Designs by Tina and
Dean Holtmeyer Construction create a custom home for the ultimate family hangout.

Building a home isn’t always as easy as it may seem on reality TV. Sometimes building a home can be the source of endless headaches for homeowners, designers, and contractors alike. But, when professionals such as Tina Davis and Dean Holtmeyer combine their decades of expertise, homeowners can find themselves living in a dream home that perfectly suits their lifestyle.

Creating a Customized Home

With over 20 years in the business, Tina Davis believes that good design revolves around the behavior of a space’s inhabitants. She begins her design process by learning how her clients’ lives work.

“There is not a cookie-cutter approach to a design philosophy,” Tina says. “The clients’ design needs to be unique to them. For example, if someone works from home, their home office will be different from someone who uses a home office on a part-time basis.”

In this home office, Tina kept the whole family in mind since it is only used part time. While the small computer area gives the homeowners a space to work when they need it, their children can use the larger office desk and chairs for things like their art projects. Tina also included large built-in shelving and cabinets to draw attention to some of the homeowners’ favorite family photos and to help make the room appear open, inviting, and less cluttered. 

In larger areas of the home, Tina focused on family entertaining and outdoor living, as the homeowners host many extended-family functions. It was vital for the home to have enough space for large events while being comfortable and functional enough for everyday use or smaller, immediate family gatherings.

“It makes a difference when you have a contractor who is never afraid to do
things by hand or take on much more detail-oriented projects.”

Tina Davis

Bringing In the Outdoors

The homeowners love to grill and cook, which inspired the installation of dual outdoor kitchens on the upper and lower levels. The upper patio has a screened-in porch and heaters to allow comfortable year-round outdoor living. Downstairs, Tina created an outdoor living space perfect for large gatherings. Here, guests have quick access to the pool, a shaded dining area, a giant porch swing, and a fire pit.

Just inside this 4,000-square-foot home, Tina echoed the earthy, outdoor look with dark tones and continued the ground-level stone. Additionally, she used heavier stained cabinetry that imitates the surrounding forest and ties the spaces together.

Slightly tucked away from the rest of the downstairs area, the wine cellar features a cork backsplash and slate flooring that add texture, color, and a moodier essence. The wine cellar includes a tasting area, wine storage, and a custom door. Dean Holtmeyer Construction, who constructed the house, completed most of the custom woodwork and tilework in the cellar and throughout the home. Dean’s mastery of carpentry is most present in the upstairs ceiling beams in the kitchen and living areas.

“It makes a difference when you have a contractor who is never afraid to do things by hand or take on much more detail-oriented projects,” Tina says.

The beautiful wood beams help define each room while allowing the spaces to still coordinate with each other. The beams and other custom carpentry, such as the arched doorways, give the home a natural warmth.

“I’m hands-on; I’m on the job every day, and I do a lot of the work myself,” contractor Dean Holtmeyer says. “I treat the customer’s home the same as my own.”

Adding Ornate Aesthetics

With the homeowners’ busy lives in mind, the master suite needed to be a cozy space where they could rest and recharge. But this didn’t stop Tina from including some statement pieces, such as a clawfoot tub and an intricate bed backdrop.

“With the wall behind the bed, we knew it was going to happen early on,” Tina says. “We just weren’t sure what it would look like or how it would evolve.”

The geometric patterned wall required collaboration between Tina and Dean since its proportions impacted everything in the room, from the mounted lights to the headboard. The homeowners purchased specialty bedding from The Schaefer House to complete the look.

In the bathroom, Tina wanted to create a mini oasis for the homeowners to unwind. There are few better ways to release the day than a hot bath. The clawfoot bathtub is ideally situated in a nook below a window, allowing the beauty of the outdoors to shine through. 

Resources: Accessories, Artwork, Furniture – JC Mattress and Furniture Showrooms
Backsplash, Shower, Tile – Scruggs Lumber | Bedding – The Schaefer House | Blinds – The Blind Guy
Brick and Stone – Midwest Block & Brick | Cabinets – Darryl Wolken Custom Cabinets
Concrete – Kyle Berendzen Construction, LLC | Countertops – Martellaro Marble & Granite
Custom Millwork, Doors, Trim – Freedom Wood Products | Doors – Dulle Overhead Doors, Inc.
Drywall – B & M Interiors, Inc. | Electrical – G & R Electric, Inc. | Excavation – George Schulte & Sons
Fire Pit and Outdoor Cabinets – Best Fire Stove & Fireplace Center
Floor and Roof Trusses – Mid America Truss | Flooring – JCL Hardwood Floors
Foundation – Cole County Industries Heidbreder Foundation Services, LLC
General Contractor – Dean Holtmeyer Construction | HVAC – Rehagen Heating & Cooling, Inc.
Insulation – Leon Muenks Insulation, LLC | Interior Design – Designs by Tina, LLC
Kitchen Appliances – St. Elizabeth TV & Appliance | Landscaping – Wiggins Company Grounds Care, LLC
Lighting Fixtures – LaBelle Cabinetry & Lighting | Masonry – Anderson Masonry
Painting – Bond’s Painting & Wallpapering | Patio Furniture – Stockman Stoneworks, Inc.
Plumbing – Hayes Plumbing | Railings and Screened-In Porch – American Sun Control
Roofing – Luecke’s Roofing | Security, Sound, TV – The Entertainer | Windows – Quaker Windows