It all began with the antique Biedermeier secretary. For Margie and Rich Kluska, it embodies the aesthetic that they admire — perfectly proportioned and effortlessly elegant, with the classic elements of the period: crisp lines, polished dark wood, ebony accents…and a touch of sparkle. As they conceived the interiors of their dream retirement home, this was the template.
There were other considerations, of course. There was Rich’s enviable collection of military memorabilia — everything from medals to firearms, full dress uniforms to helmets, ranging from the Civil War to World War II, not to mention a substantial library of works on military history. That grounding in strategic planning would come in handy for the Kluskas as they moved forward.
To initiate the campaign, the couple established a foothold by purchasing a three-plus-acre parcel of land on a mountainside just off Town Mountain Road in Asheville. “We loved everything that Asheville had to offer and we knew immediately that this was the property for us,” Margie recalls. There was just one catch: they lived in Chicago at the time, and would need to supervise the project long-distance. “People told us what a headache that would be,” notes Margie, “but we were determined to put together the best possible team.”
After exhaustive research and interviewing, they found them. The Kluskas enlisted Jim Samsel and Chuck Krekelberg of Samsel Architects and the construction experts at Morgan-Keefe Builders to help them manifest their ideas for the structure. “Margie showed up to the first meeting with a scale model of the house they had envisioned… complete with it’s own carrying case,” recalls Krekelberg. “That model really communicated what they were after. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a model is an entire novel.”
The final key player was Susan Nilsson, A.S.I.D., whose expertise with color and pattern, and mastery of detail and finishes would assure that the project had a sense of continuity, integrating the Kluska’s existing collection of fine Empire period furnishings (and the military items) into the architectural scheme. Everything seemed to be progressing according to plan — almost.
“The biggest surprises on this project came from the site,” says Krekelberg. “We were working with a 50 percent slope.” Martin Fletcher, who oversaw the project for Morgan-Keefe, was at ground zero. “When we got here, we didn’t know what was under the ground,” he explains. “There were rock outcroppings…granite…and we didn’t know how deep they were. In the end, we spent about three weeks dynamiting and were smashing rock for at least five or six weeks.”
Undaunted, Margie and Rich kept current on the progress with weekly “staff” meetings via the Internet, conferring with the key players as the site preparation moved forward and the collaborative design for the home emerged. “Their ability to approach some very complex challenges in a methodical, straightforward, thoughtful way made them the glue that held the project together — and held the entire team to a higher standard,” says Krekelberg. “The evolution of the project was a joy.”
As the team galvanized, the home, too, began to take shape. With a nod to English Arts & Crafts, the exterior utilizes a half-timber styling that is inset with stucco and softened by curves that are repeated in the architecture and the interior design: the bend of the timbers in the gables; a circular inset turn-around in the driveway; a small window in the entrance foyer that is echoed by a spherical pendant fixture; demilune stone walls on the terraces and the elegantly rolled arms of the settees in the living room.
“The biggest surprises on this project came from the site,” says Krekelberg. “We were working with a 50 percent slope.” Martin Fletcher, who oversaw the project for Morgan-Keefe, was at ground zero. “When we got here, we didn’t know what was under the ground,” he explains. “There were rock outcroppings…granite…and we didn’t know how deep they were. In the end, we spent about three weeks dynamiting and were smashing rock for at least five or six weeks.”
Undaunted, Margie and Rich kept current on the progress with weekly “staff” meetings via the Internet, conferring with the key players as the site preparation moved forward and the collaborative design for the home emerged. “Their ability to approach some very complex challenges in a methodical, straightforward, thoughtful way made them the glue that held the project together — and held the entire team to a higher standard,” says Krekelberg. “The evolution of the project was a joy.”
As the team galvanized, the home, too, began to take shape. With a nod to English Arts & Crafts, the exterior utilizes a half-timber styling that is inset with stucco and softened by curves that are repeated in the architecture and the interior design: the bend of the timbers in the gables; a circular inset turn-around in the driveway; a small window in the entrance foyer that is echoed by a spherical pendant fixture; demilune stone walls on the terraces and the elegantly rolled arms of the settees in the living room.
The effort expended on the site was handsomely rewarded with stunning vistas. Astute positioning of the windows and thoughtful editing of foliage by Stone Creek Landscaping’s arborists provide a sense of depth and dimension — enclosing the private areas of the home while optimizing the elevation from more public areas. On walking into the foyer, one is afforded a dramatic long-range view of Mount Pisgah through the living room windows, while the dining room windows frame the Zen geometry of a single, centuries-old tree.
The rooms themselves are modestly proportioned in the European style — imparting a sense of intimacy, but retaining a sense of grace and openness thanks to ample ceilings, deftly placed cutouts, graceful arches and built-in cabinetry that maintains a crisp, pristine line. Meticulous craftsmanship is evident in the finish carpentry: wood panels in the living room — hand brushed with a high-gloss linen hued paint — are complemented by random patterned white oak floor boards with a dark stain and satin oiled finish. Even the small powder room has received special treatment, with polished cherry paneling and a glowing onyx vanity top magically lighted from within.
In keeping with the inspiration of the Empire-era secretary, Nilsson has deftly integrated that elegant theme into the overall design concept with fine finishes and the selective placement of high-gloss black elements — Margie’s piano in the living room and a massive slab of Absolute Black granite double Dupont edge treatment from Viktor’s Granite & Marble on the kitchen island, referenced in the polished fireplace surround and trim accents in the Crema Marfil marble floor of the master bath.
Adding a touch of luxury and sparkle, a tiered crystal chandelier in the dining room hangs from a ceiling swathed in silver-gilt and the kitchen features polished brass hardware and a metal tile mosaic with raised medallion designs.
And Rich’s collection? It has received a place of honor, displayed in custom, glass-front cases in the “Officer’s Quarters” — the cherry-paneled, coffer-ceilinged library.
Now that they have relocated and are comfortably installed in their new headquarters, the Kluskas couldn’t be more delighted with the end result — a beautifully conceived plan, elegant in design and flawlessly executed by a crackerjack team. Yes…Victory is sweet.