Nestled at the top of White Oak Mountain on two adjoining lots is the home of Larry and Gail George. Following a steep climb to the top of their driveway, guests are greeted by a grand entrance and spectacular views.
Entering through the front door, a large and open living area can be seen past a beautiful open spiral staircase. As you enter the living room, a huge block of windows reveals a spectacular view of the Tennessee Valley and many Chattanooga landmarks, including the Tennessee River and Chickamauga Dam. Turning to the front of the home, other large windows provide spectacular views of the Smoky Mountains. The views, no matter the season, are breathtaking.
Larry and Gail George have lived in the Chattanooga area for 16 years. Larry is a financial advisor with George Financial. Gail taught middle school for 10 years at Boyd-Buchanan School and then dedicated her time to caring for her home and family, as well as working with several non-profit agencies in the community. The Georges have three grown children; Dallas and Dillon both work for George Financial, and Jessy, their daughter, is studying dentistry at the University of Tennessee at Memphis. They also have three grandchildren ranging in age from one to four-and-a-half years old.
“Our first house was in Mill Run, and when they first started putting this neighborhood in, we would walk up here at night and look at the lights and the scenery,” says Gail. “We just fell in love with it. I wasn’t sure if we would ever be able to move up here, but it was a dream of ours. My husband made a career change about 11 years ago and once that happened we were able to look at getting a lot up here; that is when we built the first house.”
The family’s first residence on White Oak Mountain was next door to their current home, which they moved into about a year ago. Gail explains, “We moved into the first house when the boys were gone and we just had Jessy at home. Then, instead of the family getting smaller, it got bigger because our children got married and had kids of their own. I decided I wanted more room. We chose to build next door because it is convenient and it’s a little higher in elevation. I just wanted to have a little more space inside for when everybody is together.”
Creating a house that met the George family’s needs was no easy task. Gail really wanted the house to be centered around the spectacular views that the lot offered. They couldn’t find a house plan that fit the bill, so Gail took it upon herself to design something that worked. She made a sketch of what she wanted and took it to a home designer who turned it into a workable floor plan. She then placed their trust in Bill Worley of Bill Worley Construction to build their home. Known for his attention to detail and dedication to building homes that people dream of, Worley was up to the challenge.
The result is a home that is, quite literally, surrounded by windows that offer incredible views no matter where you are. “Every room in the house, except the sauna room, has a window,” says Gail. “We wanted that to be a central part of every single room.”
One of Gail and Larry’s favorite parts of living in a home with such incredible views is watching the sunrise and sunset from the comfort of their own home. Gail notes, “I love the mornings and walking from the master bedroom, which is at one end of the house, to the kitchen, which is at the other, and looking to the left and seeing the sunrise through the windows of every room. In the evening, we see the sunset on the other side of the house.”
This is something that the Georges have the pleasure of enjoying every day and they try not to take it for granted. Gail says she is constantly amazed at the beauty that surrounds her and is very grateful for the privilege to live in a home that allows her to incorporate that beauty into her everyday life.
The Georges clearly accomplished their goal of making the sweeping views the centerpiece of their home, but this was only the beginning. Gail had lofty goals for interior design. “What I really wanted to accomplish with this house was to make it elegant enough so that we could entertain, but comfy and casual enough so that our grandchildren know that they are welcome to play and make themselves at home, no matter which room they are in,” says Gail.
To help her accomplish this, Gail enlisted the help of interior designer Marchel Robinson who she praises. “She did our other house for us and she is very good about getting to know you and finding out what you like,” she says. Robinson left no detail to chance.
Gail’s goal of creating an elegant yet comfortable atmosphere is apparent as soon as you walk in the door. The house is warm and welcoming. Even the formal living area, which is the first room you walk into after the foyer, is filled with comfortable seating options that compel any guest to relax and enjoy the view.
