Photography by Justin Robinson
The Modern Home
A mix of old charm and modern convenience are key in this custom-built dream home.
T
ired of trends and the normal way of doing things, David and Emily Williams of Williams Custom Homes, mixed it up a bit when they built their new custom home in the Rainey Farms subdivision of northwest Lake Gaston near Waterchase and Siouan Shores. Since saying their vows in Jamaica 23 years ago, the two have spent a lot of time together between work and home. It’s not uncommon for them to finish each other's sentences and they treat each other with a lot of loving wit and respect. Fifteen years ago they embarked on a journey to start a business that eventually culminated in the construction of this dream home. David grew up in the construction industry and mentioned that for quite some time, homes in the region typically followed the 35 Summer 2020 Hearth & Vine
Craftsman style. David and Emily built their last home with this in mind but as the years wore on their home had become just another house. They outgrew the feel of it and decided that it was time for a change. David was building a new subdivision and found a lot that he regarded as a challenge, remarking that he could see the potential in it where no one else could. All it needed was a little love and a bulldozer. “Nobody had a vision for this lot,” he said. The average person has no eye for what something can be.” He elaborated that now, friends and family offer complements on the home with a main lake view from a sheltered cove. “We are tucked back,” he said, adding “The lot is oddly shaped. No one could figure out where to position the house. We walked it several times. It took some work but not a lot of money. It shaped up like we envisioned it. The work was mainly clearing and grading the lot.” He noted that most houses in this area have a basement and that generally that’s a desirable feature. “This lot is not conducive for a basement.” Emily chimed in. “We had a basement in the last house and we never used it.” David added, “So
