batson selected contemporary chandeliers for their home’s interiors. The primary staircase balances their modern and traditional tastes. The gardens buffer the ground level outdoor space. Batson says surprisingly it is what’s favored most by his family instead of the upper decks he thought would see more use. It’s human nature, he explains, to want to be nearest to the water’s edge. Under a cantilevered canopy of decking material and exposed beams, cushioned all-weather wicker furniture is grouped near a studded bar built-in and a sandy fire pit that doubles as a play area for the Batsons’ youngest four-year-old family member. Two upper floors are cantilevered above ground in a rever-sal of the stacked wedding cake elevation typically seen in new Wrightsville Beach architecture. “Basically the whole house was rebuilt,” Batson says. “The only reason we kept it the way it was, was so we could grandfather this ground floor.” The ground floor can be accessed from two points of entry: through the front door and foyer or via the outdoor living area. Inside, cozy upholstered furnishings surround a fireplace hung with family portraits. Large plate glass windows welcome the water views that compete with a flat-screened television, a project table and a home office suite. The laundry/kitchenette and powder/shower are also convenient to the indoor/outdoor gathering area that may be sequestered behind a barn slider or open to the core ten front door/foyer. The interior stairs ascend to the primary living and dining rooms on the second level and the marriage of ornate www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
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