After living elsewhere for seven years, Cameron and Miesje Carlsen were ready to move home to Augusta, where their family is. But, the bad economy meant they were facing a big risk.
"I didn't know what kind of house we'd be able to get here," Miesje said. "So, it was nice to come to Augusta and find a big house that's beautiful, well-made and that we could afford."
In only one weekend, the young couple found their dream house in Brookwood Estates, a new, gated community off South Bel Air Road in Martinez. They moved in May with their two children, Boen, 3, and Sparrow, 5 months, their canaries and finch, Squeaky, French Fry and Sprinkles, their German shepherd, Samantha and cat, Leo.
"The house is perfect for our family, now and later," Miesje said. "The rooms are large, so we can grow into it."
The downstairs features a foyer with a ceramic tile floor and an open floor plan, with the dining room, kitchen and living room flowing together.
"An open floor plan is better when you have kids. Coen loves it. He runs laps around the kitchen," Miesje said as Coen zoomed around, wearing a Superman cape with his arms outstretched, singing "I'm flying."
The kitchen has dark stained cabinets and light granite countertops. The floors downstairs are hand-scraped hardwood. Like most new houses, the ceilings are high. Miesje said she was pleasantly surprised to also find high ceilings in the rooms upstairs.
"The upstairs is just as open as the downstairs," she said. "And I love that the laundry room is upstairs. That's where the clothes and the beds are, so it just makes sense."
The home's three bedrooms are upstairs. The children's rooms have a Jack and Jill bathroom between them, and both rooms feature large, walk-in closets. Coen's closet even has a dresser in it.
"He takes his pillows and blankets and sleeps in there a lot of times," Miesje said.
Although Coen's room is decorated with a Toy Story theme, Miesje's love of birds is displayed in Sparrow's nursery. Miesje painted Sparrow's name and a large tree on the wall over the white, French country crib. A butterfly mobile hangs from the ceiling over the crib, and a white chandelier resembling tree branches with birds hangs in the vaulted ceiling over the queen-size bed.
The bird theme continues on the bedding in the master bedroom, where more French country furniture includes the bedroom suit, an armoire, couch and armchair.
"I use the couch a lot to read on and hang out with the kids," Miesje said. "We fold laundry on it, too."
The master bathroom features black granite countertops over white cabinets, an oval tub, double shower and two walk-in closets.
A covered patio out back gives way to a small, sodded backyard enclosed in a privacy fence. The yard is surrounded by trees, which allows Miesje to enjoy more birds. And when the couple is too busy to mow the lawn, no one knows. The privacy fence blocks the view in back, and the front lawn is maintained by the Brookwood Homeowners Association.
A two-car garage with two doors allows plenty of space for both vehicles.
"You're not tempted to park one car in the center," Miesje said. "And we're close to the interstate, so we can get anywhere fast."
The family: Cameron and Miesje Carlsen, Coen, 3, and Sparrow, 5, months.
The home: Two-story, 2,356-square-foot brick home with three bedrooms, 21/2 baths and a two-car garage
AROUND THE BLOCK
Where: Brookwood Estates.
Amenities: Gated community in Martinez with homes from the $130,000s.
- All homes include granite countertops, stained kitchen cabinets, hardwood/ceramic tile flooring options, two-car garages and sodded yards with sprinkler systems.
- Front yards are maintained by the homeowners association.
- A covered picnic area and walking path are in the works, but not completed yet.
- Conveniently located to I-20, Fort Gordon, hospitals and Augusta.
Schools: Brookwood Elementary, Columbia Middle School and Evans High School.
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