Top of the Hill is a private Mid-Century Modern three-bedroom two bath home on two park-like acres with beautiful old southern gardens. You can’t see any neighbors – it’s like being in the country yet minutes to the lively downtown of Southern Pines and the charming village of Pinehurst. I love spending time here and enjoy sharing Top of the Hill with guests. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Built in 1958 and recently renovated, Top of the Hill was designed by Architect Thomas Hayes, one of the founders of Modernism in North Carolina. North Carolina has the third largest number of modernist homes in the U.S. after California and Illinois, thanks to the NC State design school which Hayes helped found. This Hayes-designed house is a prime example of North Carolina mid-century modernism. There are original redwood shiplap ceilings, white terrazzo floors and clerestory windows throughout; all trademarks of the emerging modernist style.
As you enter, the glass walled foyer creates a space that separates the bedroom wing to the left from the living, dining and kitchen wing to the right, with a view of a Japanese garden and back deck beyond. Vintage model planes fly overhead, and a child’s 1950s toy tractor on the floor sets the whimsical mood.
Throughout the house are things that reflect my interests in design, art, gardens, classic cars, model planes, architecture, cooking, history, entertaining and just living well. Top of the Hill is furnished with lots of beautiful and interesting antiques, art, and collectables with quality beds, sofas and upholstered pieces throughout.
The living room, right of foyer, has floor to ceiling windows providing stunning views of the grounds and pine woods that surround the house and of the large deck and Carolina blue sky. Watching the sun set behind the pines and seeing the morning light as it comes up though the pines while stretched out on a couch is a beautiful thing! You may even see deer who are often in the yard.
There are two large couches and two modernist chars surrounding a large granite topped Japanese style coffee table in the center of the living room in front of a huge fireplace. A round games table with four chairs in front of the windows looking out on yard is a great spot to catch up on work, read, play games, do a puzzle, or enjoy meals.
A flat screen Smart TV with Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu accounts, a Bose radio/DVD system, and an Amazon Alexa with Apple Music deliver many entertainment options. You are invited to enjoy the books found on shelves on the fireplace wall and throughout the house. The 19th century portrait is of my step-father, who was President of IBM. He had his face painted onto this 19th century portrait. He was an actor, a theatre producer, and a magician
(and President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians). The rams head was bought at an Admiral’s estate sale in the area. Antique pieces including a 19th century music box, a 18th century tall case clock, and two armoires inherited from my grandmother, and a vintage model plane flying over a Steinway grand piano complete the eclectic scene
Outside, beyond the living room, is a large deck with a dining table and six chairs with umbrella, four teak lounge chairs and two teak chairs with ottomans lit from above with LED lighting.
The dining room seats six to eight at a round teak table and opens to a patio with a wrought iron table, umbrella and chairs, with another patio beyond with gas grill.
Past the dining room is a new fully equipped kitchen including six burner gas stove, two electric ovens, microwave, and French door refrigerator with ice maker. The kitchen is equipped for the serious cook with every imaginable amenity, and for those with less culinary inclination, it is perfect for quick snacks and meal preparation.
The laundry room off the kitchen has a new front-loading washer and dryer, a “maids’ toilet”,
(a ‘50’s thing) cleaning supplies and an electric blower for the deck.
Back to the foyer and to the left, are three bedrooms. The first bedroom on the right has a quality queen bed, Smart TV, and wall of closets, all looking out to the back yard. Across the hall is a full bath with stall shower. Further down the hall, a door leads to two more bedrooms, one to the right with a double bed, Smart TV, clock radio and Alexa dot, and wall of closets, the other to the left with two twin beds, a desk, and small tv that plays DVD’s. in between these two bedrooms are dual sinks and through a door, a combination tub and shower and toilet through a door (remember, it’s the ‘50s!).
The three bedrooms are very well furnished and equipped with every convenience, such as Smart Tv’s, Amazon dots, alarm clock radios, and reading lights. The beds are all high quality and linens are provided.
The grounds are stunning, with 50-plus year-old plantings by a landscape architect who worked with Thomas Hayes. I have worked on the gardens for ten years, developing a more natural look in the landscape, adding and taking away as needed. Everywhere you look from inside the house there is a great view. Totally quiet and peaceful, a bird lovers paradise.
There is a bocce set, some balls, a set of golf clubs, disc golf discs, and vacuums in the foyer closet. Feel free to vacuum as much as you like! J The town tennis courts and basketball courts are off Broad Street. Disc golf is at Reservoir Park
There are two drives, one to the garage area parking (garage not included) and the other a very large drive for guests providing parking for ten or more cars, a boat or R.V.
Top of the Hill is a unique, stylish and fun property located minutes to Broad Street, (the main street of Southern Pines) buzzing with many excellent restaurants, shops and activities, and ten minutes to the center of Pinehurst Village.
