St. Jude Dream House is indeed dreamy

The lucky winner of the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway on June 26 won't be getting a starter home.

Indeed, the 2,768-square-foot home in Hixson's new Amberbrook Gardens subdivision is situated on the largest lot in the neighborhood, has feature upgrades not found in all homes by Pratt Home Builders and has a view of Signal Mountain to boot.

"It's also a new floor plan," said Katie Pratt, interior designer for the company, recently listed 178th of the thousands of builders in the country by Builder Magazine. "[The Adelaide Park plan is] brand new to the market. It's great for large families. It provides a lot of flexibility."

The home - valued at about $300,000 - features an exterior Craftsman look with brick and stone finishes, three bedrooms, bonus room (or fourth bedroom), two and a half baths and open floor plan.

"The house exterior is more of a cottage style," said Pratt. "It looks small on the outside, but it's a big house when you get inside. It's a very welcoming house."

The welcome is evident at the door as an arched covered entry - outside the burgundy door - keeps guests out of the elements. Inside, a small foyer affords a powder room and space to shake off the weather.

A formal dining room off the arched entry hall, highlighted by white panel wainscoting, is a premium feature, said Pratt.

Beyond the dining room is an open area, which encompasses the great room, kitchen and breakfast area. A granite island, with room for bar seating, separates the kitchen from the great room, which features neutral walls, tray ceiling, white crown molding, sand-and-finish hardwood floors and a gas fireplace visible from all portions of the space.

"The whole house is great for entertainment," Pratt said.

The first floor also provides dark Merilatt kitchen cabinets, tile backsplashes, laundry room off the kitchen, stainless-steel appliances and the master bedroom.

GET INVOLVEDTickets for a chance to win the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway are $100 and are available at Gigi's Cupcakes, 1906 Gunbarrel Road, or area Trust Federal Credit Union locations. There is no limit to the number of tickets one can buy, and ticketholders do not have to be present to win. In addition to the home, other prizes, including a vacation, television/entertainment package and $1,000 gift certificates, will be given away. For information, call 800-750-6962 or visit www.dreamhome.org.

High-end Brizo plumbing fixtures, which Pratt said the company doesn't normally use, grace the kitchen and master bath. One of those fixtures in the master bath, inside the double-glass door of the oversize shower - is the pendant hanging rain showerhead.

The bath also has travertine floors and surround tile, granite countertop and custom shelving inside the spacious walk-in closet.

The wide switchback staircase with iron spindles leads to a second floor with wide hallways, two bedrooms, a bonus room with French doors and Jack-and-Jill bathroom.

"This is a quality house we would construct regardless [of it being the Dream Home]," said Pratt, "but it also has extra features we would not include."

Michelle Brown, senior event marketing representative for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, said 2011 is the third year the hospital has worked with Pratt to construct its Dream Home.

"They pull people from different parts of the community [to donate supplies and subcontractor services]," she said.

In fact, Brown said, Pratt was named the hospital's Builder of the Year for 2010 for the low home cost it offered. "It was phenomenal," she said.

Area residents may tour the home from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through June 19 and from noon to 9 p.m. June 20-25.

Contact Clint Cooper at ccooper@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6497.

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