Soft bluish toned paint, antique brass inspired hardware, marble countertops, free standing tub, wallpaper panels, and textured wood elements, these are the key design elements to creating an old world European inspired home and what sets this beautiful addition to Huntsville's Lendon neighborhood apart.
The Eleanor was the vision of Black Crow Building and design firm Elle Du Monde. Their goal was to design a home that honored timeless style while creating a space that lives beautifully today. Landon Dalton of Black Crow states, "With all of our designs, we strive to create a home that is truly timeless, one that has all the modern features and amenities of a high level custom, modern home, but that also looks 100 years old and has the craftsmanship and quality of old construction that has become lost in recent times." The Eleanor is also a nod to Landon's daughter, Ellie.
Landon adds, "We chose to do this home in the Lendon of Huntsville community located in Jones Valley. Lendon is an architecturally controlled community that features historic homes situated in the heart of one of the best areas of Huntsville adjacent to Jones Farm. It boasts a downtown feel with a close knit community of neighbors and people outside the neighborhood who come in to enjoy the lake walking trails surrounded by mountain landscapes." He continues, "Lendon is surrounded by a great retail district, but it still holds a private, secluded, old community feel which partners well with the vision we had for our custom homes."
The kitchen is heart of the Eleanor home with its openness and airiness inviting guests to linger and converse around the large wood kitchen island accented by three large Visual Comfort pendant lights from Huntsville's multi-generational run Richard's Lighting.
"Carrying white oak flooring through out the home with a coordinating white oak island that is free standing, designed to look like an old table, helped bring in the classic historic feel of old school carpentry," says Landon. "Modern high-end kitchen appliances with euro panel custom painted cabinetry helped keep the home modern and stylish."
The Taj Mahal marble countertops by AJ Stone and Company add to the Eleanor's timeless sophistication. While the Top Knob brass along with Delta faucet in champagne bronze add a vintage feel to accent the cabinetry by SCS Cabinets. But perhaps the star of the show is the gorgeous SCS Cabinet's designed oak hood, a focal point as soon as you enter the room. The Bedrosian tile backsplash by Big Cove Decorating creates a seamless look with the wood and marble. And for a pop of color in a muted French inspired hue, Elle Du Monde chose Sherwin Williams Silver Gray. A true work of art, this kitchen isn't just calming with its various textures and tones, but the utmost functional space for cooking and entertaining with its large island, GE appliances and the smart addition of a pot filler above the range.
The wood elements do not stop at the kitchen. You can find oak cabinetry in the master bath as well. A free standing tub by the window invites for a nightly bubble bath ritual. The marble shower with Delta fixtures in champagne bronze takes this bathroom to another level of refinement.
Another favorite room in the home - the laundry room. Sherwin Williams Silver Gray paint ties this room into the rest of the home while thoughtfully designed cabinets and nooks provide the type of storage every family dreams of.
But it is the House of Hackney Plantasia wallpaper in the formal dining room in which the whole house was designed around. Landon states, "All elements including paint colors, stains, and trim profiles were chosen around a particular scene displayed in the formal dining room wallpaper." House of Hackney's Plantasia pattern is inspired by ancient woodlands and botanical illustrations, representing old world design and reverence for the natural world. Much like the thought process behind Lendon itself, a community with historic design that embraces nature.
The Eleanor home's facade is based on 1800s-1900’s Italianate architecture and features clean vertical massing with ornate cornice and porch column detailing. A nod to the architectural history of downtown Huntsville's Twickenham district, where Italianate architecture dates back to the 1800s. With homes like the Morgan-Neal House (1823), The Historic Lowry House (1818), and the Goldsmith-Donovan House (1887) still standing in all their brackets, cornices, and arches today.
Multigenerational land owner and developer Peter Lowe III speaks on what Lendon means to their family legacy, "Lendon was the next step in bringing a high-end residential neighborhood that blends historic architecture with modern living as our family continues to develop the Jones Valley area. Planned as a 68-acre mixed-use development, Lendon will include a blend of residential and boutique commercial uses, with up to 250 homes of varying sizes and styles, outdoor cafés, and community gathering spaces." Lowe continues, "With the adjacency to Jones Farm Park, the project fosters a close-knit, family-friendly environment which reflects the character and appeal of Huntsville."