Views, amenities abound at Boones Trace home

Scott and Rhonda Washing saw more than the 18^th hole of a golf course when they stepped onto the deck of 800 Wimbledon Terrace four years ago.

For the couple who had lived in the smaller confines of a Lexington subdivision, the chance to fulfill a desire for a house with more breathing room and awe-inspiring vistas, both natural and man-made, was irresistible. “When we walked out on the deck, we knew we were going to buy this house,” Scott recalls of the first time they saw the 2,611-square-foot ranch in Boones Trace. “The views were spectacular. The views are what sold it.”

The Kentucky natives enhanced their enjoyment of life on the 18^th green of the northern Madison County golf course by replacing the original deck with a two-tiered structure and adding three porches—two covered and one open. Built for entertaining a crowd, the expansive deck offers views of the pond, rolling hills, sycamore trees and manicured turf.

Early on they hired Tom Horvat of Silver Cliff Landscaping in Richmond to tear out planting beds and start over with the landscaping. “Tom likes slow growing, unusual plants that are hardy and do not require a lot of upkeep,” Rhonda said. “He used plants that bloom and change colors on a cycle that creates a spectacular display year-round.”

The plans also included a shadow garden for the covered porches, where the recent empty nesters like to hang out when it’s just the two of them.

Fresh landscaping dramatically improved the home’s curb appeal, said Scott, a software engineer and avid golfer. “It was something we had dreamed about, and it was the perfect setting. We looked at a lot of pictures and ideas. It turned out really well for us.”

Rhonda, a CPA who also has a degree in interior design, put just as much thought into the décor for the interior. She chose a calm palette of soft blues, sandy tans, and dark browns to create an open, peaceful aura that makes the most of the outdoor setting.

“There isn’t a room in the house that doesn’t have a beautiful view,” she said.

The soft blue of the kitchen and breakfast area, for example, contrasts with the honey-colored wood cabinetry and floors. “Most mornings there is fog from the river. The effect from the deck off the kitchen is so beautiful,” she added.

In the reading room, a more intense shade of blue mimics the sky on the other side of a bank of windows and French doors to the deck.

In the owners suite and office, soft blue walls play off the rich brown hues of the living room and dining room. Rugs, art and other accessories in turquoise add a splash of color.

The couple have had as many as 40 guests for sit-down dinners by setting up tables in the office and reading room. “It feels like a restaurant,” Scot said. “This is a great house for entertaining.”

As the couple prepare to move to Evansville for Scott’s job, they can think of only one negative aspect to their home.

“It’s always been kind of a letdown to go on vacation and leave the place,” said Scott. “Boones Trace is a tight-knit community. We have good neighbors. With the pool, clubhouse, tennis and golf, it feels like we live in a resort. It’s like being on vacation all the time.”

“We see deer most mornings on our way to work,” Rhonda added. “It feels like we are pulling into a retreat every night when we come home.”