The house is filled with many personal touches. The piano room, for example, is decorated with Gail’s mother’s furniture, as well as a player piano. A wedding photo of the happy couple sits atop the piano. Gail explains the nostalgic significance of the photo in that particular room, “Larry and I got married on this furniture.” Across from the piano room is a library that features a wide variety of books that the Georges have accumulated over the years through their travels.
The master bedroom is at the end of the hall on the first floor. The centerpiece of the room, aside from the incredible view, is the ornate four-poster bed. Gail picked out the bed herself, as well as the bedding which ties in nicely with the blue walls, Gail’s favorite color. Like the rest of the house, the master bedroom is elegant and comfortable.
Attached to the master bedroom is the master bath. Painted in the same soothing blue color, the master bath is a sprawling room featuring a garden tub, a sizable modern glass-enclosed shower, and dual vanities flanking the entrance door. The view, even from the bathroom, is nothing short of extraordinary, and it is easy to see how one could enjoy taking a hot bath or shower in this welcoming space.
As you walk to the south side of the house, you pass the formal dining room, an elegant room featuring lovely coffered ceilings and a fully decorated table. Just past the dining room is the kitchen, a room that the Georges spend a great deal of time in.
Designed by Classic Cabinetry, the kitchen has ample cooking space featuring top-of-the-line appliances and cabinets provided by Classic Cabinetry. With breathtaking views, a casual dining room and sitting area adjoin the kitchen. A glass door opens into a screened-in porch that leads to the open back patio. A warm blue color dresses the kitchen area. “The color was a big decision in here,” Gail says. “Blue is my favorite color and it is really unusual to do in a kitchen. I love the way it ties into the view though.”
Gail explains their evening ritual in the kitchen area, “When Larry comes home in the evenings, we like to relax. I turn the player piano on in the piano room and have dinner ready, and we take some time to sit and enjoy ourselves. If it is warm, we’ll sit outside with our coffee. When it is cool, we will sit in the kitchen or the sitting area and talk, read, or watch TV.”
The upstairs features three bedrooms with baths, as well as one large living area that the Georges refer to as the “Grandkids’ Room.” It is a casual, carpeted room that includes a custom-built, two-level playhouse designed for the grandchildren.
A trip to the basement reveals a large open living area, theatre room, guest bedroom and small kitchen. With a fireplace in the center, the living area has the feel of a hunting lodge with deep, rich colors and creative western-style decorations. The mantles on either side of the center fireplace were custom made for the home out of cedar wood. Of all of the living areas, this one is where the George family spends the most time. The Georges like to use this space when they have family over, as well as when they entertain.
Next to this living area is the movie theater room. Designed and installed by Allwired Technologies, this room features comfortable seating for seven in plush recliners, a big screen television and an elaborate speaker system. A remote-controlled custom-lighting system creates the perfect movie theater atmosphere. The theater room also features a large window with an impressive view. It is difficult for one to imagine a better setting to watch a movie.
The basement living area opens to a large outside deck that features plenty of seating, a beautifully designed pool, incredible views and a hot tub. When the Georges entertain in the warmer months, the crowd tends to spill out into the outside space to enjoy the views, pool and sitting areas. Despite the cool Tennessee winters, Larry and Gail manage to put their outdoor space to good use all year long. They take advantage of the views during the winter months by enjoying them from the warm comfort of their hot tub.
The George family hosts church gatherings in their home as well as fundraisers and activities for their favorite non-profit organizations. Larry is on the board of Predisan, a medical mission in Honduras. Gail is on the board of Teen Challenge, an international faith-based alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation program. The Georges use their home and resources to help both of these organizations on a regular basis. With their generous nature and open-door policy, the Georges have created a home that has been a blessing not only for the family, but also for their friends and the Chattanooga community as a whole.
A family of deep faith, their blessings are not something that they take lightly. “We know that we are very blessed in every aspect of our lives and we try to spread our blessings to others,” says Gail. “We use this house for other people and for God. It is not a show home; it is a place that we can gather with family and friends.”