Woodcreek Farms is the location for this year’s Parade of Homes, to be held Sept. 14 to 29, and what a location it is. Imagine living in a neighborhood that feels like a vacation getway. With a country club, golf course and walking trails, this 2,300-acre community located only 20 minutes outside of Columbia provides a utopia for its residents.
Although Woodcreek Farms is an established community, it also is the location for many new beautiful homes – several of which are featured in this year’s Parade. The homes are part of the Sweet Bay neighborhood and are unique in nature, as the designs are all new to Woodcreek.
The alluring community’s natural beauty is evident when first entering Woodcreek Farms. “The neighborhood was developed with hundreds of acres of green space deliberately untouched,” says Harold Pickrel, owner and manager of Woodcreek Development. “The lakes and wetlands of the area provide an innate beauty and offer a natural way for residents to live with the land instead of intruding upon it.”
Residents will find more than 350 acres of undisturbed wetlands, replete with beautiful flowers and wildlife that are framed by magnificent trees. Among the wetlands are many peaceful walking trails that provide opportunities for tranquility, meditation or exercise.
Woodcreek Farms is home to the Members Club of Woodcreek, which offers all of the amenities of a first-class country club. Its clubhouse is the ideal location for weddings and other social events, even a family dinner. The expansive back porch and lawn area provide the perfect setting for the quintessential Southern evening of socializing and celebrating. A separate pub area is ideal for an après swim or post golf aperitif or perhaps an after work social.
The Members Club features a picturesque Tom Fazio championship golf course, which winds through the beautiful community, providing the perfect opportunity to take in the beauty of the wildflowers, streams and lakes that gently flow through the property. Members and their guests have access to practice golf facilities, the pro shop and a bar and grill. It’s everything a golf course should be and more.
For members who would rather take a swim than drive a club, the swimming pool is the place to be. The pool area features a pool house with bath and shower facilities, making it the model location for entertaining. What’s more, members can join several swim teams that hold meets and events at the pool.
Don’t forget to grab the tennis whites. Avid tennis fans flock to the club’s four lighted clay courts, two lighted hard courts and indoor courts, which host tennis tournaments, leagues and clinics for juniors, novices and competitive pros. Game, set, match.
With all these amenities, Woodcreek Farms feels like an oasis on a secluded island, but it’s a mere 20 minute drive to the state Capitol. “Woodcreek is out of town but not so far that you can’t enjoy downtown Columbia,” says Harold. “When you get here, you are out of the hustle and bustle. You get to watch the geese cross the road and see deer running in the backyard, but you can also jump in the car and be dining at Garibaldi’s in no time. You live within 20 minutes of Columbia while also enjoying resort-type living.”
With the new construction at Woodcreek Farms, many new families are uncovering this gem that they never knew existed. “There has been a great deal of activity in Woodcreek during the construction of the new homes that are being featured in the Parade of Homes,” says Earl McLeod, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia. “We are showing Columbia and the surrounding areas that Woodcreek is alive and well and houses are selling. Woodcreek is really something that you cannot replace.”
No doubt, the Parade of Homes will help to showcase all that Woodcreek Farms has to offer. And this year, one home in the Parade features a new element – a focus on local artists. Each room in the home highlights the artwork of different local artists. This attention to the arts will also be on display in the outdoor living space of the home, featuring local artwork and sculptures. “We are excited to be able to support the arts as a part of the Parade of Homes,” says Earl.
This year’s Parade of Homes is being held Sept. 14 to 29, a beautiful time of the year at Woodcreek. Visitors can park their cars and walk the streets of the community, enjoying breathtaking views and food from local vendors in the process.
With the beauty of a nature preserve and the optional amenities of a private club, Woodcreek offers all that a homeowner desires. During the Parade, visitors can expect to tour the highest-quality homes starting in the $600,000 range up to more than $850,000. The exceptional homes were built by some of Columbia’s premier builders who are dedicated to constructing amazing houses that people long to call home. And with a home in Woodcreek Farms, every day feels like a vacation.
The beautiful homes featured in this year’s Parade will both inspire and impress. Take a walk inside.
Home No. 1: The Jasmine
Efficiency and Elegance
Built by Dunbar Builders
Home No. 1 in the Parade of Homes, a two-story, traditional home, combines the beauty of Hardiplank and the majesty of brick to create an enchanting home with much personality. The elegant floor plan places the majority of the living space on one level, with three bedrooms on the main level and one on the second floor.
