Southern Cypress

Southern Cypress, 30 wooded acres w/ pond
sun-inspired design
First Floor 1424 s.f.
Second Floor 774 s.f.
Total Finished 2198 s.f.
Porches & Balcony 608 s.f.
Garage/Shop 576 s.f.
Carport 400 s.f.
160 s.f. Deck
3782 s.f. total under roof
FRONT / WEST ELEVATION
A wood lovers dream! Nestled in the middle of 30
acres on a rolling hill, in a home full of cypress wood inside and
out, you might think you are in the Smoky Mountains. The
unique Southern Cypress custom home designed by architect
Debbie Coleman (author of The Sun-Inspired House) is set on
a 2 acre spring fed pond. The very private property abuts the
Mill Creek Golf Course and Park (with an 80 acre lake) in
Citronelle, AL. It is in the Mobile County jurisdiction on a
paved road with just 3 stop lights between the home and Mobile
45 minutes to the south. Deer, turkey, turtles and wood ducks
are just some of the wildlife seen. Mature trees such dogwoods,
magnolias, oaks and pines are abundant yet there is little grass
to mow. The park is a delightful place to walk or run.
The one and a half story cottage style design echoes the
farm house designs found in Lower Alabama. The large east
and west porches shade the home from summer sun while the
south-facing sunroom lets the sun in during winter. The balcony
nestled in the tree tops and numerous carefully placed custom
windows let in light and capture views of the woods and pond.
Solid cypress board and batten adorns the house along
with many custom touches such as solid cypress beams,
decorative rafter tales and knee braces. Iron cattail brackets and
a copper sun on the eave truss provide more custom features.
The interior has more cypress for paneling, door and
window trim, baseboards, exposed beams and custom light
boxes with mahogany insets over most windows. Custom
maple cabinets, teak trimmed counter tops and new heart pine
floors increase the variety of wood throughout the home.
Other custom touches include glass block and interior
French doors. A Dutchwest wood stove with glass doors
provides both ambience and additional heat in winter. The
hearth is old Chicago type of brick.
Energy saving features include low-E double pane
Weathershield casement windows with wood inside and
maintenance free exteriors. Extra insulation keeps the house
warm in winter and cool in summer. Reflective galvanized
metal roof on all buildings reflects the hot sun. In 2013, whole
house energy bills averaged less than $100 per month.
www.sunplans.com
Hunter brand ceiling fans help keep the home cool in
summer while running very quietly. The heating and cooling
system is a variable speed, very quiet Trane heat pump. A
passive solar hot water heater has no moving parts, is virtually
maintenance free and provides hot water if the power goes out
while propane for cooking allows for cooking without
electricity. City water has high pressure and the septic system
has been recently inspected.
First Floor The side sunroom is a welcoming family
entrance. Behind the half wall, the laundry area is tucked away
in the sunroom with a wonderful southern view. The central
kitchen has a pond view and the large pantry and glass front
cabinets add both function and character. The main living area
on the northeast corner has large windows and a vaulted ceiling,
but the best views are had from the dining area surrounded by
windows. A small desk nook divides the two main spaces. A
downstairs bedroom with bath and large closet can be used as
the master bedroom for aging-in-place. The front door enters
into a living room or office. With a small closet, it could also
function as a bedroom. Ceilings are 9’ high except where they
are vaulted higher.
Second Floor Upstairs is the master suite with its own
loft and balcony. A vanity dressing area leads to the second
floor bath that features a large garden tub with shower. Both
upstairs bedrooms feature exposed beams below vaulted
ceilings. A large walk-in attic provides about 200 s.f. of storage
and is plumbed for second upstairs bathroom. The vaulted
ceilings give the second floor lots of character and keep the
HVAC and ductwork in insulated spaces.
Carport & Garage/Workshop A two car space close
the house can also serve as a large party area with views to the
pond. On the other side of the front porch is a garage with barn
doors and plenty of windows and electricity for a workshop.
The Sun-Inspired House book features the Southern
Cypress home in one of its case studies. The home as also been
published in Home Energy magazine. A modified version of the
home is on the www.sunplans.com website.
copyright © 2002 sun plans inc.
the Southern Cypress
sun-inspired design
www.sunplans.com
copyright © 2002 sun plans inc.
Southern Cypress home, 30 wooded acres w/ pond
sun-inspired design
www.sunplans.com
copyright © 2002 sun plans inc.
the Southern Cypress
sun-inspired design
www.sunplans.com
copyright © 2002 sun plans inc.
the Southern Cypress
sun-inspired design
www.sunplans.com
copyright © 2002 sun plans inc.
the Southern Cypress
sun-inspired design
www.sunplans.com
copyright © 2002 sun plans inc.
the Southern Cypress
sun-inspired design
www.sunplans.com
copyright © 2002 sun plans inc.