Thanks to a bevy of designers and two big-hearted home builders, Lafayette's St. Jude Dream Home is move-in ready.
By Erin Z. Bass
Last year, Bryan and Sylvia McLain of McLain Homes decided to donate a lot in their Vintage Park subdivision for Lafayette's annual St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. Despite a slow year in the real estate business, the McLains wanted to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and its mission to find cures for children with cancer free of charge to families.
Thanks to a bevy of designers and two big-hearted home builders, Lafayette's St. Jude Dream Home is move-in ready.
**By Erin Z. Bass - Photos by Robin May
**
Last year, Bryan and Sylvia McLain of McLain Homes decided to donate a lot in their Vintage Park subdivision for Lafayette's annual St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. Despite a slow year in the real estate business, the McLains wanted to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and its mission to find cures for children with cancer free of charge to families. "After we donated the lot, our business turned around," says Sylvia, "so we donated a lot again this year and were asked to be the builder."
The 2011 St. Jude Dream Home is located on a lakefront lot on Brightwood Drive in the McLains' Grand Pointe subdivision. Valued at more than $650,000, the home is Tuscan in style and covers 3,600 square feet on two stories. With four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, the home also includes a game room, study and spacious outdoor kitchen and living area overlooking the lake.
Additional features are heart of pine floors, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. Sylvia McLain, one of the home's featured designers, describes the overall style as modern in amenities and technological advances, with plenty of traditional elements to make the winning family feel at home.
Sylvia designed the kitchen, which has a glass tile backsplash and polished granite countertops contrasted with wood beams on the ceiling and an island of honed granite that resembles petrified wood. Assisting on the design were Monique Breaux with Posh Exclusive Interiors, Jodi Bolgiano Custom Finishes, Paige Gary of Paige Gary Design and Nina Ward of W. Home Furnishings.
Breaux was in charge of the home's metropolitan master suite, whose look will be given away to one lucky visitor. Bolgiano contributed to the guest bedroom and bath and the dining room, which includes warming drawers, a wine cooler and built-in buffet with an antique cypress topper. Gary decorated the living and powder rooms and Ward the sleek second floor. Sylvia also notes the stairwell, built by Advanced Carpentry, as a focal point when entering the home.
Asked if it was difficult incorporating so many different ideas and styles into one home, Sylvia says not at all. "It flows perfectly," she says. "Each room marries into the next, and the home has a modern feel but hasn't lost that traditional warmth that McLain is known for."
Get a sneak peek of the 2011 St. Jude Dream Home through June 19 on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays from noon-5 p.m., and June 22-25 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. For a chance to win the house, purchase a $100 ticket now from IberiaBank, The UPS Store or Doug Ashy Building Materials. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.stjude.org/dhlafayette or by calling (800) 724-1918. The winner will be drawn during the St. Jude television special on KATC-TV3 June 26. To see a full list of businesses that donated materials and labor to the building of the house, visit www.mclainhomes.net, and click on "St. Jude Donors."