Mediterranean Masterpiece
by Stacey Paretti Rase
Unless you’ve been a guest of Allyson and Mike Sanderson, you’ve likely never seen the front of their stunning home. That’s because it’s neatly tucked away on the back end of an 18-acre plot of land just off Three Rivers Road in Covington. If you’re an avid northshore boater, however, you’ve surely cruised by the estate’s backyard and gazed in awe at its lush grounds and stately façade. The home is unmistakable from the Tchefuncte River—an Italian Mediterranean design in a deep butter color, featuring an immense portico framed by Corinthian marble columns.
The view from the water also reveals the vast, verdant yard and various descending levels of cascading fountains and springs bearing the distinctive touch of landscape architect and planner Eduardo Jenkins. The culmination of four years’ work, the design focuses on a fabulous vanishing-edge pool, which rests on the bottom foundation of the four-tier marble Italian piazza. The top tier offers an open-space portico for gathering, while the alternating fountains and springs on the levels between elegantly frame the piazza’s balcony.
Allyson’s love of tennis called for the lighted court on one side of the pool, and Mike’s fondness for outdoor entertaining necessitated the pool cabana and kitchen on the opposite side. The latter is a perfect place for lounging with friends and family, and the outdoor grill and pizza oven are used often. The Sandersons say they spend much of their time at home outside, enjoying their backyard areas, and it’s easy to see why.
The home’s entire construction seamlessly carries out the Italian Mediterranean theme found outdoors. “We knew from the start what look we were going for,” says Allyson. They fell in love with a house similar in design that they saw “every time we traveled to our condo in Florida. We’d cross the bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway, and I’d point the house out to Mike.”
From the moment you enter the home through its antique glass and iron double front doors, you can see that only the finest materials were used in its design. The main floor is constructed completely in limestone, while the 30-foot ceiling of the main living room is crafted of cypress in a coffered design. Venetian plaster is found on every wall in between. Italian silk draperies with a graceful cutout design frame the soaring windows overlooking the backyard and loggia. And European antiques find their way into just about every room of the home. “If it’s not upholstered, it’s antique!” laughs Allyson.
Allyson explains how they acquired many of those antique pieces of furniture, art and materials found throughout the home. “Mike could not find the perfect antique door locally, so we figured we’d just go to the source,” she says. “We went to Europe and shopped there.” Accompanying the Sandersons were their contractor, Rocky Payer, and a longtime friend, antique dealer Arthur Harris. “We found many pieces in salvage yards,” remarks Allyson, showing their pantry’s custom-made wooden door that incorporates a piece of antique iron as an example. Many of the doors found throughout the home were discovered on that shopping trip. Other items brought back included marble statues and sculptures, as well as one-of-a-kind furniture pieces. “We were able to measure the furniture then and there and relay those measurements back to the crew here working on the construction,” she notes. That practice ensured that the home’s design would accommodate each individual piece.
The living room’s opulent 18th century armoire is a prime example. Discovered in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France, the massive structure seems to fit seamlessly into the space just beside the fireplace and its mantle, which is built of marble from the Pyrenees Mountains. The carpenter then made the door opposite the fireplace in proportion to match the armoire, giving the room a pleasant sense of balance. No attention to detail was overlooked. Even the door was constructed of two different woods: pine on the living room side to mirror the armoire, and cypress on the reverse to blend in with the woodwork found in Mike’s study in the next room. Another eye-catching piece in the living room is a magnificent trumeau in a pale cornflower blue and gold above the mantle.
Challenging the main living area for the title of “most elegant room” is the dining room, which sits just off the home’s entrance gallery. It features a round table surrounded by armless chairs covered in a soothing cream and blue fabric that echoes the shade found in the room’s silk drapery. The space is not huge, but instead rather intimate. “I knew I’d never really have more than ten people over for a dinner party,” Allyson explains.
