It has all the hallmarks of storybook romance — the dashing, young Pittsburgh physician meets the Southern Belle. Enlisted to act as her escort to a gala charity event, he is enchanted by her beauty. As the plot progresses, they discover that despite disparate backgrounds, it is, indeed, a perfect match. They marry and raise a family.
Of course every good romance includes a dream house, and for Jim and Marcia Caserio, it is this Neo-Classical Georgian style residence in the Kenmure community in Flat Rock, which seamlessly blends the Old South with features drawn from Jim’s Southern European ancestry, drawn together by a shared dedication to gracious living.
“What is unique about the house,” explains Jim, “is that it has two flavors; the antebellum, and elements of the architecture you see in the grander Italian villas…the balustrades, the portico, the Ionic columns.”
The structure draws further inspiration from its proximity to Glenroy (c.1850), the mansion that currently houses the Kenmure Country Club — the centerpiece of the neighborhood. “This house is built on the foundations of servants quarters that once serviced the mansion. It’s part of the heritage,” Jim says.
Heritage and tradition have deeply informed the Caserios’ vision. The couple knew that they wanted to imbue their residence with the genteel, elegant, yet welcoming ambiance that characterizes old Charleston, so Jim and Marcia repeatedly visited the city’s historic district, making note of details that engaged them and absorbing the quintessence of the style.
No nuance was left to chance. During one foray, they happened upon a home that featured the ideally proportioned columns for their own proposed entryway, which Jim promptly measured with his leather belt to ensure accuracy when they had them reproduced. The gracefully grooved stanchions that now support the full-height, gabled entrance are a testament to his astute instincts.
Architects Stuart Stepp and Emory Jackson integrated many of the classic elements that the Caserios had noted, giving the structure both stylistic integrity and individuality. From the grand gesture of twin staircases that lead to the entry to the Palladian window with faux widow’s walk tucked beneath the portico, the design clearly reflects the homeowners’ sensibility.
With its handmade, clay brick façade and noble proportions, the building is often mistaken for a historic home, and the interior maintains that illusion. Although the residence was built in 1991, each element of both the construction and the furnishing has been carefully chosen to invoke an age nearly two centuries prior.
One has the sense of stepping back into a well-appointed plantation home, almost expecting to hear the rustle of petticoats in the hallways. The Caserios have taken delight in the process of creating a period-appropriate character in their home, filling it with 18th century reproductions of the highest quality — many of them sourced from Charleston, as well as Williamsburg and Salem.
Jim has developed a particular passion for the genre. Shopping for furnishings at Grindstaff’s of Forest City, which specializes in period reproductions, has been an ongoing education for him. “I learned what I liked and I liked what I learned,” he says. “I also learned a great deal from Colonial Homes magazine, which published for about 20 years starting in the ‘80s. I have every issue that came out. It inspired me.”
The research influenced not only the selection of larger scale elements, but also the accessories and fixtures which galvanize the period effect. “The 18th century style is rich in accent features — great little details,” Jim adds. “As an internist, you spend so much time paying attention to detail. That’s what I do — that’s my thought process.”
As they brought their vision into reality, the couple also received guidance from the late Evelyn Barker, who was involved, with her husband Charles, in building the residence. “She very much supported the interior design,” says Marcia.
In creating the décor, a sense of balance has been achieved by anchoring the vibrant colors and patterns and the refined furniture forms that typify the era with the depth and richness of polished mahogany. The Honduran mahogany lends a certain masculine feel, notes Jim.
This interaction is particularly evident in the formal parlor and library. The parlor’s sunny yellow walls, floral upholstery and sinuous curves receive a counterpoint from the stately, wood paneled library just beyond, with a subtly integrated color scheme providing continuity. A substantial broken pediment secretary stands sentry beside the arched doorway, a worthy ambassador between the feminine and masculine aspects of the space.
Both areas access an expansive covered porch, sheltered beneath the master bedroom terrace above. From here, guests may either enter and stroll the home’s formal garden or sit in shaded comfort and enjoy the sounds of a splendid ornamental fountain, surrounded by cascades of New Guinea impatiens. The exuberant plantings are impeccably maintained by A Growing Concern, who designed the landscaping to suit both the mannerly home and the forest that surrounds it.
This easy flow between the exterior and interior public areas offers the couple great flexibility, allowing them to throw open the French doors in the parlor to take advantage of a cool summer breeze or cozy up and light a blaze in the fireplace that nestles between them during winter’s chill.
“The integration of the indoor and outdoor spaces was an important consideration,” notes Stuart Stepp. “The Caserios’ children were quite young when we were building, so we made certain that the outdoor plan included both public areas for entertaining and kid-friendly, private spaces.” To that end, a brick pathway extends to the rear of the house, where a secluded courtyard, just off the kitchen, provides intimate al fresco dining space beside a more demure fountain.
“When we worked with the architects,” explains Marcia, “my goal was to create a home that properly welcomed the seasons. As you celebrate the important events of the year with family and friends — birthdays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, Christmas — you’re really furnishing the house. It puts meaning in a home.”
Consequently, the elegant entrance hall, with its sweeping staircase, shell motif niches and gleaming brass chandelier, had to meet the additional requirement of accommodating a 12-foot Christmas tree and aligning the adjoining formal dining room and kitchen dining areas so that when both tables were fully seated, one could stand in the doorway between and say grace.
Such considerations are no small matter for the couple, who entertain often and well. From an informal, wine and cheese gathering to a six-course holiday feast for 20, their hospitality is so renowned that local charities regularly auction off an evening’s dining at the Caserio home as part of their fundraising events.
But the true beauty of the residence lies not in its fine aesthetics, nor in social events that it graciously hosts, but in the values that it reflects. “We’re very traditional people, so this fits us,” Marcia explains. “It’s a wonderful house for entertaining, but it’s also a great house to live in. We built this place as a family home. It’s a place for growing up and growing old together.”
And that, indeed, is true romance.
