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House Proud

By Cindy Hodnett
HomePlace Writer

Less than five minutes after the interview for his Spring Festival Builder Profile, Richard Alexander is helping his subcontractors remove construction trash from a gorgeous two-story traditional in Lewisville's Montrachet neighborhood. The home is Alexander's entry for the 2008 Spring Festival, and the meticulous builder is doing what he always does when completing a project — making sure that everything is exactly as it should be long before the first visitor walks through the front door.

"My emphasis with any home I build is on customer service," Alexander said. "On the front end, I enjoy doing the design and estimate, and trying to give the customer what they want for what they want to pay. And throughout the process, I am involved at every stage of construction. I am a low-volume builder, and my goal is to build five to seven houses each year and do them very well."

Anderson's Spring Festival entry in Montrachet is a dream home for busy families. Convenient to the shopping and restaurants of Lewisville, the neighborhood manages to maintain a nice rural feel, and the spacious homesites provide plenty of outdoor living opportunities.

"Lewisville is such a popular area, and Montrachet is a great neighborhood," Alexander said. "This particular lot is almost an acre, so it gives you a lot of privacy along with a nice yard. That's hard to find in this area."

Inside, there are several features that are worthy of inclusion in design magazines, including a kitchen that opens to a cozy keeping room with a fireplace. There's no doubt that this space will be the site of many happy gatherings in the near future, and any parent who has longed for a comfortable household hub will enjoy the open and airy configuration.

Another feature that will prompt "oohs" and "aahs" during the Spring Festival is the mudroom. A large built-in provides hanging space for jackets, cubbies for muddy shoes, and ample nooks for book bags and sports equipment.

The main-level master bedroom opens to the study, and ample windows flood the room with natural light. His-and-hers closets divvy up clothing storage space, and double vanities in the master bath keep morning routines manageable. Also on the main level, a three-car garage provides parking space for mom, dad and junior or a guest.

Upstairs, three additional bedrooms offer generous space for the kids, and each is anchored by the open study area, an important design element for parents who want to keep an eye on computer activities. One of the bedrooms also includes a feature that will be remembered by the household's residents for many years — a secret storage room accessed by a built-in bookcase.

In the basement, a fifth bedroom can also be used as an exercise room or additional home office, and the playroom can be adapted to any number of uses. Whether used by visiting guests or teenagers, this part of the home can be a private retreat from the rest of the household activities.

A Clemson University graduate with a construction-science degree, Alexander said that he thinks the home is an ideal family home. He said that he will be at the Montrachet house on all four days of the Spring Festival, and he encourages people to ask questions about the home and his company.

"I've been in construction ever since I graduated, and I've owned my own business for three and a half years," Alexander said. "I'm really proud of this house, and I'd love to talk to folks when they stop by."

Richard Alexander Custom Homes is a member of the Home Builders Association of Winston-Salem. For more information about HBA, call 336-768-5942. For more information about Richard Alexander Custom Homes, call 336-399-3884. Alexander's Spring Festival home in Montrachet lists for $629,900 and has more than 4,000 square feet. To see the home, take Highway 421 North to the Lewisville-Williams Road exit (exit 244); turn right through the traffic roundabout to a left turn on Shallowford (at the shopping center); continue to a left turn on Hauser and go about one mile to right into Montrachet; turn left on Montrachet Court to the house, which is on the right.