The home’s expansive floor plan brings great visual appeal to its surroundings. Vaulted ceilings in the great room enhance the space, while bringing a sense of drama to the atmosphere. The home is illustrative of the ultimate in an open floor plan. With the beautiful great room opening into the kitchen and breakfast area, the home is ideal for a dinner party, game night or just a relaxing evening cooking and creating with the family.
The cabinets in the kitchen are painted gray with a light glaze, while the designer used a new approach for the countertops. “Countertops are white Silestone quartz with a slight grey vein running throughought and matte finished in suede,” says Pam Trussell, interior designer for the home. A complementary granite is featured on the kitchen island, with not much movement in it, to add a softer, simpler look. The kitchen is extended by a walk-in pantry that provides plentiful storage space for the culinary spirit.
The breakfast area provides stellar views as it overlooks the backyard. The home’s outdoor living area wants for nothing with a breezy screened-in porch that opens onto an outstanding patio for entertaining and cooking. In the front of the home, an expansive porch begs for a chair, a book and a cup of coffee.
All of the details are covered in the home’s master suite, where the bathroom includes tray ceilings and the latest features and fixtures found in the highest-quality homes.
A three-car courtyard garage adds a distinct architectural aspect, as it sits at a 45-degree angle to the home. “The wide lot of the home allowed for the unique placement of the garage,” says Pat Dunbar of Dunbar Builders, builders of the home. “It added a very cool feature to the outdoor landscaping.”
Dunbar Builders is an award-winning custom home building company that has been serving the Greater Columbia area since 1994. Pat and Patrick, his son, have been building in the Woodcreek Farms area for many years and find it to be one of the few premier neighborhoods where the real estate value works well for both the builder and the homeowner. The beauty and grandeur of the neighborhood certainly adds to that value.
“The beautiful pieces of land, the golf courses, the land, the trees – they all speak for themselves,” says Pat.
For Pat, the most interesting aspect of the home is its energy efficiency. The home features open cell foam insulation in the roof, which allows the attic space to be a part of the air conditioned space in the home, keeping the temperature of the attic cool in the summer and warm in the winter and adding significant cost savings. Upgraded heating and air equipment deliver a higher efficiency rating, and a tankless water heater provides longer life and productivity.
“Many builders are advertising special energy efficiency, but very few are actually doing it to this level,” says Pat. “Our goal is to have the utility bill in this home under $200 each month. That is substantial. If we can cut as much as $200 out of a utility bill each month, it’s almost like cutting $40,000 out of the mortgage bill.” And for a home with more than 4,200 square feet of living space, that is indeed significant. Cost savings and beauty are what every homeowner longs for, and that’s exactly what this home delivers.
Home No. 2: The Hampton
A Living Jewel
Built by Emerald Homes
Home No. 2 in the Parade of Homes marries true comfort and livability with sophistication and elegance. Built by Emerald Homes, creators of high-quality homes for more than 30 years, this home is an ideal mix of large, open living spaces and smaller, more intimate rooms.
No detail has been overlooked in this beautiful home, which provides a modern style mixed with casual elegance, perfect for relaxing or entertaining friends and family. Stone, glittering glass mosaic tiles, warm hardwoods and polished granite combine to create a fresh uncluttered approach to upscale living.
Interesting textures and materials are first revealed in the home’s exterior. Beautiful tumbled Boral brick – coupled with rugged stone, board and batten siding, and dark metal porch roofing – create a facade that is welcoming and striking. A beautiful entry door opens into a gracious two-story foyer. Heavy trim throughout the house provides a dramatic atmosphere, complemented by magnificent textures and subtle, natural colors inside and out.
The well-appointed formal dining room features judges panels and a coffered ceiling, adding drama and appeal. “The paint selections, moulding details and custom drapery in the dining room are the perfect recipe for drama,” says Lindsey King, senior designer with Builders Design, the home’s interior designer. “The home is a real jewel box.”
Beautiful French doors framed by a large transom lead into the elegant, private study that is highlighted by a granite fireplace. This room is the perfect nook for catching up on a book or finding some time alone.
The home’s keeping room has a coffered ceiling and features a show-stopping stone fireplace that creates a warm and cozy gathering spot. The keeping room opens into the inviting kitchen, where the latest in modern cooking is on display, including professional level GE Monogram® appliances and a sleek, stainless steel hood and gas cook top. The large furniture-style island provides ample seating and creates a social atmosphere for friends and family members alike. Off the kitchen is a bright breakfast area for that ever-important meal or homework space.
