Tones. Textures. Technology.

Words that describe the 2018 KTBS 3/St. Jude Dream Home.

“Our theme this year is ‘A Study of Neutrals.’ It’s all about layering and texture and pattern,” said designer Myron Griffing of Space: Interiors. “There is an absence of color. Everything is taupes, golds, bronzes, creams and ivories . . . it gives you a very calm, relaxed vibe.”

Built by Rodgers Home and Construction and located in the Lost Rivers subdivision in Benton, the 3,200-square-foot home features four bedrooms, three and a half baths, a custom outdoor kitchen and a threecar garage. Estimated value is $475,000.

Touring the 28th KTBS 3/St. Jude Dream Home is more than just a visual undertaking. Griffing encourages visitors to experience the different textures in the home first-hand. “We’re encouraging people to be tactile this year. I want them to touch the ribbed tile on the fireplace and the smooth walls in the guest bath and the ribbed wallpaper in the dining room,” he said.

A soft, muted palette was employed on the exterior of the structure – wool skein on the cinderbrick (it’s like cinderblock, but it’s brick) with a light grayishblue (Acacia Haze) on the shutters. The black-steel and-glass “front door” of the home enters into a courtyard with an outdoor kitchen and seating area. The kitchen features granite counters, and the breakfast bar side of the cabinets is covered in porcelain tile that resembles old ceiling tins. Outdoor relaxation and entertainment are guaranteed with a Big Green Egg from Tubbs Hardware, refrigerator, grill and sink. The modern furniture in the seating area is furnished by Corner Collection on Line and faces a fireplace. Three retractable screens, from Quality Shades & Shutters, can be raised or lowered to block insects and the elements with the push of a button or with an app. A mother-in-law suite/fourth bedroom with a private bath is located off of the courtyard.

A door in the courtyard opens into the home’s entrance hall adorned with sumptuous chocolate, silver, gold and taupe wallpaper. Visitors will then head to the living room, kitchen and dining room area. Haverty’s is the furniture sponsor this year and supplied all of the furniture and most of the accessories. Griffing says the living room furniture has a California/modern feel. “Everything is very square and low-slung and luxurious. It’s all about the finishes this year, with the textures and tones and how they meld into each other,” he said. Henson Carpet One donated all of the flooring, countertops and tile in the home. The flooring in this area of the house is a fresh take on classic parquet flooring – except these parquet squares are ash-toned and an oversized 20x20 inches. The fireplace, with its contemporary profile, is covered in a ribbed porcelain tile.

There’s a quartz-topped waterfall edge island in the kitchen with an apron sink, and the backsplash is sure to draw attention. The backsplash has 12 different patterns in it, and Griffing says it is a great way to bring in some energy without using a vibrant color. National sponsor Bosch supplied all of the appliances, including a built-in, professional-grade coffeemaker. Using a

mobile device, the lucky homeowner can make a cappuccino from the comfort of their bed. The induction cooktop is high-tech as well. It uses electromagnetic energy to heat pots and pans directly. “You can turn it on high, and it will have your water boiling in 30 seconds,” said Griffing. “You could put your hand on top of it because it only puts the heat into the metal of the pot.”

Over in the dining room, wallpaper with a serpentine design and a rustic custom dining table take center stage. The chairs and benches are from Haverty’s. A barn door over the pantry entrance is also custom-made. A small office nook and mudroom area are located near the stairs leading to the second floor. The guest bath features a graphic floor tile and a silky-smooth Venetian plaster technique on the walls.

More unique wallpaper can be spied in the master suite. The walls and tray ceiling are three different tones – the walls are Sherwin Williams’ Panda White, the lower ceiling is Accessible Beige, and the upper tray is Virtual Taupe. The paint and wallpaper in the home were donated by Caddo Paint. The bedroom has plush Berber carpeting and a great view of the courtyard.

Automatic plantation shutters by Quality Shades & Shutters are installed in the en suite bath. Mirrors are mounted above the sinks on mini-barn doors. An eight-foot glass wall and rolling glass door separate the wet area (tub and shower) from the rest of the room. All of the home’s faucets are provided by national sponsor Brizo. The toilet in the master bath has an after-market bidet, and natural light streams into the walk-in closet from several windows.

A bonus/media room with a kitchenette and two more bedrooms are located on the second floor. A muted graphic pattern carpeting lies underfoot, while the bath has a graphic floor tile and 3D tile tub surround Griffing describes as subtle, but cool.

This is Griffing and Space: Interiors’ second year to design the Dream Home. “We love being a part of St. Jude – it’s awesome,” he said. “We pick out everything – the brick, the mortar, flooring, backsplash, countertops, color palette, everything. It’s a lot of work, but it doesn’t really feel like work – it’s fun.”

Local pediatric physician Dr. Donald G. Mack created the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway in 1991. The first Dream Home was built in Shreveport and raised $160,000 for the hospital. Since then, the annual KTBS 3/St. Jude Dream Home fund-raiser has raised more than $30 million for the hospital. The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway is one of the largest single-event fund-raisers for the organization nationally and has raised more than $400 million. More than 40 homes will be given away this year.

Located at 203 Sam Willen Drive in Benton, the 2018 KTBS 3/St. Jude Dream Home is open to visitors through Aug. 5 on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $100 each and may be purchased at dreamhome.org, by phone at 1-800-724- 2423, or at any Porter’s Fine Dry Cleaning or Moffitt Mazda location. Mail-in tickets must be received by Aug. 6 to be eligible to win.

The grand prize drawing will air live at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12, on KTBS 3.