A letter from the homeowners...

"How do we describe our home? We like to say the style is California meets New York...and fell in love in North Carolina. It's modern, yet warm, with a great deal of attention given to the natural beauty that draws people to North Carolina.

The layout is open and flexible, but each space still has its own unique environment. For example, the fourth bedroom, the solarium and the second floor game room were designed to change with your family and lifestyle needs. The Game Room was built for many forms of entertainment - especially a regulation size slate pool table - but can easily be converted to a teenager’s suite, an exercise room or an oversized bedroom for children to share. Maybe its perfect for a dance studio?

For those who enjoy relaxation like we do, the tall ceiling heights and lots of glass increase the amount of oxygen and natural light in the house, two things that help a person relax when they come home. The spa-like feel is accented by the soothing colors and various mood lighting.

Take all this, then situate the house up on a beautiful hilltop, in a well-established neighborhood full of oaks it makes the harmony between relaxation and entertainment truly refreshing. And speaking of entertainment! One of the things we love most is the location. We are inside the belt line with easy access to Glenwood South and downtown Raleigh and right at North Hills. You can't find a better location in the Triangle."

-Laavanya and Lea

Kid Tested...

One of the only negative comments we have heard is this home is not "kid friendly" enough. So we found some kids and put it to the test. Tyler is 4 and Emma is 2...and they do not live here. But they had fun here!

While grown-ups will like the elegance and uniqueness of stained concrete floors, they also make a great place to ride a scooter in the house. Be the fun parents and let kids be active. Put away the video games.

The bamboo steps double as a great table for coloring and drawing. And since the home is so open, you can keep an eye on them from the kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom and the backyard!

There is a section of countertop in the kitchen that is a little lower than the others. What a great place to let kids make their own snacks. There is nothing wrong with allowing them some independence! Just watch out for the double dipping in the peanut butter!

Driveway? Well sure you could park cars here. But this is also the best sidewalk chalk canvas in the neighborhood!

Privacy

With so much natural light, and such big beautiful windows, you may think there would be an issue with privacy. On the contrary!! The house sits at least 6 feet above the street, and there is a 6 foot privacy fence. That means the only way to peek over the fence is if you are 12 feet tall!

Still concerned?

The professionally landscaped yard contains carefully selected plants and trees to screen the house from the neighbors without blocking natural light or feeling overwhelming. The attention to detail is astounding, and it is the only way to provide such great privacy without sacrificing beauty.

Home Technology

The high technology and low maintenance continues with energy star windows and appliances. The tankless water heater is an amenity that no home owner will ever want to be without. (No more cold showers, even when everyone is using the water)

There are also two HVAC systems that run on a multi-zone system. With ceiling fans in every single room combined with intelligent air conditioning this home provides great natural air flow and energy efficiency.

From the homeowners....the kitchen

"Our gourmet kitchen was designed for maximum efficiency and style. Notice the oven hood’s arch and the little spice cabinet next to the range. The cabinets were hand-made by a local artisan with cherry wood and stained mahogany. We love the easy to clean smooth surface cooktop, but if you would like gas cooking, no problem...we can switch it out. And we really liked the way the butcher block counters looked with the design, but if you cannot live without granite, let us know, we want you to be completely satisfied with your new home."

-Laavanya and Lea

The Solarium

The Solarium is designed for maximum flexibility. It is beautifully situated for use as a Media Room, Library, Arts and Crafts Room, or so much more. Great place to clearly think through important decisions because of the fresh light and relaxing view of the back yard. If you work from home, your productivity just went through the roof. Or simply a perfect place to sit and meditate....

ITB?

Thanks to Raleigh.com for providing a few thoughts on the "ITB" area of Raleigh...one of the most desirable places to live. For those of you unfamiliar with Bellevue Road (where this home is located) it is smack dab in the middle of ITB and close to North Hills...It's like a one-two knockout punch!

This is a remarkable contemporary home. AND it's in an established neighborhood that is close to some of the hottest spots in the area. Truly a rare combination. There are no other homes like it.

"Victorian mansions and majestic oak trees line Raleigh's graceful boulevards, and North Carolina's capitol has been called "a city within a park." Saved from destruction during the Civil War by a well-timed surrender, Raleigh's preserved history and vibrant technology industry make it a place where the Old South and New South effortlessly intersect. Along with neighbors Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors The Triangle, a region of 1.5 million known for its excellent universities, mild climate and high tech industrial sector."

They go on to describe "Olde Raleigh" and "ITB"

"Raleighites define their neighborhoods using the shorthand of "ITB" (Inside The Beltway), a reference to Interstate 440, which sweeps around the Raleigh metropolitan area in a broad circle. Though some consider Old Raleigh coterminous with all parts of the city that are ITB, the interstate serves more to divide the city from the suburbs than to delineate the truly "old" neighborhoods. Neighborhoods in Old Raleigh, like Glenwood South and Fayetteville, cluster near the State Capitol Building in the middle of town. These neighborhoods have benefited from the influx of youth and money to downtown and former warehouse districts, emblematic of a nationwide trend toward reversing the post-'50s "white flight" phenomenon."