$1M home, with award-winning kitchen, featured on this year's Homearama. Take a peek
"The Rockcastle," also known as House 6 of this year’s Homearama event, wasn't crafted for anyone in particular. Ryan Band, owner and president of Unbridled Homes, had the freedom to design and build the brand-new abode with his team as he saw fit — and as soon as they did, a buyer scooped it up.
“It was sold within … 48 hours,” Band told The Courier Journal. “We had a lot of interest, (and) it sold for just a little over $1 million.”
Creative freedom
As Band said, they knew at the start of the project that it was going to be a Homearama house — and they were determined to incorporate something to make it stand out.
"So we were thinking of a cool feature," he said, "something unique that people would (see) and … remember."
They ultimately decided on a basement speakeasy. The room boasts a bar that takes up the entire left wall, and is currently furnished with seating and decor from Set The Stage in Norton Commons. And in true speakeasy fashion, its entryway is disguised as a shelving unit — plus, the space doubles as a safe room.
"It’s got a magnet (with) 600 pounds of force," Band said. "It pulls really tight."
He explained that over the years, the Unbridled Homes team has built multiple rooms under porches to serve as safe rooms, but those spaces are usually unfinished. Because this is a fully functioning bar area, they worked with experts to ensure it was equipped for moisture control, humidity, and the like.
"We came up with a good game plan to make it feel like it’s not encased by concrete," he added. "(But it is) a safe room."
Homearama visitors will be able to manually open the hidden door — but once the show is over, Band will set up a mobile app to lock and unlock the entryway.
Entertainment space
Though the home has a bar in the speakeasy, there’s another bar — complete with a full-sized refrigerator — in the basement as well. The area boasts oak cabinetry with a dark gray backsplash and a black island. Set up with four bar stools at the large island, the bar faces a 130-inch movie screen projector.
“We’re going to show movies throughout Homearama,” Band said, “or a University of Louisville game or whatever other games are on so (people) can see the picture looks and how it works.”
A large gray sectional offers ample seating for the home theater, and the walls are decked out with various pieces of artwork, each with gray or black details.
“I think a basement needs to be dark and moody,” said Karista Hannah, founder and lead designer of Set The Stage. “That (was) my goal when I was doing the basement.”
She added that the basement bar’s overall look flows with what’s upstairs in the kitchen.
Award-winning room
“I think our kitchen is … a highlight of the home,” Band exclaimed, adding that the open space boasts floor-to-ceiling, two-toned cabinetry; dark charcoal appliances with gold hardware; and a herringbone backsplash.
Hannah agreed that the heart of this Crestwood home is the most impressive — and unique room — in the house. After all, it is the winning kitchen in this year’s BIA Homearama Best Of awards.
“I really wanted (it) to be bold,” she said. “That’s why I chose the black cabinets. And we two-toned those with a white-oak inset, which I thought was really pretty and … different.”
She added that while most people opt for stainless steel appliances, she chose matte black pieces from the GE Cafe line to give the space something a bit more unique.
Most of the home features a neutral palette, and is what Hannah describes as “modern with a California flair.”
“The house is very trendy with what is popular right now,” she said. “A majority of my clients are going for that aesthetic.”
She said that showgoers who are also interested in that look can browse the furniture and decor throughout the home, and then order the pieces that they like directly from Set The Stage.
“Everything … will be 25% off,” she said, adding that the special applies to everything in the store as well, for the duration of Homearama.
Know a house that would make a great Home of the Week? Email writer Lennie Omalza at aloha@lennieomalza.com or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@gannett.com.
nuts & bolts
Home: This is a 5-bed, 4-and-a-half bath, 4,500-square-foot, modern farmhouse-style home in the Crestwood subdivision of Brentwood that was built in 2023.
Distinctive elements: Won "Best Kitchen" and “Best Home Automation in the Homearama 2023 Best Of awards; custom designed and built cabinets by Vittitow Cabinets; a mix of iron ore painted cabinets match matte black GE Cafe appliances and white oak cabinetry; quartz countertops; gold hardware; large farmhouse sink; herringbone pattern white tile backsplash with dark grout; living room with vaulted ceiling, natural beam light fixture from Brecher's Lighting, 42" gas fireplace from Fireplace Distributors, custom built mantle surrounding the fireplace, and built-in bookshelves by Vittitow Cabinets; office with large, custom built double barn doors; full kitchen in basement with leathered granite tops and octagon tile backsplash; theater system with 130-inch screen by Automated Living; hidden speakeasy with a bookshelf that opens with an iPhone app, and custom cabinets with a mirrored tile backsplash.
Applause! Applause! Unbridled Homes team (Matt Norton, Construction Manager; Shawn Collins, Assistant Construction Manager; and Jason McCartin, Office Manager); Set the Stage; Vittitow Cabinets; Automated Living; Louisville Insulation; KI Lumber; Carpet Specialists; Louisville Tile; Brecher's Lighting; Closets by Design; Ferguson's; Fireplace Distributors; River City Bank.
Homearama 2023
WHAT: Homearama is an annual event that showcases custom-built new homes. The homes are fully furnished, decorated, and landscaped, and feature the latest in building trends, technology, and interior design. Homearama has been produced by the Building Industry Association of Greater Louisville since 1968.
WHEN: now through Oct. 15. Fridays, 5-8 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays, 1-6 p.m.
WHERE: Nine homes located throughout Spencer, Oldham, and Jefferson counties.
TICKETS: Tickets are $15 per person at the door. Children 12 and younger are free with a paying adult. Tickets are also available for $12 online.
MORE INFORMATION: homearama.com
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 'The Rockcastle' in Crestwood featured on 2023 Homearama
