Inspirational willow oak shapes Clemmons home's design

The McBrides were driving through neighborhoods in Clemmons one afternoon when they spotted a lot with a towering willow oak. Its majestic presence seemed to beckon the family of three.

"We only knew one of the builders building in this neighborhood. My husband looked at me and said that if his name was on the sign, it was our sign that this was meant to be our lot," said Debra McBride.

In a twist of fate, Mitch Lowery, the sole builder they knew, had the lot listed. Originally, Debra wanted to build a home inspired by rustic lodges they had seen while snow skiing in Western states. Instead, the giant willow tree shaped their home's design.

"That big tree just called for something with old Southern charm," Debra said.

Great pains were taken to protect the tree and its root system during construction in 2007. The driveway's path slashes across the lot diagonally to lessen the impact on the tree's roots. The tree is estimated to be 100 years old.

Once the house was built, the time to landscape arrived. Unfortunately, a miscommunication resulted in irrigation-system workers cutting across the roots of the prized tree. The McBrides were devastated. They immediately called an arborist to see whether the tree could be saved.

The new homeowners were told that the next four years would determine whether the tree could survive the damage, and that it had a 50-50 chance of making it. The tree was pruned cautiously and fertilized using precise measurements. Each season, the tree is tended with care.

"The tree will eventually die, as every living thing does, but it won't be because of us," Debra said.

The tree has become somewhat of a mascot for the family, complete with being christened "Wilhelmina." They joke that Wilhelmina is a temperamental female each fall when she casts her acorns on the flagstone steps leading to the house.

Uplighting creates a stately silhouette for Wilhelmina, a precursor for the way the McBrides used nature as a guide to build their home. The front door provides a view straight through to the back courtyard, one of the must-haves for the McBrides. They did not want the maintenance of a deck, but they wanted an expansive, outdoor-living space.

The courtyard, hemmed in by lattice-style brick walls, creates a private retreat. A fountain anchors the space and provides dramatic scenery from the front door. Because the sun sets in the front of the home, the courtyard provides a mellow place to end the day. Another important tree, a very old holly, dictated the courtyard's design in order to preserve the shade from the tree and its beautiful texture.

Inside, the open floor plan maximizes the view of the jasmine climbing up the courtyard wall and the other plantings. The great room, with its rustic fireplace, is cozy and warm. Coffered ceilings were added instead of the plan's original two-story soaring lines. Antiqued, built-in cabinets flank the rock fireplace, and beadboard adds interest.

"I used 12 different paint colors with subtle nuances. Both color and lighting were big deals to me. I knew we would live here for a long, long time, so I wanted to get it right," Debra said.

Looking to the future, the couple made sure that all doorways are wheelchair-accessible and that all living can be done on the first floor. Making these modifications during the initial construction process should ensure that they can age in their home without too many structural adjustments.

The home's master bedroom is an elegant retreat. An alcove features a nook that holds an antique vase. Textured ivory carpet adds a stylish feel against the blue walls. The bedroom's white-marble fireplace is bordered by columns and built-in bookcases. On the bedroom's far end, a little sitting room provides an area that overlooks the mature walnut trees populating the neighborhood's common area. Some of the branches hang over the McBrides' house.

The trees delivered a bit of a surprise on the family's first night in the house.

"We thought someone was shooting at the house," Debra said.

Instead, the rat-a-tat sounds were large walnuts falling and hitting the roof.

Upstairs, a bonus room, an office, the guest room and daughter Sara Beth's room finish off the traditional home built under Wilhelmina's sentry.