Hilton Head Monthly, December, 2005
By Debi Lynes and Lisa Carroll
Photography by Rob Kaufman

The appeal of the Long Cove home at #9 Oakman Branch Road is immediately apparent and is the residence of Peggy and Tim Stehly, one of six participants in this year's "Choral Society Christmas Tour of Homes." The home's theme is sophistication blended with a warm, inviting and surprisingly understated atmosphere. Its architectural details make this a special place for the Stehlys and their guests.

Formerly from Connecticut, but having vacationed on the island, the Stehlys decided to build their very first home on their dream lot in Long Cove and moved in by August 2004. They selected a design team that included Paragon Construction as the builders and Eric Moser as the architect. Group 3, particularly Mike Ruegamer and Eloise Smith, rounded out the design team.

This three-bedroom, two-story home is approximately 4,500 square feet of pure charm and overlooks a beautiful Pete Dye golf course. "We really love Long Cove and try to take advantage of this great lowcountry community," said Peggy Stehly. "We socialize quite a bit now and our home is really conducive to our lifestyle."

An open floor plan is juxtaposed with specific architectural details which serve to separate the rooms and define the spaces in the Stehly home. Mike Ruegamer provided the interior architectural details, including the trims, the colors, the finishes, the lighting and the cabinetry, while Eloise Smith chose the fabrics and some of the furnishings to pull the home together. The warm and rich pine flooring provides the flow from room to room. "We are delighted with the color and coordination of these beautiful pine floors," emphasized Tim Stehly. "It was suggested that we consider a soft wood for a look and feel of the lowcountry and we are very pleased with the end result."

The family room to the right is anchored by a stone fireplace and the multitude of windows bring the beautiful out of doors inside. An exquisite chandelier of antlers that came from Connecticut provided the beginning of colors and themes for this casual living and dining area. Comfortable furnishings from the Stehlys blended with pieces recommended by Eloise Smith make this room warm and inviting, and a window seat tucked away in one corner is an especially nice architectural detail to be discovered.

The kitchen is also part of this space and is boldly positioned to the side of this room by a large granite island. The kitchen cabinetry is Alderwood from the Pacific Northwest. Warm colors and glazes set the tone of the kitchen as a functional and beautiful space for preparing meals while entertaining guests. There is also a "private working/storage area" that provides a wonderful office area, staging area for further meal preparation and cabinetry for a cookbook collection. "Peggy is a wonderful cook and we love to entertain throughout this kitchen and family room space," said Tim. "We are just thrilled with Mike's work in this part of the home."

The colors the Stehlys selected once again reflect the personality of this home. Warm rich cinnamons and soft dusted tones can be found on walls and ceilings as accent colors. "We used a combination of glazes, faux finishes and flat paints," said Mike Ruegamer. "These elements allow each room to retain its own personality and flavor. We also incorporated both the old and new when it comes to the furnishings. The Stehlys have collected beautiful antiques over the years. For example, the incredible restored piano in the formal living room compliments the family collectibles and the art."

"The restoration of my mother's piano provided the beginning discussions for this room," said Tim. "I remember 15 years of piano lessons as a child. To see this piano restored to its full magnificence was a surprise." This room also boasts a subtle book shelving area. "We didn't want a library feel to our books," described Peggy. "This area, with Mike's help, has more of a gallery feel and elegantly displays both books and art collected by the Stehlys.

Architectural detail is never more profound than in Mike Ruegamer's use of ceiling detail. Both in architecture and in color and lighting, Mike uses these spaces to tell his home story. It's very impressive to look at the creative ways that Mike and his team have used every inch of available space. Upon entering the understated foyer, your eye is immediately drawn to the interesting staircase, which serves as the focal point of the main area. "Sometimes, less is more. One does not always have to be over the top to achieve drama and beauty," said Ruegamer. Sometimes subtle is the most powerful statement." In fact, it's the surprise elements of this house that are the most inspiring. This is a house that justifies visiting more than once. It's truly a challenge to capture all of its nuances and intricacies in just one quick tour which is why it's easy to understand whey the Stehlys are in love with their new home.

The home's exterior of is equally detailed in terms of its architectural design. The tiered back decking is Brazilian Mahogany and surrounds a beautiful pool and spa area designed by Mike Ruegamer and built by Year Round Pool. Savannah Hardscapes complimented the topography of the Stehly home with their beautiful hardscape design.

A commitment to be part of the Christmas Tour of Homes brought Mike Ruegamer and Peggy Stehly back together for decorative planning. The Christmas tour will be held on December 3rd, and a lot of teamwork was involved in putting together the holiday motif. Mike started out using holiday collections that the Stehly family had acquired throughout the years. To that, Mike added touches from Pyramids and his artistic flair. "We enjoy working with Mike," said Peggy. "I truly believe the results speak for themselves." Elegant holiday decorations and unique adornments will make this home a special treat for visitors of the Christmas Tour of Homes.

"Now all we're missing is the laughter of our grandchildren," said Peggy. But, they will all soon arrive from Florida to help create special holiday memories in this beautiful Stehly family home in Long Cove.

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