By Sadie Fowler | Photos By Erin Kosko
There’s an old saying that goes like this: A goal without a plan is nothing more than a wish. Nicole and Brandon Burks’ story is a good example of how that statement can be applied to building one’s dream home from the ground up.
It was a short six months ago that Nicole and Brandon and their two children moved into their dream home in the picturesque and exclusive neighborhood on Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s west side of town known as The Enclave at Marymont Springs and they couldn’t be more pleased. Their dream home didn’t just pop up on its own. Brandon and Nicole made it happen and it started with a vision and was implemented with a plan.
“We knew what we wanted and were very hands on,” Nicole said.
It started with the two of them sitting down with their architect and articulating the plans for the home, which would be both functional and comfortable. Once the plans were drawn up, their interior designer stepped in to hold their hand in applying all the pizazz and finishing touches.
“We definitely wanted a French country-style home,” Nicole said. “Something that was stately and timeless. We wanted a classic exterior and it was very important to have three of the five bedrooms on the main level and a large loft.”
The Burks carried out their plan to perfection and now enjoy the fruits of their labor in terms of well-thought planning and design, which includes a 6,200 square foot home in a gated community with living space that’s second to none both inside and out on a 3.3 acre lot.
Their great room extends onto the outdoor living space and no one is left out at the Burks. Just as the outdoor space is perfect for the adults wanting to relax while visiting over a glass of wine or while watching the game, the kids are equally content with the oversized garage, another key aspect of the design, for the kids to enjoy a game of basketball, volleyball or whatever other activity suits their fancy.
Life is busy for the growing family and so a fabulous home office was another “must” for Nicole and Brandon and if you catch a glimpse of Nicole’s home office, work doesn’t look so bad. While describing what led to their decision to build the custom home in their neighborhood of choice, Nicole said she and Brandon had been eyeing the community, which was conveniently located on the side of town closest to her Eagleville roots with easy access to interstate 840 (ideal for Brandon’s frequent commutes to Franklin), for quite some time.
“We loved the neighborhood and drove by it all the time, for at least a year,” she said. “We finally decided to make an offer.”
The Enclave is no doubt a special place to all who call it home. A beautiful subdivision with big and private lots — all within the city limits — there’s no place like home for the Burks family, thanks to their best laid plans.
MEET THE BURKS
Brandon and Nicole Burks are Murfreesboro residents and busy parents enjoying their new custom home in The Enclave subdivision.
Their children are Addison, 11, and Colton, who is nine. Addison and Colton attend Middle Tennessee Christian School and enjoy both school and sports — their mom is even a middle school volleyball coach there.
Brandon is the Tennessee Regional Sales Manager and Mortgage Banker with FirstBank Mortgage, where he has been for nine years. Nicole works from home and runs their property management company, 86escape Vacation Properties. In summarizing their 6,200 square foot home, Nicole and Brandon say some of its highlights include the Hearth Room with its vaulted ceiling, the large kitchen and exceptional outdoor living area that overlooks the pool and property backing up to Overall Creek.
The house is nestled in the very back of the subdivision with total privacy.
A custom-built French Country style home, it features five bedrooms, five full baths and three half baths, a media room, exercise room, kids lough and oversized laundry room.