This rare and impeccably upgraded 6 Bedroom, 5 Bathroom home has been modified to include 500+ SqFt of additional living space in the extended great room and second floor media loft, with two first floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Upon entry, the grand cathedral vaulted ceilings and picture perfect spiral staircase invite you to relax in the expansive great room styled with opulent crown moulding, plantation shutters, fireplace, and elegant hardwood floors throughout. The luxurious gourmet kitchen boasts an oversized eat-in kitchen island, dining area, vast granite counter space, rich wood cabinetry, and a built-in 6-burner range with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Furthermore, the floor to ceiling fully retractable sliding glass doors on both floors of the home open up to the freshly landscaped backyard and built in BBQ area, creating a seamless indoor to outdoor flow. The second floor master bedroom is connected to the media loft equipped with a gigantic projector movie screen that can also be converted to a 7th bedroom. The master bathroom includes dual vanity sinks with designer granite counter tops and a large walk-in master closet. Two of the bedrooms adjacent to the master bedroom share a Jack-n-Jill bathroom and the 6th bedroom at the end of the hall is conveniently en-suite. Baker Ranch is one of Orange County’s newest and most desirable communities with parks, playgrounds, clubhouses, sports courts, pools, hiking trails, LOW HOA and NO MELLO ROOS.

This rare and impeccably upgraded 6 Bedroom, 5 Bathroom home has been modified to include 500+ SqFt of additional living space in the extended great room and second floor media loft, with two first floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Upon entry, the grand cathedral vaulted ceilings and picture perfect spiral staircase invite you to relax in the expansive great room styled with opulent crown moulding, plantation shutters, fireplace, and elegant hardwood floors throughout. The luxurious gourmet kitchen boasts an oversized eat-in kitchen island, dining area, vast granite counter space, rich wood cabinetry, and a built-in 6-burner range with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Furthermore, the floor to ceiling fully retractable sliding glass doors on both floors of the home open up to the freshly landscaped backyard and built in BBQ area, creating a seamless indoor to outdoor flow. The second floor master bedroom is connected to the media loft equipped with a gigantic projector movie screen that can also be converted to a 7th bedroom. The master bathroom includes dual vanity sinks with designer granite counter tops and a large walk-in master closet. Two of the bedrooms adjacent to the master bedroom share a Jack-n-Jill bathroom and the 6th bedroom at the end of the hall is conveniently en-suite. Baker Ranch is one of Orange County’s newest and most desirable communities with parks, playgrounds, clubhouses, sports courts, pools, hiking trails, LOW HOA and NO MELLO ROOS.

Although they were happy living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Bill and Kay Barkley longed to call Prairie Oaks Ranch, their 5,000-acre working cattle ranch, home. Wanting to preserve what was already there, the Barkleys chose a Timberlake-style log home with similar design features such as square logs and dovetail notching. The Barkleys worked closely with Hearthstone and general contractor Harold Tucker to build their single-level, 4,848-square-foot home crafted of eastern white pine logs. But it is inside where Southern hospitality and log-home grandeur are taken to a new level of sophistication with it’s elaborate and eclectic mix of old and new. River rock fireplaces in the formal and informal living rooms, numerous head mounts and beautifully worn furniture add to the rural charm. One of the home's most unique features is the front door, which was salvaged from an old Irish castle. Kay discovered it at market in High Point, North Carolina. Weighing in at nearly 1,000 pounds, the door and its casing had to be set with eight-inch long steel bolts. The home is positioned so that the back screened porch overlooks the valley and one of the property's many lakes. When the sun sets, lighted fountains in the lake turn on, creating the perfect ending to any day. “I wanted our home to have contrast,” shares Kay. “So many log homes reflect a ski lodge or they have a country or a Southwestern theme; I wanted my home to have a mix of everything.” And surprisingly, it all comes together beautifully.

