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Wednesday, December 21, 1988
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Say Goodnight, Gracie!
Alexanders’ Home Grew Unexpectedly As It Was Being Built
Reg and Deco Alexander named their beautiful new 53
home, "Gracie."
"Remember how George Burns' wife Gracie would
start stories that would fumble on and on? We thought
of that by the way the house grew unexpectantly while
it was being built," Reg said.
For one thing, he explained there was a misprint in
the written proportions of the floor plan that led to a
larger area than had been planned. "It was a surprise but
we had to keep on going. We couldn't unbuild
anything." he said. An unplanned basement was also
required due to the slope of the land. i
What was their second reason for naming the house?
"We had been through a lot of financial and vocational |
struggles during recent years," Reg explained. "Frankly,
naming the house reminds us of the Grace of God that
bountifully protects us at all times," he said.
Reg and Deco had their first experience in building |
in 1973. Through a progression of houses, they had |
acquired an amount of equity that was to become quite
valuable in another way. In 1985, they sold a house in
Gastonia, moved into an apartment in Kings Mountain |
and placed most of the equity as a short term loan to
their youth ministry organization, Regal Ventures,
which needed capitol to begin a conference series.
As a means of income, they also began a graphic
design company, Regal Graphics, and Deco further
developed a tax and accounting service. As a Christian |
humorist and speaker, Reg also speaks to church and
civic groups throughout the Southeast.
Deco refers to the style of their home as "practical
contemporary” with ambling, usable open space. :
Entering into the front door, one walks not only into GRACIE - The beautiful new home of Reg and Deco Alexander in Gold Run is appropriately named
a spacious foyer but also into the personality of the "Gracie" by the owners, well known for their Christian youth ministry. The home was built by the Grace of
owners. At this holiday season the door bell plays "Joy God, through love and hard work.
To The World."
The large Great room with conversational L-shaped
#
couch, television and piano presents a casual
atmosphere. There are even a couple of four feet
pillows on the floor in front of the fireplace.
Double doors from the Great room lead into a
sunporch area decorated with an assortment of Mickey
Mouse paraphernalia, including a large wall hanging of
Mickey. "What Walt Disney did with a simple idea has
always been an inspiration to me," says Reg, explaining
that his first attempts at art were in drawing the mouse.
From the sunporch, one can exit by way of a long
wooden deck that sweeps around the back of the house,
or continue toward the master bedroom, entering
through a spacious bath area.
The master bedroom has a private deck overlooking
the backyard.
There is a lot of glass on the front and back, bathing
. the house with natural light.
The landing half-way up the steps provides a
beautiful view through large glass windows.
The loft area serves as Reg's at-home office space
where, from his desk he can look into the Great room
below. Deco's office, above the sunroom, has window
openings with shutters that allow her to also look into
. the room below or across to the loft.
There are also two bedrooms and a full bathroom
upstairs. :
There is a touch of whimsy everywhere you look in
this house- a Mickey Mouse telephone, wood puzzles
. on the coffee table, a gumball machine, filled with
- M&M's in the kitchen..elements that reflect the joyful
personality of the owners. i
“We enjoy having friends over," smiles Deco as she
puts away a few items from a choir party. "Would. you
believe we had 19 young people from a church in
Florida sleep over on their way north for a mission
trip.? There were sleeping bags all over the house," she
laughs.
Child Would Make Home Complete
Mouse room. The house requires no intercom system
because from any location you can see and talk to
others who may be in a separate area of the nine room
contemporary home. "It's a big house but we like to
. share it with our friends and the welcome mat is always
Stories By out,” said Mrs, Alexander,
"This house was a real challenge for us to build,"
said contractor Ruby Alexander. She said the addition
Deco Alexander's Christmas wish is for a child to
become a part of her happy family.
