Warm and welcoming

Family members came from far and wide – Iowa, Nebraska, California – to visit Doug and Polly Fikse in early July at Smith Mountain Lake. In fact, at one point, the Fikses counted 38 guests staying at their new home in The Water’s Edge. But, it’s OK. Accommodating large family gatherings is a big reason the couple built the 11,000-square-foot house, which will be showcased on the annual Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour Oct. 7-9.
     “It’s so much fun to be together with the rest of the family,” said Kendra Fikse of Richmond, Doug and Polly’s niece. “We get out on the kayaks, go jet-skiing, go out on the boat; we play board games on the patio, and we just have a blast. This house makes it absolutely perfect.”
    Son Scott Fikse said, “Having a house on the lake is great. People come to you when you’re here.”
    While plenty of action takes place outside the home’s stone and dryvit exterior, the interior also is visitor-friendly. There are two master suites and four guest suites, most with adjoining sitting areas. Upstairs, near the guest rooms, is a loft library and a mini living room. There also are two bunkrooms - one for girls and one for boys - that extend the sleeping space.
    Large windows and multiple patios on the lake side of the home maximize the Fikses’ picture-perfect view of Smith Mountain. One space is referred to as a “loggia,” a covered, open-air patio with arches. It’s a great spot to relax and play games or to eat outdoors, Polly Fikse said. For cooler weather, the loggia includes an outdoor fireplace. On the patio, the homeowners utilize an extensive outdoor kitchen with grill.
    The main indoor kitchen is impressive with plenty of space to prepare food for the Fikses’ multitude of guests. The countertops are eye-popping, constructed of rainforest brown marble. The space is large, yet seems intimate thanks to a bench area for guests to congregate and a small dining spot that accommodates up to six.
    Those “in the know” can descend to the lake level via a hidden stairway that leads from behind a wall in the master bedroom to the exercise room and sauna below. Beyond that awaits a street-scene arcade resembling a row of shops similar to what might be found in a fancy hotel. A media room, wine cellar, toy room, garden room and fountain courtyard complete the lower level. Yet another kitchen plus a covered patio and a spa pool are just outside.
    The Highland Group designed the Old World European-style home complete with wrought iron balconies often used as launching pads for lobbing water balloons onto relatives ambling along the path to the dock. Wide moldings and Brazilian cherry floors contribute to the home’s luxurious look.
    Not as obvious are the ultra-high tech elements of the house, an aspect of the building process Doug Fikse, who works in the home electronics industry, oversaw personally. Miles of wiring and a number of devices control televisions, lighting, music, room temperature, even water temperature in the spa. Small screens throughout the home display weather and water conditions, home security information and more.
    Experts will be on hand to demonstrate the technology during the Home Tour, which the Fikses said they saw as a great opportunity to support local charities.
    “We have enjoyed the Home Tour in the past and see it as a great vehicle to see the lake, its houses and the creative way people have built their dreams,” said Polly Fikse.

The Fikse home is one of eight that will be showcased on the SML Charity Home Tour Oct. 7-9. Tickets, which include access to special discounts at area restaurants and shops, are $20 in advance and $25 on Tour days. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit smlcharityhometour.com or call 540.297.TOUR.

BUILDING BASICS

Year Completed: 2009

Square Footage: 11,000

Design Style: Old-World European

Architect: The Highland Group

Builder: Building Specialists, Inc.

Dock Builder: Turner's Building, Inc.

Interior Design: Interiors by Kris

Landscape Design: Crowther Landscape Architecture, Annapolis, Md.

Landscape Installation: Seven Oaks Landscape & Hardscape


HOME JOURNAL

Why We Love SML
“After growing up spending my summers at the Jersey shore I just fell in love with the water,” Polly said. “It is so clean.”

Doug’s Favorite Feature
The wine cellar. “It’s like a private restaurant with a perfect lake view.”

Polly’s Top Spot
The loggia “because it has a beautiful view of the lake and in the off-season it is still very usable. A fireplace makes it nice and cozy.”

Best Use of Space  ;
A bathroom under stairways connects to a locker room with plenty of storage for guests to use.