Established in 2005, Stonebridge at Rankin’s Lake is proud to be Duke Energy’s “First All-Electric Energy Star Certified Community” in South Carolina. Each home has been constructed with strict guidelines to insure each individual home will receive it’s own Energy Star certificate which in turn results in a reduced rate from Duke Energy on the energy bill for the life of the home. Through a partnership between the architecture firm, Chapman Design Group, Inc. and it’s construction arm, Icon Construction of South Carolina, Inc., special emphasis is placed on quality construction, methods and design details a well as a stringent construction quality control standard. The total efforts, skills, resources provide unyielding commitment directed toward building superior homes that will bring our homeowners many years of comfortable and carefree living. This 107 home community was created on a 43 acre property that was planned into two phases. Approximately 17 of these acres are to be left natural, providing the feel of an established neighborhood from the very beginning. The featured attraction is Rankin’s Lake. It is approximately 4 acres in size and was once a well-known fishing lake in Anderson in the 1940s and 50s. A stone bridge will adorn its spillway and will be constructed during the second phase of the project. The traditional style streetscape is enhanced with grass medians separating curb lines and sidewalks. This feature is accentuated in intermittent Alee Elm Trees and decorative post streetlights throughout the neighborhood. Every front and side lawn as well as all common areas continue to be maintained on a weekly basis by a private landscape maintenance company. This perpetual maintenance provided through the Homeowner’s Association insures a constant harmonious look throughout the entire community. From day one, several development principles were established and achieved: • The development’s concept was designed with all water front lots facing into Rankin’s Lake to have the street running between the homes and the lake. With this concept, it allows all of the neighborhood residents and their guest to take advantage of the pathways as well as enjoy to natural scenery of the lake each time the upon entering and exiting the neighborhood. This became a positive selling point as it encouraged the selection of building sites deeper into the development once you passed the lake. • The design concept of the development was to create a variation of the traditional home neighborhood where the homes, all with front porches are intentionally built closer to the sidewalk lined streets to encourage neighborly interaction. • Plans were designed with the garages at the rear of the lot as to make the neighborhood less about cars and more about the home and it’s residents. This was prioritized due to many subdivisions today are designed in such a way the home’s primary feature is a front facing garage which often have two cars in the driveway… hence, Stonebridge at Rankin’s Lake want to provide an alternative. • Each home design includes a spacious front porch, a screened porch and or a sunroom to encourage neighborly interaction and casual living. • The floor plans include both 2 and 3 bedroom plans with 2 to 3.5 baths with all master suites remaining on the main level. The entire development would have only Energy Star Certified homes.