Tucked away behind a smallish wooden door (a European find) is the Sanderson’s wine cellar. Climate-controlled, the room is neatly arranged to display the family’s wine collection in custom-built cabinetry. Authentic antique wine barrels displayed throughout the room lend to its old-world feel.
The home’s kitchen is clean and simple in presentation, yet features every amenity imaginable. From the triple stainless steel ovens and the Subzero refrigerator and freezer to the Wolf stove, the area is a chef’s dream. The vast marble-topped island in colors of charcoal and white allows ample room for food preparation, while a swiveling faucet for filling pots above the stove offers great convenience. A built-in TV/computer screen allows enthusiastic chefs Allyson and Mike to pull up recipes or simply enjoy an instructional cooking show.
While the overall size of the home may appear a bit overwhelming—the living area totals over 8,500 square feet—its individual rooms maintain a sense of coziness and privacy. The Sandersons wanted to create spaces that were simultaneously well appointed and comfortable. Their informal den just off the breakfast room aptly embodies that theme, with its soft, plush L-shaped leather sofa and a scattering of family photos displayed upon the built-in wooden bookshelves and along the wall climbing the staircase at the rear of the room.
The home’s design had to be kid friendly to accommodate the Sandersons’ busy lifestyle with children Rachael, 20; Patrick, 18; Michael, 10 and Jacob, 7. Nowhere is this more evident than in the main floor’s mudroom. With young boys who enjoy mud riding on four-wheelers and a husband who loves to garden, Allyson says this space was an absolute necessity. “It’s right here by the back door, and they can just hop right into the shower. I couldn’t live without it!” One wall of the room houses personalized built-in wooden lockers for each of the boys, complete with color-coded storage baskets, in an effort to keep their sports equipment and school bags neatly stored and organized.
But the storage system of the mudroom isn’t the greatest indicator of Allyson’s quest for orderliness. The ultimate in practicality is undoubtedly her “craft room.” It’s a space that would make Martha Stewart drool—cleverly designed to lend itself concurrently as a home office, kids’ homework nook, gift-wrapping station and arts and crafts corner. This is the heart of the home, in a sense—from its multitude of shelving displaying photos from family vacations to the kids’ colorful tile art collection that was fashioned into the backsplash of the practical farm sink. “It’s my favorite room in the house,” smiles Allyson. “I knew I wanted this room from the start.”
Knotty pine stairs lead to the second floor, although one could choose to take the home’s elevator. All bedrooms are upstairs, save an impeccably designed bedroom on the main floor used by daughter Rachel during her visits home from college. The master suite offers a grand view of the backyard landscape from its two balconies. From here, you can see the Tchefuncte, Bogue Falaya and Abita Rivers—thus the name “Three Rivers Road.”
The couple’s master bath is luxuriously appointed, including such features as a deep Jacuzzi tub that heats up on all sides and an oversized walk-in marble shower. There is also a full kitchen, complete with microwave, under-counter refrigerator and sliding-drawer dishwasher. “We knew when we built that we would be in this home forever,” explains Allyson, “and we figured it would be a great convenience to have a kitchen area upstairs when we get older!” The light and airy bath space also has a warming drawer for towels and heated marble floor tiles that the couple likes to set on a timer so that the room is cozy upon waking on a winter morning.
Off the bath area is a closet unlike any you’ve ever seen. Measuring over 800 square feet, the room houses wall-to-wall cabinetry, with unique spaces for everything from suits to shoes to suitcases. “We also included these two big islands,” says Allyson, motioning to the marble-topped surfaces in the center of the space. “They’re perfect for when you’re packing to go on a trip.” Another item to note in the closet is its Whirlpool personal valet—an in-home dry cleaner that Allyson says is very useful.
With the gardens in full spring bloom, the Sanderson’s home is a picture of beauty, from the front façade to the view from the river behind. Allyson points out, however, that their vision is not yet complete. “It’s all a work in progress,” she says with a smile. But enjoying the progress in this majestic home is undoubtedly fun.
