Mike and Andrea Sarvis’ new custom home builds on the green mission of Signal Mountain’s Boulder Point community with environmentally friendly design and construction. The couple has moved ten times in their marriage, usually refurbishing historic homes instead of buying new construction. But this time, the Sarvises were undeniably attracted to a new development.
Along Shackleford Ridge, sidewalk-lined Boulder Point cultivates a community atmosphere inspired by the historic neighborhoods that the Sarvises love. Already featuring several green-friendly, custom homes, it’s the first area neighborhood to be Dark Sky Compliant.
No streetlights or exterior fixtures that produce upward or horizontal lighting are allowed.
“We loved these lots and the builder,” says Andrea. “They build the house to the land and try to preserve every tree they can.” She and her husband decided if they were going to go new, they would do it right, with consideration for the environment and using reclaimed architectural elements to give their home the character of an older one. They hired a local proponent of green construction, Trey Wheeler of TWH Architects, to rework a mountain home plan they had bought online into a greener, more craftsman-style plan.
Builder Tracy Smith of Blue Hammer Homes brought the plan to life with energy-conserving advanced framing techniques.