Many Happy Returns

Moose, an adopted toy poodle, and English Goldendoodle McGee, his big brother (as far as dimensions go), with their human parents, Nancy and John Thompson in the great room. Photo by David Dietrich

Moose, an 11-pound toy poodle, and McGee, an 85-pound English Goldendoodle, are plenty cute all on their own. Together, though, the yin and yang of their appearance, not to mention their sassy combined names, makes an unforgettable impression. (“Moose and McGee” sounds like a rock duo, or a maybe a rollicking Celtic pub.)

The pair’s human parents, John and Nancy Thompson, know how to establish contrast. They bring the same dualistic appeal — hushed matte finishes versus gallery-like grandeur — to their 4,900-square-foot home in The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. Builders by trade, the Thompsons have a pretty good idea what they want when they plan residences for themselves, and the house, facing a stream and meadow, is a study in chocolate grays, serious rock, and understated wood. But lofty windows, gallery lighting, a sophisticated collection of Danish abstract paintings, and bursts of white — the kitchen’s lacquered upper cabinets and white-quartz island top, a pale sofa on a silver rug — keep the scheme from getting too earthy.

“My favorite room is the great room,” says Nancy, mentioning floor-to-ceiling glass on the north and south walls anchored by 15-foot stone columns. “I love natural light, and the room is incredibly light and airy. It elevates my mood whenever I’m in it.”

Another favorite space is the media/office room, which Nancy also calls “the Asheville Room.” A long-time community supporter, she won the Volunteer of the Year award in 2002 and the Athena Award (“Woman of the Year”) in 2005, both bestowed by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. For ten years, Nancy served on the Board of Directors for the Grove Arcade, and posters from the venue, as well as from Bele Chere and other local events, adorn the walls in that space. It’s here that the dogs like to curl up and watch Netflix with John and Nancy in the evenings. However, when the busy couple is away, Moose and McGee stay glued to the great room’s enormous windows, watching for mom and dad to return.

Photo by David Dietrich

Nancy and John Thompson, owners of building company Thompson Properties, Inc., have engineered almost every kind of home imaginable, not just for clients, but for their own family, currently numbering two dogs of adorably different sizes. About 40 years after they created their first modern home on Lake Lanier in north Georgia, the couple built this gallery-like contemporary showplace south of Asheville. The look insists upon a flat roof, an Energy Star Certified envelope, low-key rustic elements, and glass for days. Cobblestone pavers by Hardscapes USA.

Photo by David Dietrich

Homeowners John and Nancy Thompson run Thompson Properties, the company that built the couple’s latest personal residence. Nancy also acted as the project’s interior designer. One might call it a built-in collaboration, although many of the wow points in Nancy’s favorite room are clear notes of individuality. Imposing rock columns (Steep Creek Stoneworks) bisect windows that stretch to the 15-foot-high ceilings, giving the room the hauteur of a major modern art gallery. Essentially, the “main part of the house is like a giant glass terrarium,” says Nancy, noting that “all of our plants love the abundant natural light.” The mood deepens with a free-form chandelier, minimalist pendants everywhere, a glass dining-room table, Danish artwork, and a richly embedded limestone fireplace.

Photo by David Dietrich

The superlatively livable downstairs wing includes a private entrance, a kitchen, a family room, two guest suites, an art studio, and even a mini art gallery. The tray ceiling and recessed lighting set up a deep frame for the dominating 6’ x 6’ oil painting by Danish artist Peter Birk. A white leather sofa and gold Caracole console also provide polished assists to the canvas of radiantly contrasting colors.

Photo by David Dietrich

A Calacatta Gold marble backsplash sets up a subtle pattern in a kitchen gleaming with solid refinement. Frameless, lacquered white wall cabinets are contrasted against rosewood base cabinetry. White-quartz countertops uphold the palette, and the sunken sink evokes the house’s other contemporary, subtle lines. The walk-in pantry, on the other hand, is a large gesture, as is the “huge island [that’s] great for entertaining,” says Nancy.

Photo by David Dietrich

The master bath again shows contrast; in this case, it’s the full range of what classic marble can be, ranging from a baronial gray pattern for the glass-walled shower surround to a crisper neutral around the vanity, including his-and-hers sinks. A ceiling jump of 9 to 15 feet brings the drama, visually crowned by a freestanding slipper tub.

Photo by David Dietrich

Soothing shiplap walls impart a calm surround for the tufted-headboard master bed by Caracole. The round bases of the modern bedside-table lamps — and, elsewhere in the room, a round silver-framed mirror — further soften the linear aspect of the platform bed, rectangular ottoman, and clerestory of windows above the headboard. A set of larger windows in the room accesses a view of the property’s 1.5 acres of meadows and stream.

Photo by David Dietrich

The house’s common rooms are flooded with light and air, but reportedly it’s this darkly glamorous powder room that gets the lion’s share of oohs and aahs. That’s due to mosaic tile exhibiting an Old Hollywood glamour (Daltile, sourced through Horizon Tile & Stone), pendant lights like elegant long earrings (through Christie’s), black-painted walls, and a wood-look travertine-top sink with a linear drain.

Resources
Builder: Thompson Properties, Inc.
Interior Designer: Nancy Thompson
Bath/Kitchen Designer: Touchstone Fine Cabinetry
Cabinetry: Touchstone Fine Cabinetry
Countertops: RockStar Marble & Granite
Lighting: Christie’s Lighting Gallery
Tile: Horizon Tile & Stone
Flooring: Carpet One
Stone: Steep Creek Stoneworks
Windows/glass: Thompson Windows and Doors
Appliances: Ferguson’s

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