The clients enjoy entertaining guests in their home. They enjoy sports events, but don't necessarily enjoy the hustle 'n bustle of going to the stadium, finding a place to park, and in the case of football, freezing to death. They much prefer sharing the ambiance of their comfortable home, offering snacks and drinks from the bar, and enjoying a round of pool during intermissions and halftime, or watching halftime shows on a state-of-the-art home theater. These clients were so committed to this enterprise, they dedicated their 3,000 sq’ basement, except those areas already used for utility, storage, and mechanical needs, the renovation.To make sure the clients' every wish was met, a complete entertainment area was designed and constructed with ease of movement, lighting, and safety in mind. The area would include a home theater with totally wireless controls, a pool room, and a social area replete with a commercial-grade wet bar. The home theater consists of a screen within a custom cabinet system that also houses the complete audio-visual equipment center. Speakers are nestled in custom benches with the sound cones discretely hidden behind fabric panels. The motor for the panel that hides the screen when not in use is behind a similar fabric panel.The furniture style cabinet has Shaker style doors with walnut peg inlays and leaded glass panels. There are multiple lighting "scenes" for ambiance; low-voltage lighting inside the crown molding, and recessed can lights are discretely placed so that they can provide an extra level of illumination when required.The pool room was walled with a custom wainscot paneling with clear cherry stiles and rails finished with a clear satin lacquer. The panels are of Madagascar ebony with a light satin stain and a clear lacquer finish. A custom cue rack was constructed from clear cherry and backed with the Madagascar ebony panel.Drink rails were custom fabricated from cherry and custom crown molding was fabricated to match the rest of the house. The space is lit with a combination of recessed lights and a series of hidden lights behind crown molding for dramatic effect. The bar area is topped with a custom crown detail to contain the lighting. The bar is constructed in the same manner and fashion as the theater and pool rooms with Shaker style cabinetry with square walnut peg in the door corners and decorative leaded glass door fronts with more than enough front and back bar space to serve and enjoy drinks and snacks. Entry behind the bar is through custom, bi-directional butler doors. A custom bottle display and storage area takes up the bottom half of the bar's back wall. And, for the sake of convenience, a full size automatic dishwasher is installed under the bar for cleaning glasses and stemware. The bar is also tricked out with an espresso machine, its own flat screen TV and AmX video controller. The bar is lit with puck lights in the upper cabinets that illuminate downward through glass shelves, and low-voltage lighting is used behind the bottle display. The bar itself is lit by a series of earthen tone pendant lights.All three areas complement each other and are in total harmony with the remainder of the house. Moldings were matched, carpeting styles were chosen to complement rather than compromise, and muted, natural colors and textures were chosen that complement the surroundings. There is a seamless transition between the newer areas of the home and those already in everyday use. The entire area is a nebula of electrons operating servos, quietly opening and closing hidden switches, mysteriously dimming and brightening lights, and not only creating an alluring atmosphere, but one that is programmable, available at the touch of a finger to a heat sensitive screen, for an individual, or a group. At a single touch the lights in the theater and bar areas dim as the theater screen lowers into viewing position. Not only does the AMX controller open and close shades and window treatments to facilitate better viewing, but on an entirely different level it controls the very access to the property. It opens and closes entryways, external doors and gates as well.None of this magic came easily. Electrical circuits were at a premium. Over heating plagued the AV rack, and pesky rays of light seemed to creep in where and when they were least welcome. An exhaust fan was installed in the AV cabinet to dissipate the heat. New electrical outlets were scheduled and placed while others were moved. The bar area received custom wire chases hidden within the cabinetry. Exterior roll-a-way shutters, all controlled from the AMX controller, were installed and programmed as the answer to those pesky light rays.

This rare and impeccably upgraded 6 Bedroom, 5 Bathroom home has been modified to include 500+ SqFt of additional living space in the extended great room and second floor media loft, with two first floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Upon entry, the grand cathedral vaulted ceilings and picture perfect spiral staircase invite you to relax in the expansive great room styled with opulent crown moulding, plantation shutters, fireplace, and elegant hardwood floors throughout. The luxurious gourmet kitchen boasts an oversized eat-in kitchen island, dining area, vast granite counter space, rich wood cabinetry, and a built-in 6-burner range with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Furthermore, the floor to ceiling fully retractable sliding glass doors on both floors of the home open up to the freshly landscaped backyard and built in BBQ area, creating a seamless indoor to outdoor flow. The second floor master bedroom is connected to the media loft equipped with a gigantic projector movie screen that can also be converted to a 7th bedroom. The master bathroom includes dual vanity sinks with designer granite counter tops and a large walk-in master closet. Two of the bedrooms adjacent to the master bedroom share a Jack-n-Jill bathroom and the 6th bedroom at the end of the hall is conveniently en-suite. Baker Ranch is one of Orange County’s newest and most desirable communities with parks, playgrounds, clubhouses, sports courts, pools, hiking trails, LOW HOA and NO MELLO ROOS.

