Lisa and Joe Kellerman wanted to have their dream home, including a pool and plenty of space to entertain. But their current home just wasn’t working, and renovations weren’t possible based on the limitations of the land and space. What to do? Luckily for the Kellermans, they reached out to Sterling Homes, who made their perfect home a reality.
In 2016, a golf course came up for sale in Bethel, Ohio. “We looked at it on a whim and were intrigued,” Lisa Kellerman says.
Though they had never intended to buy so much land, the 92-acre property was gorgeous and included four ponds, 4.5 miles of golf cart paths, a clubhouse, and green space for as far as the eye could see. The couple decided to go for it and bought the land in the spring of 2016.
Almost immediately, there was an issue that nearly precluded them from building their dream home — or building at all.
“When they created the golf course, they split the fairways, moving dirt to the left and right to make mounds,” Lisa Kellerman says. “Think of it as splitting the Red Sea. The whole golf course was like that, which made septic an issue.”
Ultimately, they consulted with soil engineers, who came up with a plan. With the help of Sterling Homes builders, they broke ground in June 2019. They also erected two barns on the estate, giving them somewhere to store their mowers, golf carts, ATVs, and other equip- ment. Sterling’s expert builders worked quickly, and by November 2020, they moved in just in time for Thanksgiving.
The Kellermans have a 22-year-old daughter, Anna, and a son Bryce, who is 20. They also have a Cockapoo named Louie and a cat named Pinot. Though the Kellermans are technically empty nesters since their son left for college two years ago, this 10,000-square-foot house is big- ger than the one they were living in previously.
The front exterior resembles a lodge with its massive timber beams. The great room incorporates the same beams as the front porch — beams that continue out the back where the house juts out two different ways. A screened-in porch is on one side, while the other side is the owner’s bedroom oasis that overlooks the pond.
The first floor, which has a farmhouse vibe, has everything they need, including a spacious primary bedroom and closet, a cozy sitting area, and a powder room. The Kellermans made sure to buy two chaise lounges for the master bedroom to keep conflict at bay.
“At our old house, my husband would dominate the bedroom TV with football on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays,” says Lisa Kellerman with a chuckle. “Then on the off days — joy! There’s basketball! Here we have two T Vs, and I have my earbuds.”
The second floor has three bedrooms, a full bathroom, and a Jack- and-Jill bathroom. The basement includes a kitchen, full bath, great room, theater room, pool table, golf cart garage, and shuffleboard table that Joe Kellerman made. The house also has a laundry room on every floor.
Lisa Kellerman’s favorite part of the home is the multipurpose room, which combines her laundry room with her office and crafting area. There are robin’s egg blue cabinets, black and white checkered floors, and a giant armoire to store all her crafting equipment.
“Our business involves building hearses and limousines, so I’m constantly preparing gifts for our employees and dealers,” Lisa Kellerman says.
Joe Kellerman’s favorite feature is the five-car garage with one garage door that leads out the back. He often jumps in a golf cart or ATV to zip back and forth between the house and the barns, which is about a football field’s distance apart.
Both Kellermans come from big families, most of whom live nearby. So when designing their house, they made sure they could accommodate large family gatherings.
“We built this home for entertaining,” Lisa Kellerman says. Instead of having one giant kitchen, they opted for two. One serves as a prep area, complete with a dishwasher, sink, and full-sized refrigerator and freezer. The other is for socializing — like gathering around the is- land to cut out Christmas cookies. The prep kitchen houses the Kuerig, toaster, teapot, and other appliances that clutter up a standard kitchen countertop. When it came to kitchen design, Lisa Kellerman measured all of her pots and pans so Sterling could custom design the cabinets and drawer sizes to suit her needs.
In warmer weather, the couple regularly hosts pool parties. Their pool includes a stunning rock feature with a slide and waterfall. They also have a spacious deck with an outdoor fireplace that lets them enjoy the luxurious landscaping. Faux palm trees round out the resort feel. The Kellermans installed a fold-up window in the basement that allows the counter to go from inside to outside like a concession booth.
The family likes to fish and kayak on the pond as well as walk, bike and ride scooters on their cart path. They also enjoy hopping in their side-by-sides and go-karts for joy rides around the property.
Though COVID-19 has meant not hosting as many parties as the Kellermans would like, they hope that changes soon. In the meantime, this Sterling-designed home is the perfect place to live the life they always dreamed.
Wondering if Sterling Homes can build your dream home? Contact them at sterlinghomescincinnati.com or call 513-659-5361.