From its pinnacle on White Oak Mountain, Butch and Aronda Lunsford’s English country manor offers layered mountain views in all directions. “From the front porch on a clear day, you can see about 60 miles to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia to Elijay and the Chattahoochee National Forest and Big and Little Frog Mountains,” says Butch Lunsford. “To the left is North Carolina and Northeast Tennessee toward Asheville, the Cherokee National Forest, Unicoi and Star Mountains. They are about 60 to 70 miles away,” he continues. “On the clearest days, you can see the Smoky Mountains behind them at about 125 miles.” From the rear terrace, the western view covers a broad span from East Brainerd, to downtown Chattanooga, and then east to Hamilton Place. To the right, Sequoyah, Hixson and Harrison can be seen. Lookout and Signal Mountains frame the sights at a distance. Ooltewah-Ringgold road with its farms and subdivisions is easy to identify below during the day. From every angle, breathtaking views abound.
“At certain times, it is like having a private view of a huge fireworks display across Chattanooga,” says Lunsford. “From the terrace at the back, you can see fireworks downtown, at Hamilton Place, Chickamauga National Park, and occasionally Lookout Mountain. Many folks here in Ooltewah do fireworks. The airport is directly in front of us. When the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds come in for air shows, many of their maneuvers are done in our area, and that is fun,” says Lunsford.
“I guess we are tree huggers in a sense. When we bought the land, we did a tree survey. We wanted to map everything over 18 inches in diameter,” says Lunsford. From the survey, architect Louie Wamp planned the house for its best exposure to views from every room. Even stairway and bathroom windows frame exquisite landscapes. “The house was planned around the trees,” explains Lunsford.
During the planning stages, Aronda Lunsford told Wamp that she wanted the house to look as though it had been there for years. Created in earth tones of limestone, grays and soft greens, it blends harmoniously into the terrain. Springtime brings forth splashes of color with jonquils, hydrangeas and foliage plantings. Two koi pools with a connecting waterfall and curved footbridge were Butch Lunsford’s creations. They form a picturesque setting to grace the terrace, open patio entertainment area, and screened porch.
The interior of the home is elegant but casual. From the entry, there is a welcoming sensation that speaks to the loving care that has gone into planning this house. An open kitchen and keeping area provide ideal space for visiting, reading, casual dining or bird-watching. Three fireplaces create a cozy feeling even on the harshest, dreariest days. Proudly pointing a large oak tree outside the dining area, Aronda proclaims, “Rocky Raccoon lives in that tree.” She continues, “We are surrounded by nature. It is very peaceful and serene.” Walking from room to room, walls of windows dramatically open the spaces and bring views from varying angles into the home. The scenes are changing continuously with each season. From stone and hardwood floors to coffered high ceilings, indoors blends with outdoors to exude warmth and charm. “When we first moved into the house, we did not have curtains on the windows in the bedroom. We were astounded to see how the full moon illuminated everything at night. It was breathtaking. We really wanted to take the best advantage of the view and natural surroundings,” remarks Aronda.
Currently being marketed by Real Estate Partners Chattanooga, LLC, this wonderful home is sure to provide a beautiful, serene and comfortable lifestyle that any new home-owner will treasure forever.