When Kim Colsett and Dennis Walls thought to downsize out of their McCutchanville home, they still wanted many of the amenities found in larger residences. They envisioned tall ceilings and open concept, one-floor living, but “when you downsize, you don’t see a lot of that,” Walls says.
Instead of sacrificing on those amenities and want- ing to create an inviting indoor and outdoor living space for themselves and visitors to enjoy, they bought the undeveloped property next door in late 2021. “We wanted a little less to take care of and the opportunity to build something for ourselves,” Walls says.
Walls and Coslett went to Dubord Homes, Inc., with blueprints of their desired layout, and Dubord got to work, lining up builders and subcontractors to build the couple’s dream home. Construction took around a year and a half; meanwhile, the couple sold their former home next door and lived in an apartment as COVID-19 delays pushed back the initial completion date. By April 2023, they were ready to move into their new 3,200-square-foot abode. In line with their wishes for one-floor living, the only stairs are a few up to the front door and down to the in-ground pool.
Three sets of eight-foot double doors serve as entrances to the home, where Coslett’s interior design expertise is on full display. Vibrant artwork displayed throughout serves as a focal point — apparent from the eight paintings in the front hall alone. “My design experience helped pull it all together. We love colorful art,” Coslett says.
Since she has her own store to stock — Stella’s Finishing Touches in Newburgh — she had no problem finding eye-popping decor to fill the three-bed, three-and-a-half-bath house. The couple brought very little from their former home; almost everything was sourced from furniture markets in Atlanta, Georgia, and High Point, North Carolina. Strolling from room to room, there always is something to discover: a black sculpture of a woman’s head adorned with butterflies, a dark bronze hand holding a cigar, and small golden leaves accenting the stem of a lamp. It’s playful and unexpected.
The kitchen, with cabinets by Amish builders, incorporates black and gold light fixtures and appliances that pop against a white finish and faux wood floor. A grey-white brick backsplash draws out the stovetop, while a white island serves as a casual gathering place.
The black kitchen table is a study of contrasts. Two pale hands with palms facing upward stand beside two bronze-colored bird statues, which appear to be pecking at a white floral arrangement in the center. A simple but large golden chandelier brightens the area, hanging from a tray ceiling with crown molding topped by thin black panels.
The adjacent living room again incorporates diverging elements. White couches and chairs are accented by pink, black, white, and multicolored pillows. The television is mounted above a black fireplace between black cabinets displaying colorful sculptures, pots, plants, and artwork. Black and gold light fixtures embellish a chandelier hanging from individual square ceiling trays.
Altogether, the dining room, kitchen, and living room appear as distinct living areas in the same space, each with a view of the outdoors through three more sets of double doors — of five total — at the back of the house
“We could all be in the kitchen, living room, and dining room, and everyone would still be together,” Coslett says, and because of the large double doors, “even when you’re inside, you feel like you’re outside.”
The home not only pops with color inside. Coslett and Walls also put much thought into the 900-square-foot backyard surrounding the pool, and it’s now their favorite part of the residence. Colorful art and a mix of green, white, blue, and pink plants adorn the outdoor space. Walls and Coslett spend much time in a covered, L-shape living space with three fans, plenty of seating with two gray chairs and a couch, a coffee table, an outdoor eating spot, where another plant sits in a pot dotted with lemons, and a side table.
“We sit outside in storms but don’t get wet,” Coslett says, adding that they wanted to “create an inside-outside feeling to the house.”
Only a few steps are required to get down to the pool to relax on the lounge chairs and take in the view of the wall of trees outlining the property. At the pool house, the couple incorporated outdoor dining with a TV, fireplace, two refrigerators, sink, and grill, plus a bathroom inside. “We wanted to have a pool and pool house,” Walls says. “We spend a lot of time outside.”
“It’s as we hoped it would be,” says Coslett, adding that the couple may add an outdoor fireplace in the future.
As an interior designer with 50 years of experience, Coslett says planning the interior design of her own space came naturally.
“I do it for others every day, so it was not too difficult for me, and I know what I like,” she says.
After intensive effort during the design and construction processes, Coslett and Walls have the house they envisioned and compliment the Dubord team for being responsive to minor changes throughout.
“Neither of us had ever built a home. We were surprised by how many decisions there were. When it’s done, it’s really the house you made,” Walls says. He advises homeowners with an eye on a future custom build, “You should go into it with a good perspective on what you want. It’s going to take a while, so just have some perspective. … As you go along, you’re going to want additions.”
