Bob Chatham is a home designer working out of Fairhope, Alabama designing custom homes all along the Gulf Coast. Chatham has been creating custom homes for over a quarter of a century and is a member of the American Institute of Building Design and the National Association of Home Builders. He has developed a unique approach while working with clients by understanding their needs, wants, and priorities in their dream homes. His approach begins with a paper-and-pencil session with the prospective homeowner, during which he makes notes and sketches and explores the clients’ ideas and expectations. From there, he brings in members of his team, beginning with Kathy Heard, who actually draws the plans based on the client’s wishes and on input from the construction, engineering, and interior design professionals. “Our approach, from creating working drawings, refining floor plans, and creating construction documents, is a collaborative exercise, resulting in a well-conceived finished product,” says Heard.
In the case of the Tranquil Bay home, the clients brought in Phillip Vlahos, partner in Vlahos, Debogory & Tuck Construction, and Barbara Brown, head of project development at VDT Construction, interior designer Allyson Runnels, and Mike Newell of Gulf Coast Engineering to ensure that their ideas and concerns were addressed in the planning process. The clients were living out of state when the process began, so after the initial planning, the design team worked with them remotely. The site, which enjoys expansive water views, presented some inherent challenges that needed to be addressed from the beginning. The property was in a flood zone and included wetlands and a buffer area.
The clients envisioned a spacious home to accommodate family needs and space for guests that would fit with the subtropical surroundings of a golf course community. As the design team refined ideas and solidified drawings, the clients settled on a two-story home with the main level containing an expansive and efficient kitchen, a light-filled living room, and a first-floor master suite, all with twelve-foot ceilings and bay views. The kitchen has ample work surfaces, a dramatic hood over the cooking area, an island with plenty of storage and seating, and a dazzling water view. The main level also contains a morning room, with unique floating plant shelves, a wine room with walls constructed from wine corks the owners collected over many years, as well as cork flooring. The open kitchen area flows seamlessly into the living and dining areas, and beyond to the outdoor living area and the infinity pool. A first-floor bedroom suite with spacious bath and dressing areas completes the main level.
The second story houses the primary bedroom suite featuring a master bath with a backlit onyx slab, and its stunning green tones set the color palette for the entire suite. In addition, there are several additional bedrooms and baths on this level. There are wide covered porches all the way around the upper floor, with ceilings constructed of mountain ash-stained v-groove pine, and weathered teak TimberTech flooring. Finally, there is a private, spacious, and well-appointed guest apartment above the oversized garage.
The homeowners stayed involved throughout the design process, and they knew that they wanted a light, bright, and airy feel throughout the home, plus finishes and furnishings that evoked a casual atmosphere – nothing fussy or formal. Interior Designer Allyson Runnels’ introduction of relaxed but elevated design choices marries practicality and luxury to suggest a sense of drama and grandeur, and the overall sense is one of warmth and uplifting character. Chatham Custom Home Design and the rest of the team created the project from its inception and brought their combined expertise to make it a reality.
The homeowners, who are now settled in their new home, enjoy the outdoor kitchen, casual seating, and entertaining areas. “We love the pool, the fireplace, swings, and the big TV, plus the convenience of having a bathroom accessible from outside,” says the owner. “My husband loves to garden, and there are spaces set aside for that as well. We feel blessed beyond measure that we found this team to understand our vision and to build our dream home.”
Bob Chatham Custom Home Design
78 South Section Street
Fairhope AL 36532
251-928-0988
designer@bobchatham.com