The Tuscan Sun A Mediterranean Original

When award-winning builder Rex Bost set out to build his own home, of course he would include all of the luxury appointments and state-of-the-art technology expected in today's executive estate homes. But, as with all his projects, here Bost wanted something more; priding himself on never building the same house twice, this builder sought to once again create spaces, not only sumptuous and elegant, but distinctive and intriguing as well - a home with true character. And the towering Tuscan Sun, Bost's unique interpretation of an Italian pallazina, is indeed a home filled with extravagance and drama, indulgent comforts and just a bit of the unexpected.  

Overlooking the number five five fairway of Prestonwood Country Club's Highlands golf course, the view from the Tuscan Sun is one of rolling golf course, stretching into the distance. With its elaborate barrel-tiled rooflines of turrets and towers, its timeless stonework and gracious columned arches, all set against the backdrop of cascading hills, this home was most appropriately named for the Tuscan countryside it so evokes.  

In the entry portico, double doors of leaded glass and Spanish cedar open upon a grand foyer with soaring two-story ceilings and sweeping views through the formal living room and the bow of triple-tiered windows to the terrace and the endless golf course beyond. Chiseled travertine tiles, laid in a random pattern of shape and size throughout this area, set the tone of enduring craftsmanship, without stifling formality. To the left, a sweeping staircase of walnut and hand- wrought iron frames a quiet alcove, where a baby grand piano sits bathed in sunlight.  

Ahead, the formal living area shares the foyer's towering ceilings. Though the space is unquestionably lofty, its proportions and appointments nevertheless render it an intimate space. Alongside the cozy conversation area, a pair of antique carved Indonesian doors open to a fully outfitted "wine cellar." A recessed ceiling medallion is treated with an aged stone finish and is encircled at its center with a raised relief of tendrilled grapevines and a fragment of scripture: "I am the true vine and my father is the husbandman vinedresser. (John 15:1), relating to the adjacent wine cellar. Bost used reclaimed Spanish Cedar timbers from a 200-year-old Wilmington home as  spokes in this custom-designed ceiling treatment to achieve a rustic European ambience, and reclaimed timbers from a 200 year-old Wilmington home as reinforcement and trims for the cellar doors.  

The adjacent dining area likewise offers an intermingling of upscale elegance with old-world charm. Spacious enough for a sizeable banquet, the room is bounded by a wide arched window, formal in its scale, while the triple-tray  ceiling is treated with a timeworn copper patina. A huge antique mirror sits on the travertine floor, casual in its lean against the dining room wall, but unmistakably grand in  its monumental size and heavily carved detail.  

A perfectly round powder room, just off the foyer, features a floor cut from a solid slab of appropriately named Ladies Dream granite. Walls here were treated with a plaster and cheesecloth finish, glazed to an ancient patina. The vessel sink rests on a chiseled-edge four-inch slab of granite handpicked by Bost. 

A Winding Way From the dining room, the unique serpentine nature of this home's floorplan begins to emerge. Rooms flow seamlessly one to the other, giving a sense of volume and airiness, while the slight bends and turns that separate the spaces allow each room a measure of privacy and seclusion as well. Though the Tuscan Sun is a sizeable 7,429 square feet, none of its rooms are cold cavernous spaces. One after another, abundantly livable spaces are linked along a  winding ribbon, with open transitions, rather than corridors.   

The slightly more formal foyer and dining areas effortlessly give way to the gourmet kitchen, breakfast caf� and family room. A change in mood is subtly achieved when floors here transition from chiseled travertine to  random-width planks of white oak, stained with the  slightest hint of whiskey brown. Cabinets are cherry in a muted mushroom finish with a rich mocha glaze. Granite counters are a dramatic swirl of creamy peach tones with flecks of speckled grays and greens. Bost custom designed the anchor wall of this kitchen, using an architectural  plaster with the look of limestone to craft, not only a  massive hood with hand applied grapevine relief, but to also incorporate flanking alcoves of recessed shelving, giving the entire expanse the texture and substance  of an antique stone hearth. Among the  commercial-style stainless steel appliances is a built-in Miele coffee system - espresso at the touch of a button.  

The adjoining casual breakfast caf� offers an unobstructed vista of the terrace and hills beyond, while a broad arch embraces the transition from kitchen to  family room in this open space. Here Bost crafted a hearth for the stone fireplace from a massive, centuries old hand-hewn timber salvaged from the Wilmington home. The warm lodge-like ambience of this room is enhanced by a coffered ceiling, inset with rich-stained panels of Pecky Cypress, creating a truly rustic and worn look. Bost designed a built-in entertainment center along one entire wall of this room. With a sizeable triple crown, arched recesses above and a series of square and rectangular  niches, this piece offers architectural interest to the room, while its subtle  plastered surface doesn't compete with the rich tones of the stone fireplace, the Cypress ceiling and the Oak floors.

