By Laura McAlister
Journal Editor
Bobbie and Harry Christiansen had a lot they wanted in a new home.
They wanted a nice, safe community with lots of amenities, and they also wanted a home that they could grow old in and where they could entertain their three grandchildren.
The Maryland couple ended up choosing The Preserve in Hoover for the location of their new home. Fowler Custom Homes, Inc., is helping make sure their house has everything they need while still fitting into the community.
While construction is not yet complete, husband and wife team Rusty and Vicki Fowler said the home will be open for this year’s Parade of Homes. It’s the only home the builders have on the parade this year, and Vicki said they chose it mainly for one thing: the guest house.
“I know there is no other home in The Preserve that has a guest house, and I’m not sure there’s one like it anywhere in Hoover,” Vicki said.
When the Christiansens decided to make the move to Birmingham to be closer to their grandchildren in Chattanooga, Tenn., they gave Harry’s parents the option of moving to Florida with one of Harry’s siblings or moving in with them.
“They chose here,” Bobbie said.
The guest house is in back and is a fully functional one-bedroom house. It has a full kitchen, half-bath, laundry room, den and master bedroom and bath – all equipped for older homeowners.
“Everything is handicap-accessible,” Vicki said. “We put a low curb on the shower, so if they do need a wheelchair or walker, it will be easy. It’s also got a full kitchen with granite countertops and tons of cabinet space.”
The guest house has 963 square feet of living space and is connected to the main house by a breezeway.
Although the home has been custom-made for the Christiansens, it still fits into The Preserve community and meets the homeowners association guidelines.
The main house has four bedrooms and three and a half baths. In The Preserve, lots are categorized by size. With the main house having 3,400 square feet of living space not including the guest house, the Christiansens have an Estate lot, the largest in the community.
To keep the American 1920s feel of the community, the outside is natural wood siding painted in Sherman Williams’ Virtual Taupe.
A deck wraps around the front of the house; in back are a screened porch and mudroom.
Whether entering from the back or front, the floor plan is open with a large combination great room and kitchen. The couple opted not to have a formal dining room. Instead of a breakfast nook, there’s a large granite island for family gatherings in the kitchen.
One of Bobbie’s favorite features is the walk-in pantry. In addition to lots of custom cabinets, the space has granite countertops for the coffeemaker or stand-up mixer.
“I really like that pantry,” Bobbie said. “It’s got a nice work area, and it’s not all out in the open, so it doesn’t have to be all prim and proper.”
The main floor includes office space for Bobbie as well as a nook underneath the staircase that will serve as Harry’s office.
“We really wanted to take advantage of every space,” Vicki said.
The master bedroom also is on the main floor. The large closet includes a built-in dresser, and the bedroom will have a built-in armoire when complete. The master bath has marble countertops with separate vanities and a walk-in shower and spa tub.
The upstairs of the house has three bedrooms, two connected by a Jack and Jill bathroom, while the other has its own bath. The second floor also has room for a sitting area at the top of the stairs.
Construction on the house started in November and is nearly complete. Bobbie said the couple hopes to move in by the end of the month. In the meantime, Bobbie is getting to know her new town.
She moved to Birmingham when construction started so she could work with the Fowlers. Her husband is still in Maryland overseeing the sale of their old house.
Bobbie said they are looking forward to the change from Maryland to Birmingham and are especially excited about being in a community like The Preserve. They have a feeling their three grandsons won’t mind the move much, either.
“We have some friends that moved here and built a house, and we just loved it. Rusty and Vicki built their house, too,” Bobby said. “Whenever we go places, I always try to think if it’s somewhere I could live, and Birmingham was always somewhere I thought I could. I like the access to everything.
“My three grandsons are about two and half hours away, and something else – there’s parks, playgrounds, a pool. It’s got a lot to offer the grandkids. I think they’ll come visit a lot.”
