Scott Douthitt and Melissa Cline-Douthitt have made major changes to the Cobbler’s Crossing home they purchased three years ago.
The home of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt in New Albany features many self-designed and built touches by the couple. “We saw this house, and then we saw the deck — and that’s something we didn’t have in our old house,” said Melissa. “I really love the concept of having a really functional outdoor living space, so we just love the covered deck.” Nov. 13, 2020
The main level of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt’s New Albany home has a farmhouse motif, with the smaller shelves built by Scott from found materials. It’s a place where one their two dogs likes to snooze. Nov. 13, 2020
Scott Douthitt built this wood mount for the flat screen tv as a design element as well. Similar pieces he saw in catalogs were around $1,500. So he went to a local home improvement store for the wood, stained it himself as well as installed simple metal mounting bolts. Nov. 13, 2020
The home of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt in New Albany features many self-designed and built touches by the couple. Nov. 13, 2020
The main level in the home of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt has some farmhouse-inspired touches. Nov. 13, 2020
The placesetting on the dining table in the lower level adds some fall fun to a retro-inspired centerpiece and chairs. Nov. 13, 2020
Artwork of Kentucky-inspired state parks from Work The Metal hang in the lower level of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt’s home in New Albany. A retro-inspired look is seen throughout the lower level. Nov. 13, 2020
The exercise room in the the lower level of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt New Albany’s home has a treadmill, weights and a flat-screen tv as well as some motivational art. A simple black-and-white color scheme keeps the purpose focused as well as bright. Nov. 13, 2020
Fall motifs are numerous on the main level of the home. Melissa Cline-Douthitt likes to add fun design elements for each season or holiday as a way to make it feel special for her five-year-old son.
The lower level area features a bar as you walk down the stairs. A flat screen hangs at left for sports or just to show unique pictures. A horse racing print with a small Churchill Downs artwork honors the love of the Kentucky Derby that’s just across the river from New Albany. Nov. 13, 2020
Another large flatscreen television for watching movies or playing games hangs on a wall. Bright colors as well as the walk-out basement allow for natural light to help fill the area. Nov. 13, 2020
A Crosley record player sits atop a retro-inspired sideboard in the basement of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt’s home in New Albany. Nov. 13, 2020
“Our old house had a basement, but it wasn’t a walkout,” Melissa Cline-Douthitt said, explaining that a walkout was on their list of desired features when they were shopping for a new home. “Basements without walkouts just tend to feel dark.” The lower level features a mixture of furniture styles to go with the hardwood flooring. Colorful artwork add some pop. Nov. 13, 2020
The basement has a mid-century modern look, with bold shades of blue and green in the home of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt.
An hourglass sits atop a small endurable that has two drawers in the lower level. The sand matches the walls. Nov. 13, 2020
The home of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt in New Albany features many self-designed and built touches by the couple. Nov. 13, 2020
Another sitting area in the lower level features humorous paintings of dogs and a cat in the home of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt. The lower level “feels like a whole second house,” said Scott. Nov. 13, 2020
Scott Douthitt built this faux fireplace cabinet that adds some cozy touches in the evening for the lower level. Nov. 13, 2020
A repainted piano from Melissa Cline-Douthitt’s dad’s house in Corbin, Kentucky, and unique art from Work the Metal in Louisville is also used in the lower level. Nov. 13, 2020
Two high stools and chair offer a comfortable place to sit while locally-illustrated posters of Louisville neighborhoods of Germantown, the Highlands and St. Matthews decorate the wall. Nov. 13, 2020
The kitchen in the home of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt has a bright feel with the white cabinets and overhead recessed lighting. Nov. 13, 2020
“I want to make him to feel like every holiday is a special event and occasion,” Melissa Cline-Douthitt said of their 5-year-old son, Harrison. Pumpkins of every size, color, style and material decorate the formal dining room. Nov. 13, 2020
It’s fall and inside the home of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt you’ll know it with the fun design decorative items of pumpkins and gourds. Nov. 13, 2020
The main level in the home features rustic-styled furniture and design elements with a farmhouse feel. Nov. 13, 2020
A digital frame rotates beloved pictures of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt’s son Harrison on the main level. Nov. 13, 2020
The home of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt in New Albany features many self-designed and built touches by the couple. Nov. 13, 2020
The master bedroom has a farmhouse motif that honor Melissa Cline-Douthitt’s rural roots in Corbin, Ky. Nov. 13, 2020
The home of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt in New Albany features many self-designed and built touches by the couple. Nov. 13, 2020
The master bedroom of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt’s home in New Albany features has a faux fireplace with a flatscreen hanging above the sitting area. Nov. 13, 2020
An Indiana wood tray holds candles in the sitting area of the master bedroom. A blue rug with a white herringbone pattern adds contrast to the pinstriped chairs. Nov. 13, 2020
The room of Harrison Douthitt has a Star Wars motif. Nov. 13, 2020
The bedroom of Harrison is filled with Star Wars-inspired elements, including light sabers that light up. Nov. 13, 2020
A retro-inspired metal lamp and artwork make for a nice contrast in the basement. Nov. 13, 2020
The master bathroom features two sings as well as a large tub and walk-in shower. Nov. 13, 2020
A guest room in the lower level home. Bright colors and furniture that carry a mid-century-inspired look.
