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Decorative metal inserts break up the tumbled stone back-splash and becomes the focal point behind the stove. Above the kitchen’s island, tin sheets with stamped squares are trimmed with maple molding. The appliances are Miele from Homewerks in San Antonio.

By Diane S. Morales, Caller-Times

April 02, 2006

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Designer Debra R. Jamison said the foyer chandelier set the tone for the rest of the home’s light fixtures and hardware. The mini lamp-shade style fixture with a pewter finish is repeated in the kitchen and the formal dining room.

Imagine hosting a party for about 100 people in your new home and you haven’t spent one night in it.

That’s what happened to Shawn and Gary Groesbeck, who unveiled their home at an engagement party for friends.

“We made plans last May to have the party in January,” Shawn said. “The last worker walked out at 3 p.m. and we had the party that night. We hadn’t slept in the house yet. That was our first night.”

Shawn, an assistant manager at Padre Staples Mall, and Gary, a retailer, are used to pressure and getting things done on schedule. The couple had a goal and time was essential. So they sought a builder, a designer and a house designer who understood their mission to create more than 7,000 square feet of bliss.

“We’re having a housewarming party soon for about 300 to 400 people,” Shawn said. “And for the subcontractors too because they’re so much a part of the house.”

Picture perfect

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A view from the kids’ playroom balcony outlines the checkered stone on the patio. Teakwood furniture fills the sitting spaces, including around the double-sided fireplace. “Hopefully we’ll get to enjoy the patio this summer,” Shawn said. “That’s the plan.”

The Groesbeck’s home on Bar Le Doc Drive West is their second home building experience in Kings Crossing, but their first in The Domain community. They doubled the size of their previous home, investing serious time and effort in the design details and the décor.

“We met once a week for about a year and when it was over I kind of had withdrawals,” Shawn said.

Everyone in the building process experienced some sadness when the four-bedroom six-bathroom home was complete, but they’ll have a lifetime of pride for building a family’s dream home.

Shawn said it took six to nine months for James Mazoch to design the home they wanted. It took another year for builder Terrell Pruett to construct it. The couple hired Debra R. Jamison an allied member of the American School of Interior Design, who works at Buddy Walker Home Furnishings. Jamison worked with the family to coordinate new furniture, wall colors, floors and tile, fabrics, countertops and other design details.

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

In the master bath, warm tones and textures create a spa-like retreat. Next to the shower is a workout space. Connected to the bathroom are Shawn and Gary Groesbeck’s individual walk-in closets trimmed with maple wood.

Shawn kept a nifty accordion file categorized by rooms filled with magazine photos of what she liked, providing Terrell and Jamison with copies.

Some key features Shawn wanted in their home was openness, a walk-in closet, study rooms for their two kids, fireplaces in the master suite and bathroom, an arts/crafts room, personal office space and a great backyard. The couple got it all, and then some.

Family room affair

In the foyer, faux finish walls in tan and gold hues age space, while a shapely wrought iron banister curves to the second floor.

Arched doorways accent entry points to rooms and high gloss faux wood floors in a rich cherry maple finish gleams downstairs and upstairs.

“The predominant color is blond in the house,” Jamison said. “And we went with warm colors for the rest of the house.”

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

The couple’s formal dining table is from their previous home, but Ty the cat is the newest member of the family. Shawn had the chair cushions reupholstered with dangling tassel ties. Bronze draperies, burgundy and gold wallpaper balance the richness of the ceiling’s craftsmanship.

Past the formal dining room is the family room and kitchen where the Groesbecks and their children Madison,11 and Jonathan, 14, spend most of their time. It’s Gary and Shawn’s favorite space.

“The kids migrate to it. Maybe the house is too big and they like to be with us,” Gary said, laughing.

A distressed caramel leather sofa with gold tapestry accent chairs provides comfy spots in front of a custom-built maple wall unit. All the woodwork in the home is maple, according to Jamison.

Overlooking the living space is the kitchen with tan tumbled stone and brick, which was Terrell’s idea to bring the home’s brick exterior inside the home.

Behind the family room is a card room complete with a full wet bar and burgundy walls where Gary entertains his card-playing buddies.

Tuscan dream

The family room and master suite offer access to about 3,500 square foot patio complete with a swimming pool, kitchen, arbor and fireplace designed by Hector J. Villarreal, owner of Southern Landscapes.

“They wanted a Tuscan feeling of the house to reflect in the garden,” Villarreal said. “But something livable too.”

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

The foyer opens the family room and kitchen areas. In the background, stone — which also repeats in the master suite — trims the gas fireplace. A russet, faux-finished niche provides another interesting focal point leading to the card room.

Bottlebrush, boxwoods, impatiens, roses and Italian cypress finish the garden scene.

A doorway from the patio is the master suite and a luxurious bath with iridescent glass mosaic, stone and glass block layers textures.

The pièce de résistance is Shawn’s cavernous closet inspired by a wood mirror jewelry case from Buddy Walker Home Furnishings.

Crown molding, built-in shoe shelves from floor to ceiling and a built-in bench makes Shawn’s closet a personal dressing room retreat.

Kids’ design

Upstairs is the kids’ rooms, a playroom, a billiard room and a guest bedroom. Shawn wanted her children to have a say in their room’s décor to make it their own, so Madison and Jonathan met with Jamison to select furniture and talk colors.

A denim bedspread and tan leather recliners define Jonathan’s subdued space, while Madison’s bedroom glows with cantaloupe-colored walls and orange and pink polka dot bedding.

The Groesbecks have settled into their new home after four months, but the dream continues for Shawn.

“I wake up and pinch myself every day and think ‘oh my gosh’ I live here?” she said.