From the kitchen/family room area, the laundry room features such elegant appointments as travertine floors and granite counters. In the powder room alongside, a vanity was fashioned from  an antique milk-painted washstand, complete with its original porcelain bowl, retrofitted as a functioning vessel sink. Bost custom built a surround for this petite cabinet, perfectly matching the worn-paint finish. His wife Brenda found many of the authentic pieces for the house.    

Further along, an office is tucked off near the rear entrance to the house. Beaded glass in this room's double doors give a touch of the old barrister's chamber. From here, French doors open onto a protected verandah. Deep eves and columned arches give this outdoor living space protection from the elements. Bost also constructed a wall of windows to shield the room from prevailing winds. Cypress-paneled ceilings and Mission-style furnishings complete the very room-like effect of this open outdoor space. A large-screen LCD television is cleverly concealed (and protected) by a folding door created from rough-sawn lumber from the Wilmington house. 

An Owner's Enclave Opposite from the main floor's more social gathering areas, the first-floor master suite offers a private owner's enclave. The bedroom features an angled fireplace, framed flush with the wall for a sleek effect. A butler's bar is conveniently outfitted with sink, mini-fridge and coffee maker. The deep tray ceiling is plastered and finished with a unique random trowel-marked pattern. A deeply recessed light tray offers a warm and subtle glow to this very  intimate room.  From an open alcove, adjoining the bedroom, fan out his-and-her closets, a completely equipped fitness room and a spa-like master bath. The nearly room-sized closets are custom-fitted for maximum storage and utility. In Brenda Bost's closet, a built-in desk allows  typical desktop clutter to remain concealed. In his closet, Bost had special cubbies built to accommodate his collection of boots.  

In the bathroom, soft curving soffits define and enclose the space over the garden tub  and the vanity. An oversized, glass-walled shower is sealed and fitted as a steam  shower, complete with built-in speakers for music or even listening to the LCD TV mounted on the opposite wall.  

On the second floor, an open balcony leads to three spacious bedrooms, each with its own bath. Ride the glass-walled elevator to the thirdfourth-floor observatory and rooftop  terrace, enjoying the view as you go.  

Or ride down to what might be the true heart of this extraordinary home. On the ground floor, you'll find all the necessities of life, from a small kitchen to a billiards room, a guest room and bath to a living room complete with wide-screen TV and river stone fireplace - and of course, a home theater.  Outfitted by Audio Advice this retro-style cinema palace features a 100-inch screen and full-fledged Dolby surround-sound. Stadium seating offers six overstuffed  recliners for absolute comfort while enjoying this true movie theater experience.  

But perhaps the most unusual feature of this home is its music room. This room, rustically enveloped in Pecky Cypress, ceiling and walls, was actually constructed to FEMA Class 320 Safe Room standards. Encased in nine inches of steel-reinforced concrete, this room could withstand a direct hit from an F-5 tornado. And while Bost hopes to never have to avail himself of these protective properties, he does point out the incredible soundproofing benefits of this bunker-like room. The perfect location for the keyboard and six or so  electric guitars played by Bost and his son. Step outside the recreation complex that is this home's downstairs to a curvaceous  terrace following the lines of a one-of-a-kind guitar-shaped swimming pool. A charming, slate-paved bridge forms a fret across the neck, and a towering slate fountain creates a cascading headstock for this water bound instrument. An outdoor shower alongside the pool is rendered open-air, yet private, with wide-slat Bahama-style louvered walls and an open pergola roof. 

Beneath the Surface  
Lest you mistake the Tuscan Sun for just a pretty face, know that beneath the polished exteriors of this singular home is a complex system that works as well as it looks. First, a concrete masonry framing system - from the foundation to the roof - offers unparalleled structural integrity. "And this thermal massing of walls allows for excellent energy efficiency, too," says Bost. Eight-inch block walls are injected with expanded foam insulation and then framed inside with an additional layer of R-13 insulation, for an exceptionally quiet and energy  conserving structure.  

In addition to masonry framing, Bost has equipped the Tuscan Sun with high SEER-rated HVAC systems, along with a state-of-the-art energy return ventilator (ERV). These systems allow a home that is sealed against energy loss to breathe, introducing fresh air (four to five complete air changes each day) without the loss of heating or cooling, and regulating humidity levels as well. HEPA filtration ensures the removal of airborne contaminant down to .3 microns.  

