Grove Park

Colorado Inspired Craftsman

Kelly Mills — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:32:14 +0000

Originally posted in Montgomery Living Magazine June 2011. Written by Jody Hatley

One of the River Region’s most charming residential areas offers a true sense of community from the moment you drive past the stone gatehouse. Reminiscent of the old English countryside the cobblestone accents, vintage-inspired street markers and gaslights give Grove Park its distinctive character - a European-style with unique features that mesh with its natural setting.

“It has a warm, old-world feel that’s inviting. We wanted our home to be a place where you could sink in and live, where you didn’t have to be perfect. We can’t live that way,” explains Penny. “It was important for it to be a refuge. Where everyone could relax, be comfortable and the home just be livable.”

The result is a large, open, contemporary living space that flows effortlessly from one room to the next. “It’s a big house that doesn’t feel big, which is what we wanted,” said Dr. Williams.

There is an understated but distinct difference between simple and plain. Dr. Thomas and Penny Williams’ home in Grove Park shows how simplicity can really sparkle.

The house has a homey feeling. Entering the massive cedar door, the foyer is bathed in a spectrum of soft neutrals from the stairway leading up to the family and guests living quarters to the open and airy dining room with built in storage cabinets. The casual feel spills into the kitchen, sitting area and bedrooms. A mixture of hardwood floors, travertine tiles and carpet adds to the impression of warmth and family-friendly surroundings.

Dr. Williams, a top dentist in the River Region and his wife, Penny were married in 2007, each owning their own homes. Once the journey began to find a forever home, Mayor Todd Strange offered to sell his Grove Park lot to them. “The sense of privacy, and the beautiful, natural setting really appealed to us,” said Dr. Williams.

Envisioning their future home, the Williams hired builder Billy Chambliss. “We must have interviewed seven or eight builders,” Penny said. “But once we met Billy, we knew we had made the right choice.”

Dr. Williams and Penny didn’t enlist the services of an interior designer, deciding instead to follow their own designing instincts and taste. “We also did a lot of research. We grabbed magazines and looked through them for ideas. I wanted something that emulated a Colorado ski resort. I love to ski and I like the look and feel of a cozy ski lodge,” said Dr. Williams. “I think doing the research from the building/construction phase to the design of the interior look and feel is important. I did my homework and just as the economy was nudging south I found it possible to make my dream home a reality. With the help of the right builder, Penny and I created a comfortable and livable environment.” They even added their own personal touch to the architectural structure. During the early building stages they wrote scriptures on the framing of each room.

Why Grove Park?

Grove Park is located on Young Meadows Road, just off Vaughn Road across from Blount Cultural Park and only minutes from the interstate and bypass. Its convenient location puts residents near shopping, dining, entertainment, schools, churches and medical services. Making it the perfect centrally located neighborhood. Oak Grove Inn is an upscale collection of residential apartments offering the enjoyment of amenities such as an elegant southern dining room, abundant storage space, private personal balconies with several different floor plans and a choice of independent and assistedliving options. Larger homes or smaller garden homes are available. Grove Park’s concierge handles resident lawn care allowing life behind the garden gates to be as leisurely and as active as the heart desires.
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More than interest grows at urban farm

Kelly Mills — Mon, 09 May 2011 23:22:29 +0000

This article was published in the Montgomery Advertiser in 2009 and was written by Allison Griffin.

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Charlotte’s Garden

Kelly Mills — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 23:09:12 +0000

This article was published in Montgomery Living in 2002 and was written by Jennifer Kornegay.

“I’ve made a garden that restores me and I hope others enjoy it~Is well. There is deep satisfaction in nurturing something and watching it grow,” said Charlotte Goodwyn as she talked about her work at Grove Park. Goodwyn’s garden there grows green-and amber, and lavender and golden . . . and she created it not for herself alone, but for an entire neighborhood. The Montgomery landscape architect brought her vision and expertise to bear at Grove Park and transformed a tract of grassland into a piece of living art.

As she explained the evolution of the landscaping, she told it like a fairy tale come true. Eight years ago, when her husband George, Grove Park’s developer, presented the project to her, she saw the land as a blank page, one that she would write her garden’s story on, with vines, flowers, shrubs and trees. “When we were working on the Grove Park plan, and George said that we would be living there, I was not initially thrilled,” she said. “I loved my house, and of course, my garden. But then I realized that I was being handed an amazing challenge and opportunity to build what I see as one massive garden.”

And she would be building this garden from the dirt up. She drew on established gardens around the world and those close to home for inspira- tion. The result is a landscape that is both large in scale and small in its many details. Every corner speaks to its designer’s vitality and grace, as formal, structured gardens meld seamlessly with natural areas. “I thought about the garden designs I’d seen during my travels in Europe. I looked at Callaway Gardens. Many gardens, both old and new, have left their impressions on me,” she said. “One thing they all have in common is that they area series of spaces connected to each other, and there are usually distinct entrances and exits. These spaces have many different characteristics. Some are formal and geometric. Others are free-form.”

Taking her cue from the gardens that have captured her imagination, she decided to divide Grove Park into zones. “I thought, What do I want people to experience when they’re here?”‘

The first zone is the entrance off Vaughn Road, what Goodwyn described as “the coming home.” “The Eastern Bypass and Vaughn Road are so visually distracting,” she said.

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Market basket of fresh veggies grown at Grove Park

Kelly Mills — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:18:28 +0000

This article was published in the Montgomery Independent in 2009 and was written by Bill Rice Jr.