The beautiful new home of Reg and Deco Alexander
in Gold Run Acres is a perfect place for family living
and entertaining. A nursery on the second floor is ready
. but the Alexanders, approved as adoptive parents six
years ago, are still waiting. "We know that if it is the
Lord's will we will be able to adopt," said Deco who
has created a warm environment for family and visiting ° of Andersen high performance windows and ceiling
: friends as well as young people they have grown to Lib Stewart fans enhance the energy-efficiency of the house. Deco | - |
TRY love through their Christian ministry. fi 8 said utility bills, including gas, runs a little over $100 a 3
Diane Copeland and Reg Alexander met at Gardner-
Webb College in 1969. Sh foe cudent month which means that the solar design is cost-saving.
| el ollege 1n . She was an accounting
Vertical blinds are used in some areas of the house but
and he was studying for the ministry. They were ie in others the sun comes through the big windows for
married in August 1971. added warmth. Other features of the house include big,
The couple's versatility is featured in the decor of roomy closets, a powder room on the first floor level
their beautiful new home in Gold Run Acres, a 3600
square foot solar house and a first of its kind to be built
by Reg's parents, Ruby and Charles Alexander, who
have developed the beautiful area of Gold Run of 30
residences.
for visitors, a large kitchen and breakfast area, a large
master bedroom and big bathroom with garden sunken
tub inlaid with ceramic tile, central vac system and
down draft stove and counter savers oven. Deco's office
doubles also for her sewing and craft room and she
designed the windows which also overlook her
husband's office in the common space in the loft. The
upstairs area is carpeted in a soft beige and the blue
and mauve tones are carried out in decorative details
throughout the house. Blue carpeting is used in the
living room and dining room. Grey tile is used in the
sunroom and oak floors enhance the foyer and
staircase. The kitchen and breakfast area is tiled for
easy care. Mauve curtains are used in the spacious
dining room which is wallpapered in blue and mauve
with pink iris accent. Mauve colored light fixtures are
used over the glass-topped breakfast table. The nursery
is called the Teddy Bear room because teddy bears are
used on the bed and other stuffed animals are used
throughout the room. Closets are designed for
efficiency too. Commercially-built high and low
hanging garment areas, baskets and shelves give more
storage space in the big closet areas of the house.
The angled roofline highlights this many-windowed
contemporary design. The sun space, accessible from
breakfast area and master bath, stores the heat from the
sun in the tiled floor and hot tub. The kitchen has an
angled work counter and is Deco's favorite room
because she likes to cook.The openness and brightness
of the home are also its attractive features.
The blue and mauve decor of the house is enhanced
with holiday decorations. The loft area is draped with
garland, twinkling lights and red bows. Over the
fireplace is a wreath decorated with brass instruments,
butterflies, and music-related items and tied with a big
red bow. The mantel is garlanded and arranged with red
candles and brass angels. Garlands of greenery, lights
and red bows trim the rail at the front of the house and
greenery, bells and a red velvet bow trim the front door.
A Christmas tree in the Great room is festive with
decorations and underneath the tree is a big Mickey
Mouse and other stuffed animals just in case Santa
should bring a baby for the Alexanders.
The house "flows" from the entrance to the second
floor level and is open and comfortable. When 35 : :
people from First Baptist Church Choir gathered for ! "This is a special Christmas for us in our new
their traditional party recently they found the home a OWNERS OF "GRACIE" - Reg and Deco home," said Deco who says that their faith and hard
Music from a portable music box can be heard all
over the house during the holiday season and door
chimes play various Christmas selections from "Jingle
Bells" to "Joy to The World."
perfect place for entertaining. One of the favorite spots Alexander are pictured in the loft area of their work helped them to build a dream house they want to
for visitors is the sunroom which Reg calls his Mickey beautiful home in Gold Run Community. share with others.
GREAT ROOM - The home of Reg and Deco Alexander is open and comfortable. The Great Room is MASTER BATH - A luxurious master bath opens off the master bedroom on the second floor of the
perfect for entertaining family and friends. home. The mauve and blue motif is featured throughout the house.