This classic Spanish home in South Pasadena was decorated to reflect the homeowners bohemian style, vintage collections, and subtle art deco features in the architecture. Highlights include a hand-painted ceiling mural, custom cat covers on sofa, and a vintage record player. Photos by Erika Bierman www.erikabiermanphotography.com

Established in 2005, Stonebridge at Rankin’s Lake is proud to be Duke Energy’s “First All-Electric Energy Star Certified Community” in South Carolina. Each home has been constructed with strict guidelines to insure each individual home will receive it’s own Energy Star certificate which in turn results in a reduced rate from Duke Energy on the energy bill for the life of the home. Through a partnership between the architecture firm, Chapman Design Group, Inc. and it’s construction arm, Icon Construction of South Carolina, Inc., special emphasis is placed on quality construction, methods and design details a well as a stringent construction quality control standard. The total efforts, skills, resources provide unyielding commitment directed toward building superior homes that will bring our homeowners many years of comfortable and carefree living. This 107 home community was created on a 43 acre property that was planned into two phases. Approximately 17 of these acres are to be left natural, providing the feel of an established neighborhood from the very beginning. The featured attraction is Rankin’s Lake. It is approximately 4 acres in size and was once a well-known fishing lake in Anderson in the 1940s and 50s. A stone bridge will adorn its spillway and will be constructed during the second phase of the project. The traditional style streetscape is enhanced with grass medians separating curb lines and sidewalks. This feature is accentuated in intermittent Alee Elm Trees and decorative post streetlights throughout the neighborhood. Every front and side lawn as well as all common areas continue to be maintained on a weekly basis by a private landscape maintenance company. This perpetual maintenance provided through the Homeowner’s Association insures a constant harmonious look throughout the entire community. From day one, several development principles were established and achieved: • The development’s concept was designed with all water front lots facing into Rankin’s Lake to have the street running between the homes and the lake. With this concept, it allows all of the neighborhood residents and their guest to take advantage of the pathways as well as enjoy to natural scenery of the lake each time the upon entering and exiting the neighborhood. This became a positive selling point as it encouraged the selection of building sites deeper into the development once you passed the lake. • The design concept of the development was to create a variation of the traditional home neighborhood where the homes, all with front porches are intentionally built closer to the sidewalk lined streets to encourage neighborly interaction. • Plans were designed with the garages at the rear of the lot as to make the neighborhood less about cars and more about the home and it’s residents. This was prioritized due to many subdivisions today are designed in such a way the home’s primary feature is a front facing garage which often have two cars in the driveway… hence, Stonebridge at Rankin’s Lake want to provide an alternative. • Each home design includes a spacious front porch, a screened porch and or a sunroom to encourage neighborly interaction and casual living. • The floor plans include both 2 and 3 bedroom plans with 2 to 3.5 baths with all master suites remaining on the main level. The entire development would have only Energy Star Certified homes.

This rare and impeccably upgraded 6 Bedroom, 5 Bathroom home has been modified to include 500+ SqFt of additional living space in the extended great room and second floor media loft, with two first floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Upon entry, the grand cathedral vaulted ceilings and picture perfect spiral staircase invite you to relax in the expansive great room styled with opulent crown moulding, plantation shutters, fireplace, and elegant hardwood floors throughout. The luxurious gourmet kitchen boasts an oversized eat-in kitchen island, dining area, vast granite counter space, rich wood cabinetry, and a built-in 6-burner range with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Furthermore, the floor to ceiling fully retractable sliding glass doors on both floors of the home open up to the freshly landscaped backyard and built in BBQ area, creating a seamless indoor to outdoor flow. The second floor master bedroom is connected to the media loft equipped with a gigantic projector movie screen that can also be converted to a 7th bedroom. The master bathroom includes dual vanity sinks with designer granite counter tops and a large walk-in master closet. Two of the bedrooms adjacent to the master bedroom share a Jack-n-Jill bathroom and the 6th bedroom at the end of the hall is conveniently en-suite. Baker Ranch is one of Orange County’s newest and most desirable communities with parks, playgrounds, clubhouses, sports courts, pools, hiking trails, LOW HOA and NO MELLO ROOS.

