Hines family builds dream home in Hartselle

Story by Jennifer L. Williams

Photos by Jodi Hyde

Christen Hines moved into a newly-built house on Highway 36 West of Hartselle in July 2017, but she already felt right at home.

“I grew up right next door, and this is family land,” she said. “In fact, where our house sits used to be a softball field where my sister practiced; she still teases me about “taking away” her field.”

Christen and her husband Chris lived near downtown Hartselle for several years, but Christen said she always knew they would eventually build a house on her family’s land. “We really loved living in the historic neighborhood,” said the Crestline Elementary second-grade teacher, “but we were ready to have some more space.”

So Christen researched house plans online “for about two years” and “watched a lot of home shows” on television, and she finally committed to a plan she liked. “There were a few tweaks I wanted to make,” she explained, “so we contacted David Dunaway (of Homestead Designs) in Sommerville, and he was able to customize the plans to fit exactly what I had in my head.”

From opening up the floor plan to turning a porch off the master bedroom into a huge closet, Christen said she “planned out every inch of this house” with Dunaway and then entrusted Jason Self of S.E.C. Construction in Hartselle to bring it to life. “They both were so wonderful,” she said. “David really listened to what I was wanting and that reflected in the final plans, and from the time they poured the slab in January 2017, it took about seven months for us to move in, so that was pretty good.”

Christen credits her relentless research into finishes, flooring and cabinets with creating a smooth building process. “If I hadn’t already known what I wanted, it would have been pretty overwhelming to pick everything,” she said.

Family Ties

In every room, there is a piece of the past. “This was my great-grandfather’s land, and he did a lot of woodworking,” said Christen. Her great-grandfather’s work is prominent in each room, from the dry sink in the foyer to the jelly cabinet in the kitchen area.

The land the Hines’ home sits on has been in Christen’s family for years. “My mom and her sisters and brother used to pick cotton on this land when they were

younger,” said Christen. “My uncle owns about 25 acres behind us and has it planted with trees.”

Her great-grandparents, Sebren and Lucy Garner, were longtime Hartselle residents on Barkley Street but also owned several acres along Highway 36 West. Her grandparents, Euel and Ramona James, built their house a little closer to town on some of that family land, and they still live there. Euel spent many years as a basketball coach and vice principal of Speake School in Danville.

Christen’s parents, Chris and Renee Stephenson, are right next door, and her husband Chris’ parents, Hartselle church of Christ minister Phillip Hines and wife Julia, live within a mile of their house, so they are surrounded by family. “It’s such a blessing having our families close by,” said Christen. “It’s really helpful, and our daughter Marlee, 8, loves to go back and forth between our houses.”

Christen, Chris and Marlee lived with Christen’s parents for a few months while their house was being finished, and from there, Christen said she was able to keep a close eye on construction.

“After they poured the slab, something didn’t look right,” she said. “I called Jason, and he came right out. (The slab) wasn’t as large as it needed to be for the breakfast room, so they redid it right away.”

Favorite Things

“My favorite part of my house is my kitchen. It literally is the heart of my home,” Christen said. “I can see just about every other room from somewhere in the kitchen, not to mention out to the backyard. I feel like the kitchen is well laid out and that everything is easily accessible and organized for my family.

“The farmhouse sink is one of my favorite items in the whole house,” she added. “With the dishwasher just to the right of it and the dish and silverware drawers just across from the dishwasher, putting away the clean dishes is almost enjoyable. Having drawers instead of cabinets for heavier items like dishes and pots and pans is wonderful The tall cabinets and island allow for plenty of storage of all my kitchen items – items I use every day and the used-once-a-year items. I often even think to myself how much I love my appliances.

“I spent so much time planning everything, I have to say, there’s not much I would change – just a few small things, maybe, but nothing major.”

Unexpected Visitors

Christen said one thing that has surprised her since moving into their new home is the number of people – complete strangers – who stop to talk with them about their house.

“People stop and ring the doorbell or leave us notes about the house,” said Christen. “There have been people who recognize the plan from online and are curious to see

it inside and to see what we’ve done with it. We don’t mind so much, but it’s just not something I expected to happen.”