This home is ideal for families, as the kitchen opens into a large, open family room – a true focal point of this lovely home. With surround sound and the best in home technology, the media room is a hub for living.
The downstairs living area is made complete with an inviting junior suite that has its own private bath and sitting area.
Any homeowner would covet the upstairs master bedroom. “The owner’s suite provides the perfect retreat from the cares of the world,” says Allyson Hank, vice president of Emerald Homes, a division of DR Horton Homes. The room’s gracious proportions, box tray ceiling and sitting room offer abundant space for relaxing and unwinding. With a clean, modern flair, the bath is a personal spa for the ultimate in relaxation. Sparkling, pearlescent mosaic tiles adorn the large tub and shower. There is ample storage with separate closets for him and for her, plus an additional linen closet.
Three additional bedrooms upstairs, each with its own walk-in closet and bathroom, will save hours of arguments among siblings. The energy-efficient home also boasts modern plumbing and lighting fixtures that deliver the utmost in efficiency and modernity, enabling homeowners to enjoy the best a home has to offer while still being good environmental stewards.
The home’s exquisite living area extends into the outdoor space, which is an integral part of the home’s entertaining area. A large, screened porch and deck off of the family room provide enhanced entertaining and living space, while the luxurious patio features a fireplace, ideal for cool evenings under the stars. “Woodcreek Farms has a beauty that provides a perfect setting for the distinctive quality and unique designs offered by Emerald Homes,” says Allyson. Combine those amenities with a sophisticated style and everyday comfort, and it’s a house that any modern family would love to call home.
Home No. 3: Home for the Arts
A Natural Canvas
Built by Essex Homes
Home No. 3 in the Parade of Homes takes on a bit of a different theme than other Parade homes of the past. With a neotraditional style that combines brick and Hardi-style accents, this home, built by Essex Homes, delivers artistry at first glance.
Beauty and originality flows throughout this home, which is dedicated to promoting the arts by featuring local artwork in each room. From sculptures and canvases to drawings and paintings, this home showcases the incredible creativity that runs through the Columbia community. The outdoor living space also features beautiful sculptures and works of art, echoing a creative spirit.
This home not only underscores the importance of supporting the arts, but it also provides the utmost in modern features that emphasize the significance of efficiency and organization. “Keeping the family organized and having enough living space is a high demand for today’s families,” says Susan Longshore, marketing director for Essex Homes. “Some of the most exciting items that we have incorporated into this home are a separate mud room, separate laundry room, family office and drop zone.”
The drop zone is one of the newest trends being incorporated into newly built homes. Akin to the mud room of old, drop zones help to de-clutter the family space and keep everyday items in a central area for easy access – adding efficiency and practicality to the busiest of homes. “These areas really help to organize the family and are a huge draw and appeal to our homebuyers,” adds Susan.
Susan and her team are thrilled to be building in Woodcreek. “We are strong supporters of the Columbia Home Builders Association,” she says. “The location of the Parade of Homes is a big factor when people are deciding if they would like to visit. Woodcreek Farms is convenient to the interstate, is very well known and is a beautiful community providing a wonderful lifestyle for residents.”
Since Woodcreek is an established neighborhood in the Columbia area, Susan believes that it instills a sense of family, tradition and community. And what better place to showcase the arts and support a community of people who give so much to the city? At this year’s Parade, visitors will have ample opportunity to imagine what could be hanging in their own homes.
Home No. 4: The Charles Allen
Beauty Inside and Out
Built by Tuttle Construction
Home No. 4 in the Parade of Homes is reminiscent of a home found in the established neighborhoods of downtown Columbia. Boasting a painted brick exterior, the stately 1920s Tudor-style home was built by Tuttle Construction, a company that has been building homes in Columbia for more than 20 years with a focus on creating custom, client-oriented homes.
The interior of the home sets up beautifully for entertaining. With a large and spacious foyer, homeowners and guests will feel its openness and grandeur. The spacious floor plan allows the rooms to easily flow into one another, providing ample opportunity to take in the noted elements of the home – from the beautifully detailed ceilings to the contemporary lines of the furnishings and cabinetry. A sleek European feel is portrayed further through the bold color choices in furniture, art and accessories.
“The home is very airy with a lot of unique details,” says Julie Jones with Tuttle Construction. “It’s a great family home – perfect for both mingling and unwinding.”