There’s plenty of storage space in the lower level ‘kid cave’ and a desk for use as Harrison grows older. A chalkboard for writing makes for a functional and fun design element. Nov. 13, 2020
The play area or ‘kid cave’ in the lower level of the home. Nov. 13, 2020
A mini teepee tent, plush campfire setup, and mountain pillows for the couple’s five-year-old son in his own play area in the lower level. Melissa Cline-Douthitt and her husband were thinking ahead when they outfitted the room with a custom closet system and large desk area.“His bedroom space is so small,” she explained, “there’s really not room for a functional desk. We thought that as he gets older, it would be really nice to have something like this here.” Nov. 13, 2020
A bright enclosed patio offers even more space in the lower level of thehome of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt’s home. White sheer drapes allow for lots of filtered light. Nov. 13, 2020
The office in the home of Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt in New Albany. A whiteboard hangs behind the computer for messages and notes. Nov. 13, 2020
There’s even space for a hot tub. “It’s fabulous, obviously, with COVID-19,” Melissa said. “It’s a saltwater hot tub, so you don’t have the yucky chlorine smell, and it’s much healthier. We love the sitting area and the hot tub.”
This weatherproof wood case was built by Melissa and Scott Cline-Douthitt to protect a flatscreen tv on the couple’s deck outside. Nov. 13, 2020
Wicker couches and tables with water-resistant cushions offer even more space when weather and temperatures allow on the large deck. “We were kind of looking for a certain kind of house,” Melissa Cline-Douthitt said of their home search years ago. “We saw this house, and then we saw the deck — and that’s something we didn’t have in our old house. I really love the concept of having a really functional outdoor living space, so we just love the covered deck.” Nov. 13, 2020
“We redid everything. We had the entire house painted … (we) just kind of modernized it” said Melissa Cline-Douthitt, with husband Scott, on their backpack of their New Albany home. “(The deck) was really the selling point when we saw the house,” said Melissa. “Especially with everything happening this year, this is just a nice space.” Nov. 13, 2020
44/44 SLIDES
“It looked totally different,” Cline-Douthitt recalled. “The entire house was this drab yellow color. We redid everything. We had the entire house painted … (we) just kind of modernized it.”
In addition to updating the walls with fresh coats of paint in new hues, Cline-Douthitt also makes it a point to keep the house current with timely decorations.
“I want to make him to feel like every holiday is a special event and occasion,” Cline-Douthitt said of their 5-year-old son, Harrison. At the moment, she is accomplishing this with pumpkins of every size, color, style and material placed throughout the space. Earth-toned gourds made of paper, ceramic, and more adorn the dining table, while Thanksgiving-themed sugar cookies from Louisville baker @_thecookie_jar sit atop the kitchen counter.
“Every holiday season, (I) try to do as much as we can,” she laughed, adding that she’s itching to take it all down and put up their Christmas decorations.
Though the décor in the rest of the house will change very soon, Harrison’s Star Wars-themed bedroom will be more of a permanent fixture. Complete with Luke Skywalker-approved wall art, books, and lightsabers, it’s a dream space for fans of a galaxy far, far away.
Downstairs, Harrison’s playroom features a completely different look. With a mini teepee tent, plush campfire setup, and mountain pillows, it’s a fun area for the couple’s little explorer. It is, however, more than a play space; Cline-Douthitt and her husband were thinking ahead when they outfitted the room with a custom closet system and large desk area.
“His bedroom space is so small,” she explained, “there’s really not room for a functional desk. We thought that as he gets older, it would be really nice to have something like this here. We just love the desk space; (and) storage is key for us because otherwise, his toys would be out everywhere.”
In addition to Harrison’s playroom/future homework area, the home’s spacious walkout basement also boasts a bar, reading nook, fireplace, additional living space, bathroom, workout room, extra bedroom, and an attached sunroom.
