Lisa: This is our third house in three years, but I feel like it’s the one that’s most like us. When we moved from California, we bought as big as we could because we could. The whole upstairs was a master bedroom of a 3,100-square-foot house. And then we had to furnish it. We bought a townhouse in Southern Village. Jim loved it because he didn’t have to do anything. This is completely wild. It’s the only one we ever did anything to — we had to. It was just handymanned to death. It’s dinky, but it just has such a sweet feeling. It’s got great bones.

The house is in a circle. All the rooms connect. It has concrete countertops, and they’re not beautiful polished stuff, but that’s what I like about it.

Pole dancing is the latest fitness rage, so in this little house right in the living room is this stripper pole. It was the only place where the ceiling was high enough. People go, “Oh, is this supporting the house? Oh, is this … uh?” Every single person asks. It’s so funny.

Why we chose our home

Lisa: Why we bought the property is truly not the house; it’s the property. It’s two acres. With two young boys, I call it “Lord of the Flies.” They’re always running around here naked. Everyone’s just gaga about the land. It’s not wooded. It’s open pasture to the creek, Neville Creek.

There were eight offers on the first day. It was on the market for $335,000, and we paid $360,000. I wanted it. It was a bidding war.

We have a lot of Indonesian things. It’s hard to find the bones that support that. I was looking for a bungalow. This house kind of broke the mold for what I kept seeing. I kept seeing traditional houses, what felt stuffy to me. A dear friend said, “This house reminds me of you. It’s unpretentious and authentic.” I said, “You mean with all my flaws coming out?” [laughs]

The day we moved in, Jim sat down in Southern Village and started to cry by his pseudo-fireplace. But he loves it. Every day he comes home, and he and the boys jump on the trampoline and then they lie down on the trampoline and talk about their day. They even built a pirate ship down at the creek. It was big enough they were sitting on it. When the rains came, it sailed away. Jim just didn’t consider himself a fixer, but he really likes hanging out with the boys. We had a small slab at Southern Village.

Advantages

Lisa: What I like most is you’re like in the middle of the country. You can hear cows mooing, and yet I’m four miles from Weaver Street Market. I could see in Southern Village 20 roofs from my house. Now I see the crew people on University Lake every day on my drive.

At any point, we can tune into nature from the inside of our house. I really feel like it’s our oasis. Our little boys can be free and naked. I don’t have to know my neighbors. I have a dog and two cats, and they’re free to roam. We also have beavers. They come up here and eat the trees. We’ll find these trees all over the place.

Disadvantages

Lisa: I don’t get good cell phone coverage. I have to walk around my yard to get good cell phone coverage. Also, sometimes you can feel safer in numbers. Who’s going to hear me if I shout? How far would I have to search for a light on if I panicked?

Our neighborhood

Lisa: John Bowden used to own both sides of this road. The entire thing from Old Greensboro Road all the way to Jones Ferry Road was the Bowden Farm. And now he lives across the street. On any given day, you can hear, “Moo.” I tell people to look for the silo when they come here. I love it.

Making our house a home

Lisa: I infused myself. I added warmth and texture. The whole thing looked like a hunting cabin. There was a gray carpet. I wanted to warm it up without making it stodgy. I hired an interior decorator, and she helped me furnish it all. I want people to feel really at home, really comfortable. I want it very bare but very organic. We are so not do-er people, but we did it here because we had to.

Names: Lisa and Jim Burke

Ages: 41 and 51

Occupations: Lisa — holistic health-care practitioner and yoga instructor; Jim — chiropractor

Children: Christian and Jaury

Address: 512 Bowden Road

Square footage: 1,600

Acreage: 2 acres

Details: One-story house with loft for master bedroom and bathroom. Main level: living room, dining room with brick floor, kitchen with breakfast area, family room, laundry closet, bathroom, two bedrooms and screened-in porch with brick floor. Property also includes a guest house. Master bedroom has exposed cedar walls.

Move-in Date: January 2007

Nearby Landmarks: University Lake, off Jones Ferry Road