As a child in Star, North Carolina, Tom lived a simple life with his family - - growing up in the same house where his grandmother had raised 16 children of her own. He recalls gathering water from a nearby spring, using oil lamps for light, and savoring the aroma of pies as they baked in his grandmother's tins. A small lean-to addition off the back of the house served as the kitchen, and the main room doubled as sleeping quarters for the entire family.
"We didn't have toys," Tom recalls. "For Christmas, we maybe got an apple or an orange." Although his life was far from opulent, Tom has many fond memories of those good old days.
Flash forward three decades. For many years Tom, a self-made businessman, had been living with is wife, Peggy, at the foot of a privately owned mountain in Asheboro, North Carolina. Then one day they got the opportunity of a lifetime: to purchase that mountain, a towering 160-acre piece of property.
"I had wanted that land for as long as I can remember," says Tom. "But I never thought I'd get the chance to buy it."
Needless to say, the Britts quickly struck a deal and decided to create their dream house, which would pay tribute to Tom's childhood log home
The Road Ahead
The Britts named the peak "Iron Mountain" and had a road cut to the top. There, perched high above the majestic natural beauty, they found the ideal spot to build their home - - then cut and sold 21 additional lots.
The Britts then began looking for the perfect company to make their vision a reality. Hoping to emulate his first home, Tom wanted hewn logs that would provide a flat surface on the home's exterior and interior walls. Another must: dovetailed corner joints with no overlap.
Internet research led the couple straight to Appalachian Log Homes (which specializes in old-growth Western hemlock) and ultimately to Pete Pyles, owner of Country Comfort Log Homes (an Appalachian dealer) in Tobaccoville, North Carolina.
Armed with a sketch Tom had created, Pete went over the Britt's wish list. "They had some different requests than we usually see," recalls Pete. "For example, they collect antiques and wanted to make sure they would have the space to display them." As a result, big rooms with tall ceilings became a top priority.
They started with a 30-by-40 foot center structure to house the great room and entry, then added a 30-by30 foot wing to each side. One wing would serve as the kitchen, breakfast nook and formal dining room. The other would become two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
On the second floor, two large bedrooms with lots of storage space would flank the loft. And the walkout basement would include a large gathering room and an office. As a finishing touch, Tom requested a grand walnut-finished spiral staircase to connect the entry to the loft.
Prized Possessions
Once a home's layout is determined, Country Comfort requests information on the home owner's furniture and any special accommodations. Only after arranging the furniture to scale within the plan does Pete's team set the position of the windows and beams.
"We have been collecting pottery, plates, furniture and toys - - a lot of things from the 1930s - - for years," says Peggy. "We wanted to be able to put our collectibles out and enjoy them, not keep them stored away somewhere."
With careful planning, the team made room for all these treasures, including two corner cabinets rescued from Tom's childhood home, a massive antique bar from the 1800s, and two ice cream tables once used in a corner drug store.
Pete's design also took advantage of the property's splendid surroundings with open glass areas and an 8-foot porch that wraps around the entire house. A massive deck off the great room provides a 180-degree view. And each of the upstairs bedrooms has a private balcony.
This extensive planning process allowed the builders to "effectively use every inch of space," says Pete. "We massaged the design back and forth and planned it down to the storage, duct work and plumbing."
Tom engaged his longtime employee Ronnie Hall as the general contractor - - working closely with Pete throughout the foundation, erection and building stages. Hall's refined carpentry skills and meticulous attention to detail are evident throughout the home.
Something Old, Something New
Today, the 5,000-square-foot home feels like an antique itself. The pine floors on the first level were split and crafted from old beams once belonging to a local cotton mill. The upstairs bathrooms feature antique hardware and original claw-foot bathtubs that have been restored.
For architectural interest, the family room's towering fireplace features an old gristmill grinding stone mounted by masons, and a hearth crafted with stones salvaged from Tom's boyhood log cabin. The couple's collection of antique chandeliers and fixtures make a distinctive mark in several rooms.
Much like the home of Tom's youth, the Britt's mountain retreat remains a central hub of family activity. With four grown children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren all living in the area, there is always someone gathering for fellowship, holidays or other celebrations. They've even hosted a family wedding in the basement.
In the Britt's' minds, this home is a perfect tribute to their past and their future. "I have built three houses in my life," says Tom. "And, I can honestly say there is nothing I would do differently in this one."