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Life, design of Grove Park

Kelly Mills — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:02:26 +0000

This article was published in the Montgomery Advertiser October 10th, 2010 and was written by Hilary Funk.

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The Benefits of Heating Up

Kelly Mills — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 14:15:39 +0000

Hydrotherapy has been used for thousands of years. The Greeks and Romans treated an array of conditions with it, putting together three of nature’s most powerful relieving agents: heat, water and air. It invigorates and gently massages the body while easing away aches and pains.

Three basic factors comprise this aquatic therapy: heat, buoyancy, and massage. Immersion in hot water raises the body temperature and causes the blood vessels to dilate, resulting in increased circulation. The buoyancy of the water reduces body weight by approximately 85-90%, relieving pressure on joints and muscles, while creating the relaxing sensation of floating in space. The massaging action of a spa is created by sending a mixture of water and air through jet nozzles. This energized warm-water stream relaxes tight muscles and stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers.

After 5 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rates may begin to drop. After 8 minutes, your circulation improves in your hands and feet making them feel warmer. After 12 minutes, your muscles relax, becoming more receptive to passive exercise. Tissues become more pliable and responsive to stretching, encouraging the release of lactic acid and other toxins from your system. At 15 minutes, your minor aches and pains will often experience a temporary decrease in severity.

Evening is one of the best times to soak in hot water. You will probably find that a good soaking before going to bed will make falling asleep easier, and you’ll likely experience deeper sleep throughout the night. So, tonight at sunset, grab a towel and plan to be heating it up in your own personal hot tub at the clubhouse.

In Town, Out of the Ordinary

Kelly Mills — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 22:56:51 +0000

This article was published in Montgomery Living in 2005

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A Special Sort of Place

Kelly Mills — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 23:12:42 +0000

There’s just something about a tower that’s, well, magical. All the legends about fairy princesses, knights of the roundtable and royal wizards wouldn’t be the same without a tower or two. And that’s just what we’ll have… not one… not two… but three towers!

Experience the laughter and creativity of Grove Park’s kids and grandkids as they discover what the Playground Committee has in store for them this spring!

The Grove Park Playground Committee has been choosing a site and designing the new playground to be installed in the park behind the fishing pier on the existing lake. Made by Cedarworks, a premium playset company in Rockport Maine, this set will include fun things like super sling swings, a CW slider, rope ladders, a troll bridge, choozaway tire swings, rollicking roundabouts, triple trapezes, and a great crow’s nest from which to view the park and all of the parents below. Cedarworks is so excited about this set, they say they will be planning a trip to Montgomery just to see it! Watch as the earth begins to take shape to create a special place for this delightful new playground – done Grove Park style.

Grove Park sets mood for residents

Kelly Mills — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 22:52:30 +0000

This article was published in the Montgomery Advertiser in 2004 and was written by Kym Klass.

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Landscaping – A Planned Development

Kelly Mills — Thu, 08 Jul 2004 22:43:49 +0000

Published in Montgomery Living Magazine
Author – Efika Rowe

Driving down the winding entrance to Grove Park, you are impressed by the green of elm trees lining the road, creating a soft barrier between the quiet neighborhood and the hustle of the city.

With miles of open pasture as a blank canvas, land~ De designer Charlotte Goodwyn, along with her husband George, has transformed Grove Park into a welcoming community, From staking lots to hand-picking oak trees, an enormous amount of planning and detail is apparent in every inch of the development.

“I look at landscaping much like decorating one big house, You want different rooms and areas to evoke a common mood or feeling,” says Goodwyn, Creating that long line of trees in the entrance masks the fence separating the property from neighboring land white constructing an environment that allows you to relax. Dapples of magnolia trees add a bit of “Southern charm,” says Goodwyn, hut also signal a change in environment as you approach the security gate. Seasonal flowering plants provide detail at the main gate, requiring observers to slow and pay more attention.

After three full growing seasons, the long-term plans are starting to evolve. A seasoned gardener knows the soil and what works. I picked the most individual evergreen oaks that through the years will spread horizontally over the main streets.” Watching areas grow and develop is rewarding for any gardener, no matter how grand the scale.

One of Goodwyn’s favorite areas is Ash Grove Court, its name inspired by the collection of urbanite ash trees, This species is cultivated to have fewer seed pods than standard ash, making their presence more enjoyable.

The 80 acre linear pond is a definite future gathering spot with its water-loving and pond-edge plants including Louisiana Iris and horsetails, An already popular walking trail surrounds the area and the clubhlouse, under construction now, will overlook a croquet field and park areas for fishing or a quiet afternoon chat in the arbor.

The individual homes of Grove Park are land~caped on a more intimate level, Lots are designed so that south walls are window walls, Jetting in lots of light, and north walls are blank, leaving residents with more privacy and a space in which to develop small container gardens or integrate some of their Southern favorites into the existing scenery, Space between houses doesn’t emphasize a property line. Amoeba shaped hedges, along with other planting, divide the space without changing solid barriers. providing an openness and ease for lawn maintenance to manicure space as a whole, not one lawn at a time.

The delicate balance Goodwyn has created with small sitting spaces outlined with fragrant English roses against green tree-lined roads shows that long-time Montgomery gardeners get to know their soil, And years of getting your hands in the dirt docs pay off in the end. whether it is in your own container garden or, like Goodwyn, getting to do every day what has been a life-long enjoyment.