A Traditional Family Find

The white wainscoting carries visitors through a small formal sitting room, which provides the perfect reprieve from everyday stressors, and into the formal dining room. With some of the best views in the house, this space easily accommodates eight with plenty of additional room.

“Sometimes for parties or holidays, we’ll add another table in here and spread everything out,” adds Mike. “We really enjoy entertaining, and I think that was another thing that led us to purchase this house. It’s got a phenomenal flow to it – we’ve had a party with upwards of 120 people, and it never felt cramped.”

One of the more distinctive features of the home is a recessed buffet boasting lower cabinetry that is perfect for storage, as well as mirrored walls that reflect light back into the room. A broken pediment, like the one seen on the home’s exterior, encapsulates the buffet and provides an extra dose of elegance.

(Bottom Left, Photo by Med Dement) Teresa, Mike, Haille, and Hunter Dinger

Passing through a quaint and convenient butler’s pantry takes guests to the home’s kitchen. Here, the cool blues seen throughout the rest of the home are traded for natural woods that work in tandem with a double-sided, stacked-stone fireplace to warm up the room.

Four barstools are nestled up to a raised bar center island that features granite countertops with an ogee edge detail. Lighter quartz countertops run along the kitchen’s perimeter and are a nice complement to the darker wooden cabinets that line the room.

In the far corner, a small desk area and bench seating allow friends or family members to be near the action without getting in the way.

Walking around the stacked-stone fireplace to the other side, visitors find not one but two seating areas. In the first, a leather sectional surrounds a glass-top coffee table and looks out over the home’s back porch lined with a scenic view. The sectional is paired with two armchairs and matching ottomans that offer up added comfort with their proximity to the fireplace.

Just steps away, two leather armchairs and an oversized tufted cream-colored ottoman offer another seating configuration – this one primed for intimate conversation.

Carrying on, the master suite sits at the front of the home and nearly completes the circular flow of the main level. The same bluish-gray tones found in the foyer and sitting room reappear and work to create a tranquil and soothing environment.

“We swapped a few of them around, but most of the chandeliers you see are original to the home,” says Teresa. “Like with the trim, those were some of the things we worked really hard to salvage because they had so much history and character while still fitting that traditional style we like.”

In the bathroom, a painting that hangs above a soaking tub brings together cool tones with an array of creams and tans found in the cabinetry and porcelain tile.

“We bought this house to be lived in – to be a comfortable home where we could make precious memories.”

Teresa Dinger

From the foyer, traveling down a spiral staircase takes visitors to the basement, which is focused on fun and family time. An area housing a pool and foosball table gives way to a living space with a large sectional and dark brick fireplace.

A bar at the far end of the room gives off a retro aesthetic with an impressive lineup of Coca-Cola memorabilia. An original vending machine dispenses ice-cold sodas, while a set of four red vinyl and chrome barstools evokes a sense of nostalgia.

“We always wanted to have a home where our kids could have fun and just be themselves. This space seemed to fit, and we haven’t changed it much even now that they’re older. It has sort of stood the test of time,” says Mike.

Just around the corner is a theater room decked out in fun cinema-themed décor. A basket with traditional movie theater candy provides a tasty snack and serves as inspiration for pillows that line the six comfortable theater chairs.

Everything from popcorn and snow cones to cotton candy is easily accessible and makes this part of the Dinger home a great place to create memories.

“We bought this house to be lived in – to be a comfortable home where we could make precious memories,” says Teresa. CS