Photographs by Lance Murphey Except for a few things that Lowe's doesn't sell - like brick - the 3,500-square-foot Lowe's Concept House in Cordova is made of products from Lowe's Home Improvement store.

Lowe's House models all the bells, whistles from store

By Linda A. Moore
lmoore@gomemphis.com
August 31, 2003

It was only by chance that Anthony and Tonya Ross stumbled upon the Lowe's Concept House on Meadow Bark Cove.

"We turned into the cove just to turn around," Tonya Ross, 38, said.

"We were actually at an open-house somewhere else," said Anthony Ross, 41. "We just lucked up on it."

It was late spring and the house was under construction.

Even though it had no walls, no fixtures and hadn't even been listed for sale, the Rosses could see it was special.

Not long afterward, they made an offer to buy it.

The 3,500-square-foot house, sold for $350,000, is special.

It was built by Russ Laney Homes, using products - with few exceptions - from Lowe's Home Improvement store.

Laney, almost a daily regular at Lowe's, describes the idea as "an out-of-body" experience.

"I said, 'Man, this place probably has just about everything you need to build a house,' " Laney said.

He talked to the store manager, who liked the idea, and the project began.

"Naturally, they loved the idea," Laney said.

Everything, except things Lowe's doesn't sell, like exterior brick and some of the larger landscaping plants, came from Lowe's regular stock or was special ordered from the company.

Russ Laney's wife, Juanita, selected most of the home's fixtures.

"It's fun being able to pick out and see what goes together," Juanita Laney said.

Most of what she chose for the house were in-stock items and only two of the light fixtures were specially ordered.

For the Rosses, it meant trusting the Laneys' judgment - and their taste.

"We were a little nervous, but after we met Russ, you could tell this guy was excited about this house," Tonya Ross said.

Now that it's finished, there's little she plans to change.

"I'll paint the kids' rooms in some primary colors. Other than that it's perfect," she said.

The five-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath house includes a living room, dining room, hearth room, three-car garage and a study Tonya Ross has claimed ahead of her husband and their two sons.

"I want a chaise where I can read the Bible or sit with my girlfriends and have tea," she said.

The house has granite countertops, African slate fireplace surround and a stained concrete patio.

In addition to the house being from Lowe's, it has other special features. The house is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Saver home, with utility bills estimated at an average of $125 a month. The home's energy-efficient system was designed and installed by Engineered Comfort Inc. of Germantown.

"I like the energy efficiency of the house," Anthony Ross said. "That sold it."

The new owners are also excited about the Hal 2000 system computer program that will allow them to control all of the home's electrical functions via telephone while they're away.

Named Jill by the installers with Team S.O.S., the computer, available at Lowe's, can do everything from reading E-mail aloud to shutting off specific electrical outlets, to overseeing lighting and the security system.

It's another feature, the family expects to enjoy. "Hal 2000 was another selling piece," Anthony Ross said. "That's going to be neat. I can call the house and turn the sprinkler system on, you name it."

His wife also has plans for the system to get a head start on Sunday dinners. "I can walk into my house after church and smell dinner cooking," Tonya Ross said.

There is also one other advantage for the Rosses in buying this house: The builder lives next door.

They expect to be good neighbors.

"Our kids immediately got out of the truck and started playing with his kids. The families just jelled," Anthony Ross said. "I think that house is a gift from God."

This is the only Lowe's concept house and corporate officials say there are no plans for another one.

The Lowe's Concept House is at 1758 Meadow Bark Cove and will be open through Labor Day. From Germantown Parkway, head east on Chimney Rock and south on Berryhill. Turn west onto Raspberry and take the second right into Meadow Bark Cove.

- Linda A. Moore: 529-2702

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