Designing a Dream: Janice Gaultney’s Custom Home in Santa Rosa Beach

When Janice Gaultney decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of building a new home from the ground up, she sold her home in Cypress Dunes on 30A and selected a lot in Churchill Oaks, a beautiful community featuring stately old oaks on the bay in Santa Rosa Beach. Once she had selected a lot, the next step was identifying an architect who would understand just what her wants and needs were, and who could make them a reality. She selected Geoff Chick, AIA, a registered architect in the state of Florida, who specializes in designing single-family custom homes that are unique to the site and to the occupants. The two were able to communicate seamlessly from the beginning, and the result is a home that uniquely meets Gaultney’s needs and desires, and fits smoothly into the neighborhood and the community. As the two collaborated on the plans, Gaultney emphasized her passion for vaulted ceilings, double French doors, spacious porches on every side and every level, and her love for lots of white throughout the home. “Working with Janice was truly a pleasure, and together we were able to create the home she had in her mind all along.”

When it was time to select a builder, Gaultney turned to Chris Burch of Grand Bay Construction in Seagrove Beach, Florida. Burch established Grand Bay Construction in 2005, with the primary goal of establishing a premier residential and commercial construction company offering excellent communication and first-class services to clients. Burch has established a cohesive and committed team that is committed to delivering results that go above and beyond client expectations. Gaultney enjoyed working with Burch and his entire team, and the end result was the home she loves. She served as her own decorator for her new home; she chose every single item in the home, from the tile to the door hardware, to the exquisite furnishings. She notes that she has friends who are artists, and who create beautiful work, but her home is her canvas.

When construction was underway, Matt Ellington, whose primary role at Grand Bay Construction is in business development, stepped in as project manager on the Gaultney home. Ellington states “I can’t begin to express what a great experience it was to work with Janice on this beautiful home. We worked very well together and we were able to communicate and resolve any issues that arose. It was a rewarding experience, I believe, for both of us.”

As the first year of living in the new house, situated on one of the two lakes in the neighborhood, comes to an end, Gaultney notes any number of successes and victories. She has plenty of white throughout the home, with accents of blue and gray. She loves her beautiful and spacious yard, which is in some ways still a work in progress. She enjoys meeting with neighbors in Churchill Oaks. Having retired from a career in education, she is a sales representative for her daughter’s drapery company, The Drapery Room, which is headquartered in Atlanta, and thrives on the work she does for the company, making it a three-generation endeavor.

ACCOLADES

New View Windows and Doors
850-231-1689 • newviewwindows.com

Geoff Chick & Associates
850-880-2146 • Geoffchick.com

The Drapery Room
470-847-8944 • Thedraperyroom.com

John DaMico-Compass
850-974-12 • Rovingthebeach.com