“Our old house had a basement, but it wasn’t a walkout,” Cline-Douthitt said, explaining that a walkout was on their list of desired features when they were shopping for a new home. “Basements without walkouts just tend to feel dark.”
Unlike the farmhouse motif of the main floor, the basement has a mid-century modern look, with bold shades of blue and green, a repainted piano from Cline-Douthitt’s dad’s house in Corbin, Kentucky, and unique art from Work the Metal in Louisville.
Dapper deck
Though the basement — which they used to call “the dungeon” — underwent a significant remodel, the area that seems to have recently had the most impact on the family’s everyday living is the deck.
“We were kind of looking for a certain kind of house,” Cline-Douthitt said of their home search years ago. “We saw this house, and then we saw the deck — and that’s something we didn’t have in our old house. I really love the concept of having a really functional outdoor living space, so we just love the covered deck.”
They recently extended it, making space for a hot tub. “It’s fabulous, obviously, with COVID-19,” she exclaimed, “and it’s a saltwater hot tub, so you don’t have the yucky chlorine smell, and it’s much healthier. We love the sitting area and the hot tub.” There’s also a TV that can be adjusted to face either the deck’s main seating area are one side or the hot tub on the other.
“We looked at the weather-resistant TVs that you see in restaurants and bars … and they were just so expensive,” Cline-Douthitt said. They opted for a regular flat-screen TV instead, and Douthitt built a case to keep it protected from the elements. Between watching TV, reading, and working on her laptop, this area is where Cline-Douthitt spends a lot of her time.
“(The deck) was really the selling point when we saw the house,” she recalled. “Especially with everything happening this year, this is just a nice space.”
Know a house that would make a great Home of the Week? Email writer Lennie Omalza at [email protected] or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at [email protected]
nuts & bolts
Owners: Scott Douthitt and Melissa Cline-Douthitt. Douthitt is a manager at UPS and Cline-Douthitt works in instructional design. Also in the home is their son Harrison, 5, and their dogs, Mac and Izzy.
Home: This is a 4-bed, 3-bath, 3,300-square-foot, ranch-style home that was built in 1997 in Cobbler’s Crossing in southern Indiana.
Distinctive elements: Extra-wide driveway for parking; 16-foot ceilings in the living room; open wall kitchen concept leading into dining and living room spaces; large windows and skylights; vaulted ceiling in master bedroom; whirlpool tub in master bath; elevated, partially covered 30-by-15-foot deck with TV and hot tub; spacious walkout basement with tall ceilings provides multiple spaces, including bar area, reading nook, fireplace, large family space, bathroom, workout room, playroom, extra bedroom, and attached sunroom.
Applause! Applause! Brian Kays Painting; Clore Construction for their work on the deck and exercise room; KJ Wilson Electric; The Southern Craftsmen; and Closets by Design for the cabinets in Harrison’s playroom.
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![a living room filled with furniture and a fireplace: “Our old house had a basement, but it wasn’t a walkout,” Melissa Cline-Douthitt said, explaining that a walkout was on their list of desired features when they were shopping for a new home. “Basements without walkouts just tend to feel dark.” The lower level features a mixture of furniture styles to go with the hardwood flooring. Colorful artwork add some pop. Nov. 13, 2020](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/this-ranch-style-home-features-fall-decor-a-modern-motif-and-a-star-wars-themed-bedroom/{"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"53","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1bandc.img?h=527&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=928&y=729"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"41","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1bandc.img?h=411&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=928&y=729"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"41","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1bandc.img?h=411&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=928&y=729"}})
![a painting of a bed: The room of Harrison Douthitt has a Star Wars motif. Nov. 13, 2020](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/this-ranch-style-home-features-fall-decor-a-modern-motif-and-a-star-wars-themed-bedroom/{"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"51","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1b9YfE.img?h=514&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"40","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1b9YfE.img?h=401&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"40","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1b9YfE.img?h=401&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"}})
![a man and a woman sitting on a chair: "We redid everything. We had the entire house painted … (we) just kind of modernized it" said Melissa Cline-Douthitt, with husband Scott, on their backpack of their New Albany home. “(The deck) was really the selling point when we saw the house,” said Melissa. “Especially with everything happening this year, this is just a nice space.” Nov. 13, 2020](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/this-ranch-style-home-features-fall-decor-a-modern-motif-and-a-star-wars-themed-bedroom/{"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"126","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1baiHy.img?h=1259&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=1582&y=1445"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"98","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1baiHy.img?h=983&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=1582&y=1445"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"98","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1baiHy.img?h=983&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=1582&y=1445"}})