Staci and Toby Hiatt decorate the entrance of their home on Red Brush Road. The couple and their families worked on the restoration project for nine months.
Toby and Staci Hiatt have renovated the former McKinney home on Red Brush Road. The home is included on the Christmas Tour of Homes Dec. 1 and 2.
Toby and Staci Hiatt were planning to build a new home, but when a For Sale sign popped up in the yard of the McKinney House on Red Brush Road, the young couple decided to take a look.
Located near his family, the house is in a great location and they loved the mountain views, so that was a plus. For 25 years the house had been empty and the lawn was overgrown. Deciding that the house had great potential, the couple purchased it in March 2011 and began the nine-month process of renovating and updating the house and making it their home.
To say the renovation was a family affair is an understatement, said the pair.
Built in 1901 with hand-made brick, the structure features a broad front porch with a wide central hall leading to the back porch. The bedrooms were at the front of the house, and the living room and dining room behind with a kitchen just off the back porch. The home had broad heartpine floors and bead-board on the 12-foot ceilings. Materials from the renovation were saved and reused or repurposed.
Toby Hiatt’s uncle, Todd Tucker, worked with the couple to discuss their ideas, and he then “ran with it” to help make the renovations for the home. They stated that “Todd was the mastermind behind the project.”
Hiatt’s grandfather, Fred Hiatt, worked every day doing everything from laying brick to trim work, Toby Hiatt said.
The original granite steps to the front porch were salvaged and placed at the rebuilt front porch and the original floors, doors, door hardware, and bead-board ceilings were saved. Handrails for the staircase were built by Hiatt’s dad, Chuck Hiatt, who used old timbers from the home. The staircase leads to the former attic, now turned into a spacious great room/ game room with a beautiful view.
The kitchen and bathrooms were family projects with granite counter tops being built by uncle Mark Hiatt of MM Granite. Toby Hiatt did much of the tile work, while his dad did the cabinets, incorporating glass work from windows from the property. The kitchen island includes a post from the original front porch. A bedroom window is now the kitchen door. The view from the kitchen sink is of Pilot Mountain.
The master bedroom, formerly the dining room, has the original hearth and built-in shelves. The former kitchen is now the grand master bath, with walk-in closet and laundry that wraps to the new tiled sun room, which was formerly the back porch. The original brick wall is now exposed in the bathroom, as are the wide timbers at the bathroom windows.
The landscaping plan and installation was completed by Hiatt’s mother, Tonya Hiatt. They used low shrubs as would be period appropriate for this home with a wide front porch and new back deck with views of Pilot Mountain.
Staci Hiatt’s dad, Tim Welch, and mother, Lou Anne White, were on site with the new homeowners especially during the final crunch time completing many of the final touches.
The Hiatts said that they couldn’t have done it without the help, knowledge and skill of their families.
Their home will be open for the Mount Airy Restoration Foundation’s Tour of Homes on Dec. 1 (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and Dec. 2 (1 p.m. – 5 p.m.). Tickets are $15 each and are available at the Chamber of Commerce, Main Street, Mount Airy 336-786-6116. Tickets may be used on both days of the tour.
Contact Eleanor Powell at epowell@heartlandpublications.com or call 719-1933.
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