PleasantView

Surrounded by hundreds of acres of Duke Forest, this 12+ acre treasure is a work of art. The primary residence, completed in 2009, is resplendent with historic materials rescued from a beautiful old house in Halifax, VA. Reclaimed materials include the front door, staircase, and many floorboards, beams and beadboard. The newel post and staircase wainscoting are attributed to Thomas Day, a renowned furniture craftsman from nearby Milton, NC. The stone walls around the exterior of the house and the magnificent stone fireplace in the great room are constructed from stone salvaged from the Halifax house foundation. A log cabin was also relocated from the Halifax property and serves as a playhouse. Within the structure, the Great Room is a late 1800’s Canadian barn, disassembled and reassembled in West Virginia for inspection, then moved to Durham and reassembled on site using the Amish tradition in true barn raising.

A carefully restored separate 1840’s farmhouse with sits on this land that was once part of a land grant given by King George to the Couch family in the 1700’s. The owners restored the farmhouse, removing sheetrock, wallpaper, newspaper and burlap to expose the original boards. The ceiling in the first floor bedroom bears its original green paint. The original log cabin “summer kitchen” remains and according to the NC Department of Cultural Resources, the cabin door is likely one of the oldest remaining in the state. This farmhouse provides an additional 1,743 square feet of charming guest quarters with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, living room with fireplace, full kitchen and screen porch.

Ancient trees shade and grace this land, offering quiet and privacy while only minutes from Duke, Downtown Durham and Chapel Hill. Established gardens include stone and brick hardscape, retaining walls, a meandering creek bed and koi pond lovingly planted with specimen favorites and next generation trees. Deer fencing & irrigation protect the large vegetable garden. This home is historic preservation in the intended loving tradition.

Visit www.4900westcornwallis.com to view more photographs.