From the leaded windows of the front door, you catch a glimpse of the guy across the street as he peels out of his driveway, late to work. You settle down at your desk—clad in slippers, a cup of Joe in hand—in front of large windows while more light streams through the 18-pane French doors you just entered. Yep, it’s another tough day at the office. You recall being that guy once, grateful that the rat race is behind you. Grateful that you and the Missus have the perfect place to live life on your terms, a single-level brick house on 1205 Mosely Road in Greensboro’s Northern Point neighborhood near Lake Jeanette.

Funny thing about that brick—Pine Hall’s line called Chesapeake Pearl and a favorite of the house’s builder Regis Skeehan, president of Piedmont Personal Builders. “I always thought Chesapeake Pearl looked the nicest,” he says, referring to its pale hue. Then he noticed that only one side of each individual brick was white; the back was red. What would happen if you alternated white and red sides in a pattern when building a house? Well, you’d have the unusual checkerboard effect on the exterior of this dwelling.

It’s one of many patterns and details that distinguish the 3,455-squuare-foot structure designed by architect Frank Betz. Another is the hardwood flooring, arranged in uneven slat widths with an occasional knothole or discoloration appearing here and there, for character (“and if the grandkids drop a hammer on it, it gives it more character,” jokes Skeehan). The floors provide a contrast to the coffered ceiling in the living room that captures the light and shadow from the back windows; though elegant, it isn’t overstated, perhaps because it’s painted white. Who wouldn’t want to spend an afternoon in this room in front of the fireplace, curled up with a book or engaged in idle conversation?

Piedmont Personal Builders specializes in constructing custom homes anywhere from 2,000 to 3,600 square feet. Serving a 17-county area in central North Carolina, the company’s building projects can be seen from Lake Norman to Clemons and throughout Guilford County. For more information, go to www.piedmontpersonalbuilders.com

Perhaps idle conversation would be better suited to the keeping room — the living area with another fireplace that abuts the kitchen. History lesson, here: This is a feature that dates to the Colonial period when fireplaces were a house’s only heat source, and therefore the room where families would often sleep. Not that heat is an issue in this EnergyStar house. “We seal these things tight,” explains Skeehan, “we wrap it in house wrap, caulk all the joints, the electrical outlets and light switches. So the house is very airtight.” All the better to hold heat from those direct-vent gas fireplaces that are configured so that hot gases escape while cool air is drawn in for combustion. Yes, the keeping room would be a nice and toasty place to sleep.

But why would you want to, when you’ve got that lovely master suite? For a room so spacious, it feels cozy, owing to the muted lighting in the double-tray ceiling. You’ll love the roomy closet (and yes, those shelves are solid wood) and bath, complete with Jacuzzi tub and—thank heaven!—a shower stall high enough so that tall folks don’t bump their heads.

The warm wood cabinetry and black granite countertops continue what Skeehan calls “an invisible strand of color” that flows throughout house.

The inspiration of interior designer Sherry Sarine, the theme of browns, sage green and black appear in various combinations: in the checkerboard floor in the laundry room, in the guest bath adjoining two smaller bedrooms, in the bath across from the only upstairs area, a 16-foot long bonus room, and of course in the kitchen.

Ah! The Kitchen! This is the heart and soul of the house; where two people can mill about comfortably, from the pantry to the stove, to the central island with its own sink and disposal, to the main sink opposite. There are all kinds of nifty touches that make life easy: the microwave that doubles as a convection oven (“for the few days in the year that you need to bake a pie or roast a turkey,” observes Skeehan); the hidden compartment beneath the sink for sponges; a wall of shelves for cookbooks; a beverage center designed to store all kinds of libations. You might want to stock it before your weekend guests come.

Maybe if the weather’s nice you can have drinks on the screened porch before dinner.

And, speaking of dinner, better dust the chandelier in the dining room. As you sit in the study musing, your thoughts are interrupted by the sound of her car pulling into one of the carriage doors of the garage. “Hi Honey! I’m home!” you hear her call out. Those words would be music to Regis Skeehan’s ears. “We’re providing a tangible service,” he says. “I like seeing an empty lot and then in six or eight months, there’s a home.” Yours, to be precise.

[Show as slideshow]

Vendor List:
Brick exterior: Pine Hall Brick, www.pinehallbrick.com
Color combinations: SSI Design Group, www.ssidesigngroup.com
Granite countertops: World Stone, www.worldstoneonine.com
Tile: Mosaic Tile Company, www.mosaictileco.com;
installers/suppliers were Verona Marble Tile & Granite, www.tileinstallersgreensboro.com
Cabinetry: DDI Cabinetry, www.ddicabinetry.com
Hardwood floors: Weeks Hardwood Flooring, www.weekshardwoodflooring.com