There is a delicate balance between "formal yet inviting" and "grand but welcoming" that is at the heart of old-world style. European inspiration from many different countries makes it tastefully eclectic and very personal. The feeling evoked by living in Europe and visiting authentic dwellings on their travels was the inspiration for builders, designers and homeowners Clive and Monica Payne-Culpan.
“The design is timeless, and that is the charm of this home,” Clive says. The estate has evolved throughout 10 years, with each element carefully planned and executed down to the last shrub and tree.
The design for the home quickly formalized once the perfect lot was selected.
“We were looking for a rectangular-shaped lot on the corner of a main street in Eagle," Clive says. "Surprisingly, we found the perfect property right away, and I sketched out the design of the house that very day.”
Clive says that the design for this home was always in the back of his mind. He knew they wanted a traditional European entry leading to a central two-story main house with single story elements migrating away from the central core. Though the home is very spacious, the style needed to have separation of the elements. A separate entry being the central and most isolated part, with separate living areas and sleeping quarters joined by large hallways, maintains the traditional European ideas throughout the floorplan.
Scale is crucial; the size of the rooms, doors and windows must stay true to the style. “For example, it would have been easy to fall into the trap of using larger windows in the back of the house to maximize the view, but smaller windows are typical of European design, and we could not sacrifice the continuity of the design flow through both the interior and exterior of the home,” Clive says.
Though the home is quite large, the spaces feel intimate. Each space has its own beauty and charm.
Using rustic and natural materials was the key to marinating the authentic old-world style.
“We wanted endearing and enduring materials in the space,” Clive explains, “including exposed and imperfect beams, natural stone and oak. Monica is great at finding antique fixtures and lighting, as well as reclaimed materials we have used throughout the property.”
Detailed craftsmanship is another element of the home. Craftsmen painstakingly worked to make their work look hundreds of years old. The stonemasons were encouraged to work as if they were coming from the field and not trying to impress judges in a parade of homes. There is an art in reproducing the feeling and look of age without looking sloppy.
When you are in this home, you really don’t know where you are. You could easily be somewhere in Europe, and you lose sight of the fact that you are in Eagle, Idaho.
“We wanted this home to capture the rustic charm and mystique of authentic European homes," Clive says. "We have loved living here, but we always knew that we would not live here forever. We are designers and builders, and it’s time to move on to our next project. I had a vision of a large family loving this space as we have loved it. We hope that someday a family will be able to enjoy what we have created.”
For an online tour, visit TourFactory.com, or to see the home for yourself, contact April Florczyk with Keller Williams Realty—Boise at 208.274.3787.
2200 N. Ballantyne Lane, Eagle
- Beds: 6
- Baths: 8
- Square Feet: 7,530
- Garage: 6 cars
- Year Built: 2008
- Lot Size: 2.1 Acres