The sleek European-inspired house boasts five bedrooms, a pool, an indoor movie theater and more
Words and Photography by Anna-Rhesa Versola
Jana Ehrenfeld grew up in a country known for its castles. She never imagined she would be living the American dream in a castle of her own in the Governors Club community.
Jana left her home in the Czech Republic to work as an au pair in North Carolina. She befriended a Czech woman in 2006 who lived next door to her host family. Jana accompanied her friend and her friend’s husband to Chris Ehrenfeld’s birthday party on April 20 that same year. Jana and Chris hit it off when they discovered they share that same birthday.
The couple married three years later and are now raising twin sons, Max Ehrenfeld and Mason Ehrenfeld, who turned 12 on July 4, and a 3-year-old mini labradoodle, Rocky. Chris, who owns Bold Companies, is a regional builder and developer of commercial and residential real estate, while Jana is a bookkeeper for Bold Companies.
Their 9,652-square-foot home – the fourth custom home they’ve built together – is a modern marvel designed by architect Abbie Lee Roehm. “I didn’t imagine that I would be living in a mansion like this,” Jana says. “I came from a humble little condo.” The manse includes five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, two three-car garages, an indoor movie theater, weight room, game room and wine cellar. An elevator provides wheelchair access to all three levels.
LEFT Mason curls weights while Max confidently repeats a set of pullups. The whole family enjoys a fully equipped home gym downstairs.
RIGHT Max descends into Mason’s room from the loft that sits between their bedrooms, where the boys often play with their Legos.
Jana’s preference for a sleek European aesthetic influenced Chris in a profound way. “So we built a modern home for ourselves back in 2013,” he says. “At the time, it was probably the only modern home in Governors Club or one of the few modern homes around. Subsequently, we got a ton of business from that because the market is shifting more toward modern homes.”
Natural Surroundings
Chris says Governors Club, a private residential community, was started in the late ’80s. The 2.6-acre lot they chose to build on presented challenges in its terrain, as their property sits on a steep hillside on Edwards Mountain near Jordan Lake.
LEFT Mason wears his favorite color, which matches the Jeep portrait above his bed.
MIDDLE Max’s preferred color is blue, and the Jeep above his bed features the Carolina blue logo of his father’s alma mater.
RIGHT The twins say they love being identical brothers and best friends.
“We brought in an unbelievable number of truckloads of dirt to make the driveway as nice as it is now,” Chris says. “If not, it would have been like a cliff. That’s why nobody built here for as long as they did. … But what’s cool about it is we have a level backyard. We have a swimming pool. And when you’re here, you’re up in the trees. I think it makes the views that much more beautiful.”
The home also features an impressive amount of glass, Chris says. “[We are] secluded in the privacy we have here. And having all these trees, you’re seeing nature, and we get a ton of natural light, which I love.”
Large windows usher in natural light and provide scenic views throughout the home. The main living room (right) looks out onto the backyard pool, and the second floor sitting room (left) has a treetop panorama at the front of the property.
Creative Spark
A massive front door pivots on a hidden hinge, revealing a spacious entryway with an open staircase leading both up and downstairs. The neutral color palette throughout the home allows expansive artwork to pop into view; there is a wondrous depiction of jungle creatures, rainforest critters and familiar farm animals at every turn.
Chris and Jana do more than collect art; they also do what they can to actively support local artists. In April, the couple hosted a party featuring the work of Durham-based artist Tyrone “Ty” Smalls. One of Chris’ favorite pieces is “Lion Hearted,” Ty’s portrait of a majestic lion, which hangs in the vestibule leading from the main hall to the eastern side of the house.
I love cooking here – I just open the doors, and after we eat, the boys frequently run and jump in the pool, sometimes fully dressed. Jana Ehrenfeld
An acrylic painting of another lion by Raleigh artist Leticia Mendes, a native of Brazil, looks across the hallway from the kitchen to the dining room.
LEFT Rocky sits in his usual perch by the dining room window to watch for arrivals.
RIGHT The primary bedroom suite features Jana’s colorful artwork on the far wall. The golden lips are by Siler City artist Roger Person.
Yet another treasured piece, “The Chatham Rabbit” is mounted next to the granite fireplace in the two-story living room. Chris says he and Jana were exploring Siler City when they met the artist behind the work, Roger Person. Chris is drawn to the bold lines, colors and humor in Roger’s work, like his painting of a cow with a side-eyed gaze that hangs in the upstairs sitting room.
LEFT “The Chatham Rabbit” painting hangs in foreground of the piece entitled “Lion Hearted.”
RIGHT Max and Mason race around the front circle to release energy after school.
The Heart of the Home
Arriving home from school, Max and Mason drop their backpacks and kick off their shoes by the door before heading into the kitchen for a snack. Jana pulls fresh strawberries, grapes and blueberries from the main refrigerator. A second fridge sits in the storage pantry adjacent to the scullery – a space where food can be prepared, usually with smaller appliances. A sliding pocket door hides the separate room whenever necessary.
LEFT Chris stands on the threshold of the scullery, which the family often utilizes to prepare food for larger gatherings.
RIGHT Chris and Jana enjoy a moment together on the outdoor pavilion.
Jana, who enjoys cooking and gardening, says the kitchen is her favorite part of the house; the Ehrenfelds often use the large island as a buffet table when family and friends gather for a party. The breakfast nook lies across from a cocktail seating area with its own gas log fireplace. A sliding glass door connects the kitchen area to another desirable space – the outdoor pavilion, complete with a wide wood-burning fireplace and plenty of seating, with a long picnic table and large cushioned wicker chairs overlooking the pool and backyard. The entire space can be protected from insects with the click of a button, which brings down screens on three sides of the outdoor living room.
“I love sitting in these chairs just looking across the water,” Chris says. “[Having] the privacy is just relaxing.”
LEFT Boulders from the lot create a natural stairway from the pavilion to the pool area.
RIGHT Jana visits Rocky as he lounges in a conversation corner by the kitchen.
