Living in the midst of a golf course community inspires a safe, calm, and restful lifestyle that appealed to Chattanoogans Sally and Kelsey Long. “We wanted a home where we could entertain family, friends, and business associates,” says Kelsey. The Kansas native worked at M&M Mars in Cleveland, Tennessee for 18 years before retiring. He and Sally, an Iowa native, relocated to Tennessee 20 years ago for work opportunities.
In 2003, the couple chose to build their new home in Council Fire, a golf course community where nature’s embrace included pristine greens, rolling fairways, lush gardens, and peaceful courtyards. Stunning and masterfully crafted dwellings would surround their new Mediterranean-style home built on a desirable lot overlooking the Number 2 Tee and a pond laced with tall grasses and frequented by ducks, geese, and heron.
Inspired by waterfront properties in South Florida, the home’s cutting edge detail and design bring elegant Mediterranean-style living to this spectacular Chattanooga golf community. Modeled after a design dubbed “Bellagio,” Rhonda Parks and Linda Sharp of Parks and Sharp Design drew plans that would incorporate top-of-the-line materials and finishes, while builder Al Cox of Alvin T. Cox Construction and his crew worked tirelessly to craft the design team’s ultimate vision.
At 5,000 square feet, the home offers a mix of traditional and contemporary décor on two levels. “It’s deceptively large inside based on the front view,” Kelsey says of the home he describes as boasting a feeling of open grandeur as well as Southern comfort.
With four bedrooms and several bathrooms, the home’s floor plan perpetuates an open and airy feel with 12- to 14-feet ceilings and a window wonderland that blankets the rear of the home. Over two dozen floor-to-ceiling windows provide a direct view of the golf course and allow the greens to blend into their living space. Each room subtly unfolds into the next, simulating one big open room that maximizes the home’s entertaining appeal. The couple enjoys hosting gatherings for family and friends when they are not motorcycling or visiting their son, Eric, in Las Vegas.
The neutral stucco exterior lends a touch of charm and sets the stage for the luxurious interiors. Two large glass entrance doors, which were envisioned and drawn by Kelsey, dramatize the wide open foyer -- a foyer that embraces guests and reveals the sitting room straight ahead. With detailed woodwork, a romantic stone fireplace, and creamy Mediterranean-themed furniture and décor, the sitting room lends a soft blend of elegance and sophistication.
A state-of-the-art kitchen, designed as a chef‘s dream, conveniently lies adjacent to the sitting room and maintains the uninterrupted view of the golf course. Neutral-colored cabinets by Scarlett’s brighten the area while their grape inlay design by Enkeboll, a leading provider of architectural accents, lends a soft, old-world feel. Thermidor and Bosch appliances lay hidden behind detailed wood fronts. Granite countertops and pull-out drawers offer functionality in keeping with amenities of a gourmet kitchen. A functional island offers even more workspace.
The bold expression of style extends into the family room adjacent to the kitchen - where recessed lighting spotlights seating areas perfect for the couple to enjoy reading the morning newspaper or a good book. “With the accent lighting, you can set any atmosphere or mood you want,” Kelsey says.
From every angle in the house, the view of the course takes center stage as the home is designed around the course. Cox describes the home as an architectural achievement. “It’s not just a box,” he says. “It’s an impressive and very striking home that makes a bold statement.” He says that the Longs’ home is designed to look appealing from both the front and back “just like Florida homes which are designed to impress from all angles whether they overlook the ocean, a lake or canal.”
“The home features a lot of detailed angles and curves,” Cox adds. “We built in different types of details including curved ceilings that featured various heights. There are 12 to 15 different reveals of lighting and crown molding.” Sally noted that she and Kelsey both like clean lines which offer the perfect complement to the angular features in the home’s molding and detail.
The home’s interiors radiate specific elements of creativity and stylish designs that are reflective of Mediterranean sophistication. Honing decorating ideas from Florida Design magazine, Sally worked with interior designers Marsha Yessick and Linda Higgins to select various art, accent pieces, and accessories to support the Mediterranean theme.
Yessick’s Design Center erected a pair of dramatic puddled drapes on the edges of the windows next to the breakfast table to add an element of high design. Donning fabric that matches the breakfast table’s chairs, the drapes are more of an accent than a necessity so the Longs can still admire their golf course view.
Neutral hues and a soft color palette inspire each room’s ambience. Layers of textures add depth to each room while also serving as a visual divide between living spaces. Contemporary pieces such as mirrored pedestals in the dining area provide conversation pieces and reveal a peek into Sally and Kelsey’s decorating tastes. “The house is neutral but we decorated it with darks and lights,” says Kelsey, noting the dark-hues of chairs in the family room and in the dining area. “We let the furniture contrast with the neutral colors.” Natural stone floors weave throughout the first floor, except for the bedrooms, perpetuating the Mediterranean flair.
A romantic mood abounds in the master bedroom -- a room emphasized by faux paint on the tray ceiling which appears to be a brown sky. The couple appreciates their private view of the golf course provided by the bedroom’s many windows. The master bath, which also features faux painting, is one of their favorite rooms. Lending a spa-like presence and blending marble with stone, the bathroom dons a design similar to The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas -- one of the couple’s favorite getaways. The large open shower eliminates the need for doors or curtains, and features several showerheads perfect for a body massage.
Although the retired the couple are not golfers, they enjoy the golf community for a variety of reasons. They love to embrace the quiet evenings by watching the birds that are often attracted to the pond seemingly in their back yard. Their wraparound lanai that hugs the back side of the stately home often plays host during their moments of reflection. A stroll around the neighborhood or along cart paths after hours also provides Sally and Kelsey with quality time together. The golf course makes an idyllic backdrop for a pair whose sights are set on a simple and relaxing lifestyle. “In the spring we enjoy watching the little ducks gliding across the pond,” Sally says. It’s interesting to watch them grow up.”
Anchored in neutral tones and sporting a blend of all things both traditional and contemporary, the Longs’ home represents the epitome of Florida designs that opt for windows over walls. The home’s timeless architecture, which was inspired by a grand vision, will continue to wow from the vantage point of the golfer and from the street. For now, a catbird seat of the greens makes this house the ideal spot to call home for these two retirees.