"A Home Built With the Holidays In Mind" Orlando Magazine, December 1996 written by Denise Salvaggio Photos by Phil Eschbach To say that Sally Hoch loves Christmas is an understatement. While traveling with her professional golfer-husband, Scott Hoch, she's always on the lookout for angels and Santa Claus figures to add to her collection. So naturally, when the Hochs planned to build their home in southwest Orlando, she made sure the halls would be designed for optimum decking. "My whole house is built around Christmas," says Sally, who even asked architects Tom Price and Jeana Burt to strategically place interior and exterior electrical outlets to accommodate strings of Christmas lights. Also helping set the holiday mood was builder Ray Coudriet, who installed a low-voltage, computer-operated Lighttouch system, which controls all lights in the four-level house from several keypads. The system allows a series of lighting scenarios to be programmed, such as soft lighting for evening parties which Sally enhances with glowing candles. Rooms were designed to be simple, elegant and comfortable for the family of four-and two dogs and two ferrets. As part of the project team, interior designer Sharon M. Gilkey of Montanna & Associates helped plan trim and millwork: She created a warm took by combining traditional American and English furniture and fabric patterns. "The [main level] is very traditional," says Price. "But once you get above or below it, the house is contemporary." The lower level features a game room, office, wet bar, guest bedroom and even a putting green, while the third level is devoted to bedrooms and a playroom. And when the Christmas trimmings are packed away, the house has a full attic in which to store them. "It takes a good month to decorate the house," Sally says. END Take a tour of the Hoch home Back to Publications main page