As befits a retired sailor, she waxes poetic about the water: Mary Jane “MJ” Klug refers to the “gin-clear” rivers of Western North Carolina, where she and her husband, Dale, both retired from the U.S. Navy with a combined 46 years of service, like to fly-fish. When they built their new (and, she says, final) home south of Asheville, they sought experienced collaborator John Motes of Stone Connection Granite Interiors — “a fellow sailor,” she notes — to do their countertops. It was John who diverted MJ’s attention from a more standard style of granite to the arresting “Brown Marinace” pattern from Brazil, extracted from a petrified riverbed. The homeowner rightly testifies that it looks just like gazing through the pristine water of a Blue Ridge creek to the smooth rocks below: “This lends a mountain feel to an otherwise traditional home.” The look looms even larger in the artistic Marinace slab behind the range running up to the ceiling. Elsewhere, the kitchen is carefully understated, including maple cabinetry stained a lovely café-au-lait shade and a spectrum of soft earth tones on the walls and floor. MJ says it was “critical” for the kitchen to look great because it’s viewable from the home’s foyer, living and dining rooms, and sunroom. Perhaps even more importantly, it had to work great: the homeowner studied recently at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College’s nationally known culinary program, and, as a rising chef, she had to make sure her new port of call was properly equipped. She mentions separate pull-out cabinets for spices, oils, vinegars, and cooking utensils; a Wolf gourmet oven; recessed small appliances; a touch faucet; and the 4’x9’ island with custom shelves for cookbooks. “Ease of food preparation was paramount,” says the practical veteran.
Resources
Builder Buchanan Construction (Asheville)
Cabinetry Asheville Custom Cabinetry (soon to be High Country Cabinets)
Countertops Stone Connection Granite Interiors (Zirconia)
Flooring WNC Ceramic Tile (Asheville and Hendersonville)
Lighting Christie’s Lighting Gallery (Fletcher)
Tile WNC Ceramic Tile (Asheville and Hendersonville)
Appliances Ferguson