WHEN JOY FELDMAN first found her home in Covington’s Terra Bella development, she immediately recognized its unique combination of suburban living with the benefits of city life. Here, nestled next to the community’s lake, the house offered more of everything she was looking for than so many others she had visited during her house hunt four years ago.
The planned community of Terra Bella is unique to the Northshore area and boasts features not found in typical subdivision style developments. From the centralized private post office to the variety of dining options and businesses, residents enjoy the sense of community that so many other places lack. Personal contact and true connections with neighbors come along with the purchase agreement in this neck of the woods. Daily walks with her dog and the greetings that go hand in hand are a part of life here that Joy finds so gratifying. Her husband’s job relocation to another state means Joy must leave this idyllic lifestyle behind, but she’s certain its new resident will find the community every bit as comforting.
In this creole cottage bungalow-style house, every inch of space has been made useful, much like the community in which it resides. Built as a Southern Living Idea House in 2010, the house has features that are completely unique. The front porch is deep and welcoming, and just above it the private balcony outside the master bedroom is where Joy and her husband Brian spend a good deal of time watching the birds home and wildlife along the lake. “It’s so peaceful there,” she says. “It’s our place to connect, sitting in our rocking chairs while we watch the mist coming off the lake.” Especially during this migration season, something is new and interesting during every day’s morning coffee.
Undoubtedly, the star of the show in this house is the master suite that is just inside the balcony doors. The master bath showcases striking mosaic tiles on a curved wall behind the bathtub that absolutely shimmer in the light. The sheer size of the room is notable, and attention to detail was paramount in this spa-like retreat. A custom shower system features multiple jets and even a speaker system. Soft, cool colors add to the peaceful, restorative aura of this very private master ensemble. Thoughtful touches like the second-floor laundry room keep the necessary chores manageable; no walking down the winding staircase carrying baskets is needed. Two more bedrooms and an adjoining bathroom make the house perfect for multiple generations in more ways than one. “We are empty nesters now, but my mom lives in the carriage house above the garage,” says Joy. “She has her privacy and we have ours, but I can look right across the courtyard and know she’s safe nearby.” Even the view across the patio is a nice one, with a fire pit for enjoying the outdoors during cooler weather and a retractable shade cloth that keeps sunburns at bay during the summer.
From the center of the ultra-efficient, top-of-the-line kitchen, the entire first floor is almost completely visible and features a floor plan that is perfect for entertaining. Cypress beams help define the rooms from above adding a warm glow to the light and airy main living space. The striking gray green cabinetry is an elegant contrast to the stainless steel appliances. A built-in breakfast nook surrounded by windows is perfect for dining with family as it is visiting with friends. Just off the entryway is a petite library with floor-to ceiling bookcases, begging for its pocket doors to be pulled together for a private foray into a great work of fiction.
Even the rear of the house has surprising features, like a homework room incorporated into the space beneath the stairs. Music flows uninterrupted from room to room through the central speaker system, and an ultra-filtered air conditioning system minimizes the allergens in the air. No inch, no square foot has been left out of the design of not just the house, but also of the life that grows inside this home. From its thoughtful design to its peaceful community surroundings, this suburban home offers a perfect balance of comfort and modern convenience.