Although they were happy living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Bill and Kay Barkley longed to call Prairie Oaks Ranch, their 5,000-acre working cattle ranch, home. Wanting to preserve what was already there, the Barkleys chose a Timberlake-style log home with similar design features such as square logs and dovetail notching. The Barkleys worked closely with Hearthstone and general contractor Harold Tucker to build their single-level, 4,848-square-foot home crafted of eastern white pine logs. But it is inside where Southern hospitality and log-home grandeur are taken to a new level of sophistication with it’s elaborate and eclectic mix of old and new. River rock fireplaces in the formal and informal living rooms, numerous head mounts and beautifully worn furniture add to the rural charm. One of the home's most unique features is the front door, which was salvaged from an old Irish castle. Kay discovered it at market in High Point, North Carolina. Weighing in at nearly 1,000 pounds, the door and its casing had to be set with eight-inch long steel bolts. The home is positioned so that the back screened porch overlooks the valley and one of the property's many lakes. When the sun sets, lighted fountains in the lake turn on, creating the perfect ending to any day. “I wanted our home to have contrast,” shares Kay. “So many log homes reflect a ski lodge or they have a country or a Southwestern theme; I wanted my home to have a mix of everything.” And surprisingly, it all comes together beautifully.

This rare and impeccably upgraded 6 Bedroom, 5 Bathroom home has been modified to include 500+ SqFt of additional living space in the extended great room and second floor media loft, with two first floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Upon entry, the grand cathedral vaulted ceilings and picture perfect spiral staircase invite you to relax in the expansive great room styled with opulent crown moulding, plantation shutters, fireplace, and elegant hardwood floors throughout. The luxurious gourmet kitchen boasts an oversized eat-in kitchen island, dining area, vast granite counter space, rich wood cabinetry, and a built-in 6-burner range with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Furthermore, the floor to ceiling fully retractable sliding glass doors on both floors of the home open up to the freshly landscaped backyard and built in BBQ area, creating a seamless indoor to outdoor flow. The second floor master bedroom is connected to the media loft equipped with a gigantic projector movie screen that can also be converted to a 7th bedroom. The master bathroom includes dual vanity sinks with designer granite counter tops and a large walk-in master closet. Two of the bedrooms adjacent to the master bedroom share a Jack-n-Jill bathroom and the 6th bedroom at the end of the hall is conveniently en-suite. Baker Ranch is one of Orange County’s newest and most desirable communities with parks, playgrounds, clubhouses, sports courts, pools, hiking trails, LOW HOA and NO MELLO ROOS.

This rare and impeccably upgraded 6 Bedroom, 5 Bathroom home has been modified to include 500+ SqFt of additional living space in the extended great room and second floor media loft, with two first floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Upon entry, the grand cathedral vaulted ceilings and picture perfect spiral staircase invite you to relax in the expansive great room styled with opulent crown moulding, plantation shutters, fireplace, and elegant hardwood floors throughout. The luxurious gourmet kitchen boasts an oversized eat-in kitchen island, dining area, vast granite counter space, rich wood cabinetry, and a built-in 6-burner range with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Furthermore, the floor to ceiling fully retractable sliding glass doors on both floors of the home open up to the freshly landscaped backyard and built in BBQ area, creating a seamless indoor to outdoor flow. The second floor master bedroom is connected to the media loft equipped with a gigantic projector movie screen that can also be converted to a 7th bedroom. The master bathroom includes dual vanity sinks with designer granite counter tops and a large walk-in master closet. Two of the bedrooms adjacent to the master bedroom share a Jack-n-Jill bathroom and the 6th bedroom at the end of the hall is conveniently en-suite. Baker Ranch is one of Orange County’s newest and most desirable communities with parks, playgrounds, clubhouses, sports courts, pools, hiking trails, LOW HOA and NO MELLO ROOS.

