Something old and something new: Georgetown home a modern masterpiece with vintage elements

It’s the unique details—from the brick design to the interior doors—that make Jon and Kim Gruchow’s home a distinctive one.

The couple built their house at 111 Meadow Lark Trail in Georgetown in 2017. It was in the plans to be their “empty nester/forever home,” so it would be a little different than their previous residences.

They chose Barkley Meadows to build their 3,874-square-foot ranch-style house because of its charm as well as the views, which is one of the house’s focal points on display through newly-installed triple sliding glass doors.

“The view out the back is just gorgeous. It backs up to property that can’t be built on. There’s a pond back there, and rolling hills, so the lot’s (beautiful),” Kim said. “It’s a quaint little neighborhood; there are only like 20 to 25 houses here.”

She said there is a great mix of residents of different ages, and they enjoy get-togethers on the weekends in the summertime, potlucks two times a year, and lots of street chats.

Kim designed the house’s floorplan herself and said she worked well with the builder in making it her own. It took about nine months after building the house to complete the basement, and that’s where one of her husband’s dreams was fulfilled: a fully stocked media room, complete with a candy area and popcorn machine.

“In the evenings, especially on the weekends, we go to the media room and rent a movie and chill out down there. There’s a kitchen down there, too. That’s where we hang out,” Kim said. “It’s a big media room: 16 by 25. He put the state-of-the-art stuff in the there, including the sound system, acoustic panels, a bar, and theater seats as well as a sectional.”

In the upstairs kitchen, Kim weaved in elements to allude old charm. A hickory cabinet with a praline stain is made to look like a built-in cupboard from a long-ago kitchen, and a custom-built swinging pantry door was created with vintage paneling.

They installed sliding barn doors in the living room, which were also custom-made for the space.

“It’s a very architectural piece, but it also provides privacy when you want to close off from the front,” Kim said. “We also have four pocket doors throughout the house. It gives you that extra space. We love pocket doors.”

Built with the idea of their two teenagers living downstairs, the couple put in two laundry rooms: one on the main floor and one in the basement. The upstairs laundry room was cleverly placed inside the master closet, making the clothes-to-closet process an easy one.

The master bathroom has eye-catching tile designs that run along the floor and up, creating a feature wall behind a luxurious soaking tub. The shower is an element Jon longed for in addition to the media room.

“That shower has all the bells and whistles. It has a rain head, a body shower; it’s a pretty good system,” Amy said.

Another space they find themselves often is the top-level patio.

“We have a TV out there, and in the summer, we sit outside and watch TV. The grandkids love that. That’s one of the favorites,” Kim said.

The Gruchows recently upgraded the exterior brick with sloppy mortar, a French style popular in New Orleans. The renovation included bricks shaped into a basket weave that resemble closed-off windows. They also put in copper awnings that were specially made in New Orleans and shipped in.

Although their life’s path has changed, the house has been a special one for a short time in the couple’s lives as it’s served as a hub for family time and a place to grow relationships with nearby residents.

“Our neighbors are really great. We’ve made a lot of friendships here,” Kim said.

This week’s feature home is listed with Alma Hopkins of Rector Hayden Realtors. To see more images of the home, visit the Homeseller gallery at Kentucky.com

This story was originally published March 1, 2020 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Something old and something new: Georgetown home a modern masterpiece with vintage elements."