Lily and Grace have been friends most of their lives. From the bond they immediately formed at The Mountain Pathways School, it was evident that the two would be inseparable. Though young in age, the friendship of the two girls became the basis of several more friendships through the school and among their parents. I can remember the day I found out about the unexpected passing of Lily's father. While my concern went out to the whole family, I found that my main focus of concern was Lily. I found it difficult to explain to Grace what had happened but found peace in her response, “Daddy can we give them the new house I was building so they could live closer to us?” The innocence of children even in times of tragedy gets straight to the point. In Grace’s mind the only thing that mattered was that we bring friends closer when they are in need. As it turned out, there was a need to find a new house for Lily's family and this is a story of how all her friends helped turn it into their home.

On the corner of Grand Blvd in downtown Boone a house was found that had plenty of potential despite being an older home that needed some fixing up. This home had originally been built as a summer home to the Kaupunan's in the early 90's. At 1,500 square feet, the space needed to be a little bigger for the family of three and it had to be updated to facilitate the needs of a modern lifestyle within a tight schedule and budget. With a collaborative effort Lily's mother, along with Bill Dixon of Appalachian Architecture and Grace's father of Tynecastle Builders, a new design was created and the home grew just enough to meet their needs. Demolition started in May in hopes of completing the project in time for Lily's older sister Carly to start her senior year at Watauga High from their new home.

As the rebuild started, the main focus of the project became how to make this home a reflection of its future family and the friends that would enjoy it with them. Collaboration began between Lily's mother Rene and Grace’s father Brett to think outside the box and take the knowledge both possessed from building homes and merge them into something out of the ordinary. Out went all the preconceived notions of what was right or wrong in homebuilding and instead the simple philosophy of “why not?” was promptly adopted. It was decided that the team would take bits and pieces of things that brought joy and comfort to the family and highlight them in their new home. With the ideas evolving it became necessary to just buy key pieces for inspiration and work the design around them. In came a window from an old church; out came a back-lit headboard for the master bedroom. A visit to a junk yard brought old metal railing panels perfect to make unique railings, and a drive to West Jefferson yielded an old claw foot tub that needed to be painted… why not cobalt blue? With the help and patience from Karen of English Antique Importers in Foscoe, four antique furniture pieces from the 1800’s became the basis for the new look of an old-world kitchen. Dark green granite tops from High Country Stone added to the lived-in feel of the space and incorporating a copper backsplash and mantle from their previous kitchen allowed the cooking area to feel like their own. An amazing brick fireplace became a source of inspiration and the old brick left over from their previous home was mixed with rock and iron railings for the front of the house along with planters. Renee found an old reclaimed front door with hinged sidelights circa 1900 that inspired the use of pineapple lights. The question arose, “what about mixing wood and sheetrock with design textures and patterns? Would white washed wainscot and stained wood doors look good with painted jambs? Why not.” With all these finishes and textures mixed with historical pieces and whimsical choices it was decided that color should be the common thread to weave every aspect of the project together.

No one loves color more than little girls. Lily loved polka dots with greens and yellows, and Carly wanted beach tones of green and blue; both wanted soft white carpet. Renee wanted cobalt blue and white, and compromise was made through muted white wash and dark rich stains that contrasted these colors and pulled the whole look together. Turning to the family and friends again mined great ideas for the remaining space in the home. Grace thought Lily should have a fort (how about under the stairs), Lily wanted a bay window, and everyone loves trampolines (outside of course). What’s more, Renee wanted brick floors, Brett said they should be heated; Renee also wanted open cabinets, Carly said why not shelves. Lily liked a front porch, Renee wanted to enter the house from both sides; Brett thought it would add a cool nook to Carly’s room if the porch roof was taller. Grace loves to play and so does Lily, so what was really a job site became a playground once Lily got off the bus from school and Grace was home waiting for her. “Why not?” continued to prevail and the philosophy carried to the exterior of the home. How about mixing hardy lap strake, cedar shingles, wide wood trim with brick, stone and boulders? Can we paint it chocolate brown, trim it in white and accent in cranberry but leave the wood stained natural? Is it possible to cut the wood shingles into diamond shapes and make panels above and below the windows in different patterns? How about a fence that never closes? Why can’t a trellis become a carport with a clear roof? Do we have to paint metal railings a rust color or can we just let them rust? Instead of downspouts, would it be possible to find rain chains that look like flowers? How about lilies, perfect!

What was accomplished in a few short months could not have been done without all the friends that helped. The warmth and comfort this home can’t be built, it can only be earned. Through the pain and loss of the two most important men in her life, love is the path Renee chose to embrace. The physical absence of my husband and father did not leave us without love; it only reinforced it to us. They say home is where the heart is and I can think of no better statement concerning this home. Move in day came right on schedule and Carly spent her senior year on Grand. All the families’ friends, old and new, have come by to visit and the healing continues under the watchful eye of the Tin Man sculpture and in the wings of their two guardian angels.

Through it all, Lily and Grace are still a matched set. Different schools may cut into their daily routines a bit but they still invent ways to see each other as often as possible. Whether it is afternoon play dates or sleepovers, they are a constant pair. Supporting each other through hardships and happiness, they showed us that friends can make anything fun. However, when it comes to really having a good time, Lily and Grace prefer to play on Grand.