Chris and Deanna Poulk purchased 23 acres in Stedman a few years ago to custom-build their forever home.
Married in 2007, the Poulks have 12-year-old twins, Sailor and Landon, and have lived in Stedman most of their married life.
“When Chris showed me the land for the very first time, it was all wooded, and I had a hard time visualizing it. But he had a vision of what the end result would be, and it ended up being absolutely perfect for our family,” says Deanna.
They knew they wanted to make the most of their backyard. It became a priority as they worked with architect Thom Stahl to design their outdoor space.
“Two of our main requests were lots of windows for natural light in our house so we could have a view of the pond, even when we are inside the house, and also making sure we had a large front and back porch,” Deanna says.
They made a small pond bigger to provide a focal point and also stocked it with fish.
“My favorite thing about the backyard space is the pond. We actually started to create our outdoor pond pavilion area before the house was even started,” Deanna says.
“It’s just so peaceful out here. The sound of the fountain in the middle of the pond never gets old when you are outside.”
Her husband said the pond is his favorite feature in the backyard as well. Fishing and hunting have become fun pastimes for their children since they moved into the house last spring.
“I worked with Foster pond management out of Raleigh to stock the pond with bass, bream and other assortments of fish. We are also located right off of the South River, so this has given my son and I the opportunity to walk right outside our house and duck hunt when the season is in,” says Chris.
“We enjoy watching the kids fish and kayak in the pond. We know that our kids may not realize it now, but we hope one day they will realize the blessing of having all of this land to explore, play and just experience what it’s like to have a garden in the summer, to walk out of your back door and be able to fish and a spot to hunt as well.”
Getting the kids outside
Chris is the co-owner of Green Industries, a company that specializes in erosion control and repairing sewer mains.
Deanna, a registered nurse at a local obstetrician-gynecologist office, says outdoor time with the children has been good for the family.
“In a world that has become so digital, we hope that we can instill how awesome it is to our kids that they have the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. Plus, with all the hustle of having two preteens with busy schedules as well as our own schedules, it’s nice to have a space to unwind and enjoy while we’re at home,” she says.
The Poulks built a sizeable circular patio with a firepit and an outdoor pavilion with a marble countertop bar, outdoor fireplace and television.
“We love having a space to entertain family and friends for special events or holidays. This time last year, we were just putting the finishing touches on the house and moving. We just didn’t have time to sit back and really enjoy it. So we are both looking forward to it this spring,” Deanna says.
Chris looks forward to trying new recipes on their Big Green Egg smoker and having friends over.
“We hope that this is an area that we as well as our family and friends, also our kids and their friends, will enjoy for many years to come,” says Deanna.
Casual, friendly neighbors
For Vance and Lauren Townsend, the backyard is all about family and friends. They can step out on their cul-de-sac and find close-knit neighbors excited to spend time together.
When they bought the house seven years ago, they envisioned a place where they could raise their 9-year-old twins, Davis and Maggie, and create lasting memories. But it has become much more than that for their family.
Lauren jokes that their street has become known in the community for the number of twins who live there.
“Our street is known as Twincliff,” says Lauren. “At one time, we’ve had four families with twins living around us. I think there have been five sets of twins in recent years.”
The families on the cul-de-sac often socialize together. “It’s pretty casual on our street, so whoever is around just seems to get together. It’s fun,” says Lauren.
The family that once owned the Townsends’ house returns for outdoor get-togethers and to visit their adult children who live nearby.
“At one of the parties we hosted, we had three generations who had all lived here and now still live close by. Whenever we get together, they will talk about their memories of raising their children in this house. It’s pretty special,” Lauren says.
The Townsends also have family nearby. Vance’s brother, Alex, and his family moved into the house across the street almost two years ago.
Vance is vice president of Townsend Real Estate, and Alex runs the family company’s rental division.
“Now, he’s the griller,” Vance said of Alex. “He’s the cook. They have three grills in their backyard.”
Lauren says grilling runs in the family.
“Vance was in hospitality management at (East Carolina University) and used to take cooking labs. He’d bring over a basket of muffins to my sorority house when we were in college,” Lauren recalls.
“Of course, anything Vance grills is my favorite because it means I don’t have to cook,” she adds. “He makes awesome shrimp tacos, burgers and steaks. At Christmas, he made the most delicious pork tenderloin with a homemade compound butter that just melted in your mouth.”
Simple pleasures
When the Townsends looked at their outdoor space, they realized they wanted something more permanent than the existing deck. They started construction with the help of Joe Dowd, replacing it with a brick patio with a large fireplace and outdoor television. A comfortable wicker patio set with sofas and chairs sits in front. An outdoor dining table and chairs sits on the other side with an L-shaped, bricked-in area for counter space and their beloved grill.
“It’s a good time when I’m grilling,” Vance says. “People are outside, music is on and golf is on the TV.”
Their children love it, too.
Davis says his favorite thing is to watch or play basketball while his dad cooks on the grill.
His twin sister, Maggie, plays with her friends and their dog in the backyard, which has a large playground set next to the patio.
“I love to play with my friends and our dog, Rosie, out in the backyard when my mom and dad are out here cooking dinner,” Maggie says.
Lauren says simple memories are the best ones.
“We love it when it’s just the four of us, too, along with Rosie. It’s the best when we are relaxing as a family, making dinner and watching golf,” she adds.
She said it just made sense to invest in their outdoor living area because the weather is so nice most of the year and it is a good extension for their home.
“It’s like a whole other room.”
Grilled Shrimp Tacos
from Vance Townsend
2 lbs. shrimp
Blackened seasoning
Corn or flour tortillas
1 red cabbage
1 red onion
Cilantro
2 limes
A few radishes
Sour cream
1 avocado
2 jalapeño peppers
Olive oil
Directions
Preheat grill to 375 degrees.
Peel and devein shrimp; pat dry and put in bowl with a little olive oil and blackened seasoning, then set aside.
To make slaw, finely slice and chop cabbage and red onion for a 4-1 ratio of cabbage to onion. Chop cilantro. Combine in bowl and squeeze juice of 1 lime over. Add salt.
To make avacado crema, add equal parts avocado and sour cream in food processor. Add juice of 1 lime and pinch of salt. Blend.
Place shrimp on hot grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Put tortillas on grill for 1 minute or on gas stove burner for 10-15 seconds.
To build tacos, put shrimp on top of tortilla. Top with slaw, sliced radishes, jalapeño, then avacado crema.
Grilled Summer Squash
and Zucchini
from Jami McLaughlin
2-3 medium zucchini
2-3 medium yellow squash
Extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper
Lemon juice
Fresh parmesan or feta cheese
Directions: Cut squash and zucchini into long, thin slices. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, then place in vegetable grill basket. Grill for a few minutes on each side until tender with grill marks. Finish with fresh lemon juice and choice of cheese.