In addition to installing highly efficient low-e, argon-filled windows and incorporating Energy Star standards in appliances and insulating techniques, Bost has installed an energy management control system (EMCS). This smart device monitors and invisibly regulates the overall power demands of the house, eliminating the power spikes that drive up utility rates and guaranteeing a significant reduction in energy costs.  The home is also completely wired for audio-visual, Internet access and security. A panel from each room allows the user to listen to satellite radio, broadcast a DVD to the in-room TV or dial up a playlist from the digital music library loaded to an iPod.  Given its extraordinary features, inside and out, it's no surprise that the Tuscan Sun earned Rex Bost top honors in this past fall's Parade of Homes - a gold medal for a golden home, under the Tuscan Sun.     

The Energy Connection 
A home that minimizes its consumption of energy to heat, cool, cook, and wash - all the comforts that require power - is a win-win proposition. Not only are precious natural resources preserved, so  are the homeowner's hard-earned dollars. It's possible, with careful selection of building materials, construction techniques, appliances and systems, to cut your monthly energy bill by 30, 40, even 50  percent or more, and enjoy a more comfortable home in the bargain.  

The Building Envelope  Creating a barrier that keeps already cooled or heated air inside your  home, and blocks energy-robbing infiltration of outside air, is key to achieving maximum energy efficiency. Begin with a housewrap that encases the home with a seamless, highly tear-resistant membrane that acts like a windbreaker.  

When it comes to insulation, the higher the R-value, the better.  The Department of Energy has a handy zip-code calculator for determining appropriate R-values for insulating walls, floors and attics.  Use Polyurethane spray foam for sealing joints, seams and electrical and plumbing penetrations - all of the small cracks and crevices  that allow air infiltration.  The average home can lose as much as 30 percent of its heating  or air conditioning energy through windows. Look for double-glazed windows filled with low-conductive gasses, such as argon or krypton and low-E coatings.  Right-Size It  Installing an efficient heating and cooling system is only one piece of the energy saving puzzle; it's also important to purchase the right size system for your home. An oversized air conditioner is not the most efficient choice. Have your contractor perform a complete load calculation (a Manual J) to make sure your unit is properly sized.  Manage the Load  An energy management control system (EMCS) uses micro-computer technology to regulate a home's energy use for maximum efficiency. This smart device constantly monitors energy usage on a real-time basis, seamlessly cycling some systems off during peak usage to eliminate the power spikes that drive up utility rates. 

The Department of Energy estimates that an EMCS can translate to an average 20 percent savings in energy costs.  Be a Star  The Department of Energy estimates that appliances account for about 20 percent of your household's energy consumption, with refrigerators and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list. Appliances carrying the Energy Star label have been identified as the most energy-efficient products in their classes, generally exceeding minimum federal standards by a substantial amount. While Energy Star appliances may require a higher initial investment, they will save a homeowner in energy costs each and every month of their service. 

For more information, visit these websites:  DOE R-value zip-code calculator www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_16.html  Energy Star www.energystar.gov  

Building in the Landscape 
Landscaping today is about so much more than just plants, according to John Doughty, owner of Doughty Landscape Construction, the firm that  created the landscapes for the Tuscan Sun and many of Rex Bost's Triangle homes.  Walls and paths, terraces and gazebos, summer kitchens and water, water everywhere - these hardscape elements are the backbone of the new landscape, and there are more options available to homeowners today than ever before.  

One of the most versatile products now on the market is the interlocking concrete paver. These textured and tinted tiles come in a staggering variety of sizes, shapes and colors. From brick to cut fieldstone to slate to antique cobblestone, concrete pavers can be used to create terraces, steps, circular patios, in just about any look you are trying to achieve.  

The better paver manufacturers offer a finish that is integral through the tile, so there is never any chipping or wearing away. And their unique ability to distribute loads can make pavers highly durable, even in heavy traffic areas. "But the finished product is only as good as its installation,"  cautions Doughty. "Always seek out a contractor with certification from an accrediting agency like the Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute (ICPI)."   

And never before have there been so many choices when it comes to incorporating water into the landscape. Traditional fountains, urns, waterfalls, babbling brooks, reflecting ponds - whatever your imagination can conjure. "Water is such an important element in the landscape," says Doughty, "both for its visual impact and for its sound." Doughty incorporated a bubbling fountain at the entrance to the Tuscan Sun and crafted a Bost-designed slate water feature at the end of the swimming pool in back. This enormous fountain cascades over three levels, incorporating slate tile with decorative slate bands and flowerbeds into its waterfall tower.  

Doughty encourages homeowners to plan their landscapes as an  extension of their living spaces. With well-designed hardscapes, when it comes to the boundaries of your home's places to relax and entertain and recreate - the sky is the limit.