This rare and impeccably upgraded 6 Bedroom, 5 Bathroom home has been modified to include 500+ SqFt of additional living space in the extended great room and second floor media loft, with two first floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Upon entry, the grand cathedral vaulted ceilings and picture perfect spiral staircase invite you to relax in the expansive great room styled with opulent crown moulding, plantation shutters, fireplace, and elegant hardwood floors throughout. The luxurious gourmet kitchen boasts an oversized eat-in kitchen island, dining area, vast granite counter space, rich wood cabinetry, and a built-in 6-burner range with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Furthermore, the floor to ceiling fully retractable sliding glass doors on both floors of the home open up to the freshly landscaped backyard and built in BBQ area, creating a seamless indoor to outdoor flow. The second floor master bedroom is connected to the media loft equipped with a gigantic projector movie screen that can also be converted to a 7th bedroom. The master bathroom includes dual vanity sinks with designer granite counter tops and a large walk-in master closet. Two of the bedrooms adjacent to the master bedroom share a Jack-n-Jill bathroom and the 6th bedroom at the end of the hall is conveniently en-suite. Baker Ranch is one of Orange County’s newest and most desirable communities with parks, playgrounds, clubhouses, sports courts, pools, hiking trails, LOW HOA and NO MELLO ROOS.

This rare and impeccably upgraded 6 Bedroom, 5 Bathroom home has been modified to include 500+ SqFt of additional living space in the extended great room and second floor media loft, with two first floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Upon entry, the grand cathedral vaulted ceilings and picture perfect spiral staircase invite you to relax in the expansive great room styled with opulent crown moulding, plantation shutters, fireplace, and elegant hardwood floors throughout. The luxurious gourmet kitchen boasts an oversized eat-in kitchen island, dining area, vast granite counter space, rich wood cabinetry, and a built-in 6-burner range with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Furthermore, the floor to ceiling fully retractable sliding glass doors on both floors of the home open up to the freshly landscaped backyard and built in BBQ area, creating a seamless indoor to outdoor flow. The second floor master bedroom is connected to the media loft equipped with a gigantic projector movie screen that can also be converted to a 7th bedroom. The master bathroom includes dual vanity sinks with designer granite counter tops and a large walk-in master closet. Two of the bedrooms adjacent to the master bedroom share a Jack-n-Jill bathroom and the 6th bedroom at the end of the hall is conveniently en-suite. Baker Ranch is one of Orange County’s newest and most desirable communities with parks, playgrounds, clubhouses, sports courts, pools, hiking trails, LOW HOA and NO MELLO ROOS.

The site was 10 acres bordering a 15 acre lake. The clients were convinced by a business partner to move 10 miles west of town and share the lake he was excavating. They quickly became very excited about the emerging design, preliminary drawings were never finished, working drawings were brief and details were sketchy. Fortunately a favorite contractor with a gifted crew was available and all were OK with working it out as we went along. Several more rooms and outbuildings were added during construction. After the excitement of building and furnishing was over they found themselves unhappy with the isolation and by 1975 had sold the house to Malnik. In 1979 we began renovations and additions to the buildings and site that continued non-stop for 7 years. Again I had the luxury of the same building team, plus a very creative new client who never ran out of ideas for things to do. First stables for 20 horses and a recreation building which included 2 bowling alleys, squash court, weight gym, game room and a boat house. Then a 90' square & 30' high screened space frame that enclosed a swimming pool with 3 guest houses and a free form "cave" structure arranged around the four sides. Next a riding ring and viewing pavilion, and when 25 more acres were acquired the lake was extended into a series of waterways and the entrance was moved to the opposite side of the property, which resulted in a long meandering entrance road passing over three bridges. A new entrance building was fitted between the space frame and the recreation building. The last project was a 3000 sq. ft. master bedroom, bath and gallery addition to the main house completed in 1992. The entire complex was demolished in 2005 by a high end residential developer as Boca Raton had moved seriously westward.

