From House To Home

Todd and Jill Jackson are a couple “on the move.” In fact, in 20 years of marriage, they’ve lived in as many homes. Todd is a residential developer and spec builder. Jill, his wife, is his business partner in charge of aesthetics for J&J Home Builders.

Some homeowners cringe at the inconvenience of moving. Others can’t bear to leave a home they love, but Jill is philosophical about her locally nomadic lifestyle. First, it’s business. Not only that, when some furnishings sell with the house, she gets to shop and decorate all over again, and she loves that.

The Jacksons like Jonesboro, as the good-sized, growing community is located near Memphis and an easy drive from their Lake Norfork vacation home. Jonesboro is also home to their two daughters, now attending the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Jill has liked all the homes they’ve lived in, but was never bothered by moving on. “You want the children near you when they are little; then they reach an age when you want them on the other side of the house,” she explains, laughing. “For me, different homes work for different phases of life.”

Despite past moves, the Jacksons have enjoyed their two-level Woodsprings Estates home for more than three years. Perched on Crowley’s Ridge, the neighborhood of custom homes on larger lots is surrounded by gentle hills and trees. Their home is about 3,500 square feet, including four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, plus a three-car garage. There is an easy flow on the main level, where the rooms are unified by a lustrous concrete, acid-stained floor. Three acids were used to achieve a depth of color that coordinates with finishes in each room.

Though they often see clients in their homes, Jill and Todd work primarily at home and strive to maintain separation between work and home space. A front sitting room is an elegantly furnished office by day and an extra entertaining space at other times.

For guests, a jewel-box powder room features a crystal chandelier. The sink is mounted on a reproduction vanity, the mirror of which has been separated and hung on the wall. The kitchen is command central when entertaining. The sink island faces the back yard, where ample exterior living space is under cover and a separate patio sits amid a colorful garden. The main floor is at its best as a resilient, low-maintenance surface for indoor/outdoor living.

The Jacksons take turns hosting a group of couples in their social supper club. Were they called upon to host the group in summer, their friends might be treated to one of Jill’s savory stuffed mushroom appetizers followed by Todd’s outdoor grill specialty--fresh salmon with salsa and pineapple.

There is an easy flow on the main level, where the rooms are unified by a lustrous concrete, acid-stained floor.

When both daughters are home for the summer, they each occupy a spacious upstairs bed/bath suite. Another upstairs area is additional living space and guest quarters.

Todd credits Jill for their home’s tasteful finishes, including the black river-rock floor in the open master shower and some ideas implemented during construction. He likes the concrete floors and that his hunting trophy fits in with the décor, describing the elegance Jill imparts in her design work as easy to live with.

“We’ve done homes that are more contemporary and some that are rustic. This one is traditional, and I like to think it is classy looking,” he says.

They presently have no plans to move, but Jill is philosophical if they have to do so at some time: “We’ve come to love this neighborhood, but no matter where we live, it’s always home.”