The kitchen and living room areas are the hub of this home. A large entertaining island enables guests to congregate and socialize, while the light, spacious feel of the exquisite kitchen is echoed through the two-tone cabinets that frame the space. The home also boasts plenty of storage with a surprise hideaway craft area – or getaway for the family pet.
The master suite in the home is also quite special, with a bathroom area that truly is an oasis. A free-standing tub and large double vanity with glass tile walls are reason enough to cancel the day at the spa.
The finishes, fixtures and appliances in this home are unique and noteworthy features that Julie says haven’t been seen much in the Columbia market. “We are continuing to build on the high-performance trend and improve the efficiency of every home we build,” she says. “This home is Energy Star rated, as well as evaluated by our local rating, Columbia High-Performance Home. It’s always exciting to work hard to build something and think through it on the front end, then see the scores of how well the house performs at the finish.” No doubt these appliances and features help to make that happen.
Children and guests will be drawn to the openness of the bedrooms, not to mention the connected private bathrooms. What’s more, the upstairs living space has a dedicated area for recreation. “It’s not your normal playroom,” says Christy Monteith of CL Interiors, interior designer of the home.
A true focal point for this home is the exterior living area. “The pockets of outdoor living that we have curated are great features of this home,” says Julie. A large covered back porch is an extension of the great room, while a covered side porch just off the dining room offers a lovely setting for al fresco dining and entertaining. By virtue of the garage sitting back from the road, the builders were able to create a unique courtyard next to the side entry, which adds to the curb appeal and provides a charming vignette for those arriving home.
Whether indoors or out, this home beckons guests to sit back, relax and take in the scenery.
Home No. 5: Sir Winston
European Flair
Built by Capogrossi Construction
Home No. 5 in the Parade of Homes is French country at its best. Viewed from the road, the home’s façade belies its spacious interior, but its unique design and floor plan were the top reasons this home sold during the framing phase.
An exquisite front courtyard leads up to the beautiful home, whose exterior is adorned by light brick with brown accents, imparting a European feel. Columns with wrought iron railings tie into the French country look, while strong double doors open into an expansive living area.
The main level of the five-bedroom, nearly 6,000-square-foot home is exceptionally expansive and inviting. The tile floor in the kitchen underscores the French country motif, while the stained cabinets echo the earthy sophistication of the French countryside. Upgraded appliances ensure the highest-end cooking experience for owner and guest alike. The breakfast area off of the kitchen leads onto a screened-in porch that overlooks the wetlands in the backyard.
The porch conveniently ties into a private porch off of the master bedroom, where French doors lead to an upscale oasis. The master bathroom is equipped with a state-of-the-art shower and bath design complemented by glass tile surroundings, a waterfall showerhead and, of course, a television.
The warm finishes found throughout the house evoke a formal, classic feel. “The design, as well as the finishes and architectural features, are upscale and refined,” says Bonnie Younginer of Younginer Group Interior Design, interior designer for the home.
Bonnie chose to incorporate relaxed, clean looks into her designs of late, finding that most product lines have introduced a sleeker look to more traditional furniture. “The pieces are less ornate but still true to the overall line of the product,” she says. “For example, a formal wingback chair may have modified wings or the legs may be straighter than a typical Queen Anne leg with the curve.”
These design trends are masterfully implemented in this beautiful home, and the warm design is woven throughout the home.
The downstairs living area – a completely finished basement with a large recreational room, two bedrooms, a bathroom and fully appointed kitchen equipped with an exceptional all-glass Sub-Zero beverage center – is ideal for the entertainer, guest, or mother-in-law. “The space lends itself to entertaining and will work beautifully for the homeowner. It was great fun to decorate,” says Bonnie. The basement opens to a patio terrace that overlooks the stunning backyard.
The beauty of Woodcreek Farms is on display in this home and is a main reason the development has been a focal point for Capogrossi Construction, builders of the home. “We have been in the building business for more than 28 years and have had the opportunity to build in Woodcreek on several occasions,” says Candace Capogrossi. “We are truly custom builders, and Woodcreek is an ideal location for families looking to build a custom, unique, high-quality home.” And this exceptional home certainly fits that bill.
The 2013 Parade of Homes features five distinct homes that deliver beauty and excellence in home design and the utmost in comfort, livability and elegance. It’s a delight for all the senses and, for some, a new place to call home.