This rare and impeccably upgraded 6 Bedroom, 5 Bathroom home has been modified to include 500+ SqFt of additional living space in the extended great room and second floor media loft, with two first floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Upon entry, the grand cathedral vaulted ceilings and picture perfect spiral staircase invite you to relax in the expansive great room styled with opulent crown moulding, plantation shutters, fireplace, and elegant hardwood floors throughout. The luxurious gourmet kitchen boasts an oversized eat-in kitchen island, dining area, vast granite counter space, rich wood cabinetry, and a built-in 6-burner range with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Furthermore, the floor to ceiling fully retractable sliding glass doors on both floors of the home open up to the freshly landscaped backyard and built in BBQ area, creating a seamless indoor to outdoor flow. The second floor master bedroom is connected to the media loft equipped with a gigantic projector movie screen that can also be converted to a 7th bedroom. The master bathroom includes dual vanity sinks with designer granite counter tops and a large walk-in master closet. Two of the bedrooms adjacent to the master bedroom share a Jack-n-Jill bathroom and the 6th bedroom at the end of the hall is conveniently en-suite. Baker Ranch is one of Orange County’s newest and most desirable communities with parks, playgrounds, clubhouses, sports courts, pools, hiking trails, LOW HOA and NO MELLO ROOS.

This rare and impeccably upgraded 6 Bedroom, 5 Bathroom home has been modified to include 500+ SqFt of additional living space in the extended great room and second floor media loft, with two first floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Upon entry, the grand cathedral vaulted ceilings and picture perfect spiral staircase invite you to relax in the expansive great room styled with opulent crown moulding, plantation shutters, fireplace, and elegant hardwood floors throughout. The luxurious gourmet kitchen boasts an oversized eat-in kitchen island, dining area, vast granite counter space, rich wood cabinetry, and a built-in 6-burner range with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Furthermore, the floor to ceiling fully retractable sliding glass doors on both floors of the home open up to the freshly landscaped backyard and built in BBQ area, creating a seamless indoor to outdoor flow. The second floor master bedroom is connected to the media loft equipped with a gigantic projector movie screen that can also be converted to a 7th bedroom. The master bathroom includes dual vanity sinks with designer granite counter tops and a large walk-in master closet. Two of the bedrooms adjacent to the master bedroom share a Jack-n-Jill bathroom and the 6th bedroom at the end of the hall is conveniently en-suite. Baker Ranch is one of Orange County’s newest and most desirable communities with parks, playgrounds, clubhouses, sports courts, pools, hiking trails, LOW HOA and NO MELLO ROOS.

Two Birds Photography
Kids' room - transitional kids' room idea in Chicago

Although they were happy living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Bill and Kay Barkley longed to call Prairie Oaks Ranch, their 5,000-acre working cattle ranch, home. Wanting to preserve what was already there, the Barkleys chose a Timberlake-style log home with similar design features such as square logs and dovetail notching. The Barkleys worked closely with Hearthstone and general contractor Harold Tucker to build their single-level, 4,848-square-foot home crafted of eastern white pine logs. But it is inside where Southern hospitality and log-home grandeur are taken to a new level of sophistication with it’s elaborate and eclectic mix of old and new. River rock fireplaces in the formal and informal living rooms, numerous head mounts and beautifully worn furniture add to the rural charm. One of the home's most unique features is the front door, which was salvaged from an old Irish castle. Kay discovered it at market in High Point, North Carolina. Weighing in at nearly 1,000 pounds, the door and its casing had to be set with eight-inch long steel bolts. The home is positioned so that the back screened porch overlooks the valley and one of the property's many lakes. When the sun sets, lighted fountains in the lake turn on, creating the perfect ending to any day. “I wanted our home to have contrast,” shares Kay. “So many log homes reflect a ski lodge or they have a country or a Southwestern theme; I wanted my home to have a mix of everything.” And surprisingly, it all comes together beautifully.