Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

A Midcentury-Style Home by Fay Jones

A Midcentury-Style Home by Fay Jones

The Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice filled the interior with an abundance of custom millwork—and it’s still in pristine condition.

Clarke and Mona Yarbrough long admired the work of Frank Lloyd Wright-so when one of their closest friends introduced them to Fay Jones, who apprenticed under the master architect, they jumped at the opportunity to commission a home in Alabama.

"Fay was very selective about the sites for which he designed, and he was enchanted by the view," says the couple’s daughter, Terri Lorant, who now co-owns the home with her father after her mother’s passing in 2016. "Ecor Rouge is the highest point on the coast from Maine to Mexico, and it has a rich history."



The 3,200-square-foot waterfront residence sits on a lush, wooded lot.



The home has been immaculately preserved, and all of its original custom millwork is still intact.

The couple built their first home in Mobile-a city known for its antebellum architecture-and Mona filled it with Saarinen pieces. Her penchant for design also jump-started the process for their next dwelling.

The property originally held a two-story, board-and-batten summer home built by the previous owners, the Heckert family. They had rejected multiple offers to purchase the house, but when Mona expressed her adoration of the space
she said there was "nothing she didn’t love"-they knew they’d found their buyer.



The home is designed for indoor/outdoor living with two-story windows and shaded outdoor patios.

Unfortunately, the existing home was damaged by Hurricane Frederick-so Mona and Clarke began searching for an architect to build a new one from the ground up-and they commissioned Jones for the project in 1988."They named their home Pebble Hill after the home where Clarke was born in Auburn, Alabama," says Terri. "The original Pebble Hill is now home to the Center for Arts & Humanities at Auburn University, his alma mater"



The couple took an active role in the design process, and they met regularly with Jones and his team. "They all envisioned a home that would complement the landscape and accentuate the lot’s sparkling views of Mobile Bay," says Terri.
Nestled on a deep, wooded lot, the three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home was built over the course of three years, and it’s teeming with custom elements. "All the details that appear mundane in most houses are custom architectural details at Pebble Hill," says Terri. "The air return ducts, wardrobes, and shelving are all incorporated as part of the house’s woodwork and design. The closet doors align with the angles of the ceiling, so they appear as an organic extension of the home’s design. There is even a ‘secret’ closet that literally fades into the woodwork."



The home is clad in redwood-the same material used for the couple’s first home in Mobile-that was imported from Washington State and milled on-site. All of the cabinetry was also custom milled, and the hundreds of dowels in the woodwork were all hand-hewn.



The home’s living areas extend outdoors thanks to sweeping patios, deep eaves that run the length of the house, and a screened-in porch.

"The windows in the bedrooms all open to draw in the bay breezes, and the skylights with mirrored sides and two-story windows bring in the sunshine all year round," says Terri. "When sitting on the porch, you can watch summer thunderstorms roll in over the bay. Once the rain begins, water cascades from the eaves and it feels like looking out from behind a waterfall."



The project is one of the final homes that Jones designed, and it’s been meticulously maintained-the only additions are a new cedar shake roof installed two years ago, fresh carpet throughout, and updated appliances.

The home’s impressive array of custom built-ins-including a couch, open shelving, and sconces designed by Jones-remain intact. Upstairs in the living area, a signature Jones window subtly incorporates the letter "Y" (a nod to Clarke and Mona’s last name, Yarbrough).



Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Reports in Gaza: 5 dead from the impact of aid packages dropped by the USA
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
The U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, instead proposing its own six-week ceasefire plan contingent upon the release of all hostages held by Hamas
Prince William Urges End to Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel has gone ‘beyond self-defence’ in Gaza, says Labour’s Streeting
EU Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Conflict
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
Saudi Arabia Introduces Terms for 30-Year Income Tax Exemption for Multinational Companies
Saudi FM: Establishing Palestinian state is only pathway for Mideast stability
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
Elon Musk's Starlink Gets License For Israel, Parts Of Gaza
Influencers Exploit X Platform for Profit Amidst Israel-Gaza Conflict
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
International Criminal Court's Chief "Deeply Concerned" By Rafah Bombing
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Indian female military officers commend Saudi Arabia's progress and women's empowerment
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Israel Utilizes AI Military Technology in Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
China Warns Iran to Halt Houthi Attacks or Damage Trade Ties
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Iran-backed hackers interrupt UAE TV streaming services with deepfake news
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: The Israelis underwent dehumanization on 7.10, this does not give them the right to do this to others.
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
UK Bans Misleading "Zero Emissions" Claims for Electric Cars
Gaza's Teen Inventor Sparks Light in Displacement
Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Proposal, Insists On Total Victory Over Hamas
Guterres appoints independent UNRWA review panel
Private Sector Employment Hits Record High with Over 11 Million Employees in January
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
ZATCA Cautions Against Scammer Schemes
INTRA Defense Technologies inaugurates drone factory in Riyadh
×