Page 156 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2016

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HOME southern charm
Downsizing, restful simplicity welcomes couple home each day
story by Lynn Lofton photos by Katherine Sowers
T
he home of Kim and Wade Raulston
has a restful — yet elegant — color scheme
and style the couple wanted when they moved
shades of blue. “There’s no yard to mow,” Raulston says with a smile.
“Florence Gardens is designed and built according to traditional neighborhood design with the idea to get back to a sense of community with front porches and a walkable neighborhood,” said Marketing Director Rachel Rath.
The master plan calls for a school and that’s where the neighborhood
is just right for Raulston. She is
the principal of Hope Academy, an elementary school that opens this month. “It’s the right place for us. I will walk to school,” she said. “My husband is a retired environmental engineer who is consulting with Ecco Restore, so it’s the right place for him too.”
The 1,800-square-foot home has beautiful pine floors, wide crown molding and a sophisticated cream- on-cream color palette with touches
of soft blue. Accessories are kept to a minimum. “It’s simple but elegant and not a lot of upkeep,” Raulston said. “We like to come home to a soothing, restful home.” >>
to Gulfport from Hattiesburg less than a year ago. One of Florence Gardens’ Cottage Court homes, it checks several boxes the Raulstons were looking for and reflects the lifestyle of the planned community.
“It’s perfect for us because we wanted to downsize,” Kim Raulston said. “We were planning to build, but we saw this house and it made us want to keep things simple and not over decorate.”
The home’s front facade has an Arcadian flair with traditional Southern architecture and has rocking chairs for relaxation time. Whistle Court’s two rows of cottage homes look connected but they’re not. Each has a private courtyard on the side and a back garage entrance via an alley. The Raulstons’ brick-paved courtyard is neat and orderly with plants and outdoor furniture in
156 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • February 2016
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