home of distinction
D
OWN a small gravel
drive, nestled in a
tranquil neighborhood
off Masonboro Sound
Road, is a 1/3-acre lot that makes
up Jay DeChesere and Heather
Smith’s corner of paradise. It’s a
home built for community, nature,
and art.
The dock stretching out into
Whiskey Creek undulates gently,
its new curve a result of Hurricane
Florence reshaping the creek bed.
Two kayaks sit at the ready at the
end of the dock, inviting the home-owners
and visitors to venture out
into the waterway. Looking back
toward the shore, DeChesere points
out the stand of trees where dozens
of white egrets descend to roost
every evening.
There’s a great view of the
egrets and the waterway from the
screened-in porch as well. Screened
on three sides to ensure a good
breeze flows through, the porch
is an extension of the home’s liv-ing
space, a comfortable spot from
which to watch a storm roll in or
share an evening with friends.
One of the most unique fea-tures
of the home is its guest suite.
Situated above the carport, the suite
has its own entrance up wooden
stairs from the ground level and a
second entrance from the balcony
between the suite and the studio
loft. It’s a cozy spot for visiting
friends and family, but Smith and
DeChesere also hope to host visit-ing
artists as well, painters or musi-cians
who might teach classes or
facilitate workshops.
The sleek lines of the modern
industrial farmhouse are softened
by native landscaping and warm
neutrals on the home’s exterior.
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WBM october 2019