Brockworks
By Andie Gibson
                A year ago, when John and Whitney Brock were approached about featuring their new home in Park Place on the Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour, Oct. 7-9, 2005 seemed a long way away. Certainly it would be plenty of time to grout the tile, landscape the yard, build the bookshelves … the list went on and on.
                “There’s not a room in this house that’s finished,” said owner and fine artist Whitney Brock, pointing out uncompleted tile work in the master bathroom and exposed wires in the living room where custom bookshelves should be.
                “It’s going to be one of those up-to-the-last-minute things,” added her husband John, a custom home builder and the other half of Brockworks, Inc. “People think we’ve gone insane to do this, and they’re probably right.”
                For the Brocks, it’s their second time around the Home Tour block. Shortly after moving to the Lake, the Brock’s previous home was featured on the 1998 Home Tour. Both cited their past positive experience and opportunity to help raise funds for eight local charities as their reason for participating again.
                 “It’s just run so well,” said Whitney. “We felt so well taken care of and respected. When the dust settled it seemed like we had done so little. We’re just a venue for this organization to do such great things.”
                John Brock built the home, a 4,800 square-foot waterfront retreat decorated in a classic European style. It features textured walls, arched doorways and extensive woodwork. The focal point is the living room’s barrel ceiling, intricately painted with a medley of Greek mythology figures by Whitney, who is well known throughout the area for her faux finishes and stunning murals. The project took her eight weeks of back-breaking work, much of it spent on scaffolding. John and an electrician spent additional hours getting the lighting in the room just right, finally settling on uplighting installed within the trim, allowing the ceiling to glow softly at night
                “It’s really spectacular,” she said. “It was all worth it.”
                In addition to creating murals in homes throughout the region, Whitney has been commissioned by numerous businesses, including Community Hospital, Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea, Macados and Cuba Pete’s in Roanoke.
                “Murals are really where I find my happiness,” said Whitney, who also has a studio in downtown Roanoke where she’s trying to find more time to create fine artwork. The Brocks’ home is filled with unique and interesting artwork – most created by Whitney.
                The bedrooms of their two sons – Seth, 10, and Andrew, 8 – are what John calls the coolest rooms in the house. With sloped ceilings and built-in bookshelves that line the walls, the boys have a sanctuary on the second floor that includes a beautiful view of the Lake.
                John’s office is also upstairs, a large, contemporary space over the garage where he’s able to manage the design and building aspects of his projects. His niche, he said, is retirees who are looking to build something out of the ordinary.
                “It’s fun what I do,” said John, who’s also a licensed real estate agent and plays guitar in The Clue Band. “People are entrusting me to build their last home, their retirement home. Generally that means they have a bigger budget, which allows me to do some really cool things.”
                The couples’ specialties are similar, John said, in that clients usually bring them an idea that each is able to refine and make better.
                “There are things that I can build, things that she and I will think of together,” John said. “She’ll push me to build something better than it would have been. That’s what makes the difference between something plain and something special.”
                John said it’s nice to have someone with such great design instincts when building custom homes. He often consults with Whitney on everything from the overall home plan, which he develops using computer software, to the tile for the bathroom.
                The Brocks’ home tour stop will be a showcase for both of the couples’ talents.
                “It’s good for business, but in my mind that’s secondary,” Whitney said. “We have many friends associated with the charities that benefit from the Home Tour. It’s just a great way to help.”