That "modern house on Richmond Road"

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With its redwood exterior, glass walls and an elevated catwalk extending from the master bedroom to a two-story garage, the home on the corner of Richmond Road and Richmond Avenue is decidedly different from its Crafstman-era Kenwick counterparts. The home has seen its share of mixed reviews since its dramatic renovations began more than five years ago, but for Michelle Hollingshead, the “Redwood Forest,” as she calls it, was love at first sight – well before she ever imagined she would one day call it home.

“I drove by it all the time,” said Hollingshead, who was living on Cooper and Garden at the time, with her family, which includes her husband, Dan; daughter, Addison (13); son, Jack (10); and dog, Quik.

“I’d always think, ‘that house is so cool,’ but I had no idea if it was for sale or occupied or what,” she said.

Originally built at the turn of the century, the home was purchased at auction in 2009 by Matt Shively, a furniture maker looking to pursue a vision for a challenging, outside-the-box renovation project. Shively, who has since moved to New York, hired John DeHart, co-owner of the architectural and construction firm thoughtSPACE, as the architect on the project. Aside from a few exterior walls and the foundation, nearly every aspect of the original home was replaced, using as many locally sourced materials as possible.

“Working on that house was a test to explore how we can use modern forms but build with locally produced, natural materials that the human body can relate to,” DeHart said.

Hardwood floors from Longwood Antiques, wooden cabinetry from BC Woodworking and a decorative and dramatic interior staircase are among the elements that DeHart utilized to “warm” the modern aesthetic of the home, which he refers to as “indigenous modern” because so many design ideals and components are informed by regional elements.

Having lived for many years in Las Vegas, modern homes didn’t strike Michelle and Dan as particularly unusual. When Michelle noticed a “Complete Auction” sign in the yard of the home last year, she immediately texted Dan with the news.

“It was kind of cheeky,” Michelle recalled with a laugh. “It said, ‘I want this house,’ with just a link.”

That same night, the couple had drinks with their friend Whitney Durham of Sotheby’s Realty, who asked if they wanted to see the house.

“It was after 10 p.m., but we immediately agreed,” Dan remembers. “Once we saw the inside, it sealed the deal.”

The couple – who had put their Cooper Drive home on the market months before, in hopes of moving closer to downtown – registered for the auction. When the day came, 25 registered bidders and 75 onlookers gathered in the backyard. And to their surprise and delight, Dan and Michelle walked away as the winning bidders.

They agree that one of the best things about moving into the house is the network of friends and neighbors who have helped along the way. Michelle said, “When we first moved in, we set three intentions for the home. We wanted it to be a place of love, creativity and community.”

With its sleek, clean lines and open floor plan, moving into the home helped to inspire the more stripped down and minimal lifestyle that the family enjoys today. They sold or donated nearly half of their belongings, keeping only the things that brought them joy. They chose new furnishings carefully with very mindful attention to the sleek aesthetic of their new home.

“There is so much freedom in living this way,” Michelle said. “I gave away 12 boxes of books when we moved. We wanted to be very intentional about what’s here.”

“But at the same time, we don’t feel like we’re missing anything,” Dan added. “The house has plenty of storage in the basement, and each of our kids has essentially their own ‘locker’ to store books, coats and the things they need every day.”

Walking from room to room, it’s easy to appreciate the home’s relaxing, lighthearted and clutter-free style, with front-facing floor-to-ceiling windows and gallery white walls filling the home with natural light. Dan and Michelle agreed that privacy isn’t much of an issue; while Dan is looking into an electrostatic film that would convert the windows from clear to opaque at night, they have no immediate plans to install it.

“All of our bedrooms are on the second level, and cars fly by on Richmond Road,” said Michelle. “Sometimes people walking outside will stop and look in, and I usually just wave to them.”

Visible from the front window for the second year in a row is an industrial-style Christmas tree, designed by neighbor Joyce Rose and constructed from PVC pipe, dryer venting and white electric lights. Rose also painted the raw edges of the Hollingsheads’ fireplace logs to match the throw pillows in the living room; the bright pops of color coordinate beautifully with the abstract painting by local artist Monica Pipia that hangs over the mantle, which Michelle says provided the inspiration for much of the downstairs decor. A trio of hanging blown glass orbs, coffee table and chairs in the room were purchased from CB2.

To the right of the living room is Michelle’s office. The glossy white, wall-mounted bookshelf and desk are from IKEA. Nate Hensley helped source the metal for Michelle’s magnetic inspiration board, which takes up an entire wall. A chic end table and chrome chairs from All Modern complete the look.

The oval, raw wood dining room table and steel chairs are from CB2, the chairs draped with small faux sheepskin rugs from IKEA. “That idea came from a friend, and I love it,” said Michelle. “They add some texture and they’re machine washable.”

Off the dining room is a family room with a wall-mounted television and a chunky gray fabric sofa from Bryght. Another set of windows lines the back wall. The entire home was fitted with streamlined, spacious cabinetry by BC Woodworking and flooring from Longwood Antique Woods. Extras like a built-in beverage cooler in the kitchen and a bar sink in the family room add a touch of luxury.

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On the second level, exposed ceiling beams and ductwork is interspersed with long, narrow windows to let in an abundance of natural light. Many of the interior walls feature high windows as well. Truly a showstopper for design fans, the staircase is enclosed with a laser-cut metal decoration resembling wild grass.

Both Addison’s and Jack’s bedrooms have adjoining baths, complete with space-saving European-inspired fixtures. The master bedroom opens onto the walkway leading to the two-story garage. The upper level is currently a kids’ playroom, but there are plans to eventually convert it into a guest apartment.

After growing up in the Las Vegas area, Dan and Michelle have lived in Lexington since 1999, where they both own and operate their own businesses. After several years in the healthcare field, Dan founded a healthcare technology company called Connected Patients, and Michelle is a professional life coach and founder of Imprint Coaching and Consulting.

Despite a number of variables, including the lengthy process of selling their Cooper Drive home, a great deal of public interest in the Richmond Road property, and getting their financial ducks in a row, Dan and Michelle are now happily living in their dream home.

“So many things came together, and I have deep gratitude and appreciation for the community and all the support we received to get here,” said Michelle. “Kenwick is a great neighborhood. We love our street, and Lexington is a place that is filled with all the things we want in our lives: love, community, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit.” cc

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