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FeedThe Value of Family
Beavercreek estate serves as a respite from everyday life
There isn’t a shortage of wildlife scampering around Fox Hill. In fact, the name Fox Hill stems from a chance encounter Bob Mills had during one of his many adventures touring his Beavercreek estate. “I like to go into the woods,” he says. “Shortly after I bought the property, I was in the woods and came across a red fox, and the name Fox Hill was born. It fits with the surroundings perfectly.” For those lucky enough to wander around the estate, it’s easy to understand why Bob loves spending his free time here. Fox Hill consists of 50 pristine acres complete with a number of amenities, including a roughly 12,000-square-foot house, a pond, and a swimming pool.
A private getaway
Bob was looking for property for two years before he purchased this lot in 2003. “When I found out this place might be for sale I jumped at the opportunity,” he says.
At the time, Bob and his late wife, Marcy, lived in the Country Club of the North. He loved it there, but wanted more privacy for his family. “The only things I wanted to see in my back yard were animals,” he says with a laugh.
His first order of business was to construct the three-acre pond. Bob carved out the specific spot, keeping in mind that his home would one day overlook the pond. Today, irrigation and pump systems keep the water crystal clear, while ducks have managed to make the pond their home. The pond is fully stocked with an assortment of fish, from largemouth bass and bluegill to trout and black crappie. A small tackle shed holds fishing gear for Bob and his five grandchildren, 8-year-old Ally, 5-year-old Evan, 4-year-old Owen, and Carly and Mason, both two years old. “They love to climb on board the electric pontoon boat and drop their lines,” he says. “You never know what you are going to catch so they always have a good time.”
A comfortable home
Bob, chairman of Synergy Building Systems and The Mills Development Companies, has been in the real estate development and commercial construction industry for many years. His experience helped him when it came to the design of the house. Bob made sure to position the house in a way that would take advantage of the scenic views of the pond, as well as the spectacular sunsets.
Bob has an affinity for Arts and Crafts architecture, so he modeled the house around that style. He enlisted the help of Bob and Steve Rhoads, brothers and owners of R.A. Rhoads, a Dayton-based custom homebuilder, to bring his vision to life. “He had the basic design laid out,” says Bob Rhoads. “He looked at my house, which has a Craftsman design, and pulled some additional ideas from it.”
The exterior of the house incorporates large banks of windows and broad eaves and dormers, all reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts era. The theme is also carried into the house’s interior design. The large family room is filled with natural light thanks to an abundance of windows. Rich wood built-ins flank the stone fireplace, while the wood ceiling includes accent lighting. “It is designed so that any time you are in the living room you have the appearance of natural sunlight,” Bob says.
The traditional Arts and Crafts kitchen is also a favorite spot. Bob says he and his grandchildren often gather in the kitchen to bake cookies or work on crafts around the center island. Bob worked with Paul Kemna at Supply One to design the user-friendly kitchen. The cherry cabinets feature an autumn stain, which blends nicely with the wood detailing in the nearby family room. The centerpiece of the kitchen is the large lantern in the center of the vaulted ceiling, allowing natural light to flood the space. “We worked the kitchen design around that architectural element,” says Kemna. “We wanted everything to line up with the lantern.”
Two farmhouse sinks and embellishments Kemna says Bob hand-sketched to highlight the range hood and four corners of the island, finish off the kitchen design. “This house is made for my family, there are always kids running through here, and I want them to feel at home,” Bob explains.
Fun for all ages
On a typical summer weekend, you’ll find Bob fishing with his grandchildren and then heading up to the pool, concession stand, playhouse and playground he had installed last year on the opposite hill facing the house.
The idea for the pool design came after the grandchildren went on vacation to Florida. “They stayed in a private home that had a mini slide from the hot tub to the pool and they loved it,” Bob says.
The small slide led to the creation of the stone mountain with waterfalls and the large slide. “I probably got a little carried away with the big slide at the top of the mountain, but it happens to be one of the best features,” he adds.
The nearby concession area features bar and table seating, a wood fired oven and a grill. Inside the concession stand is a full kitchen and washer and dryer, making entertaining friends and family a breeze.
Community advocate
In addition to his family, Bob is also dedicated to the surrounding community. This year he set up a community garden for those who love to plant and grow vegetables. “We used to grow pumpkins in the garden, and then give them away. But last year we had more than we could handle,” Bob says. “This year, we thought a community garden and small pumpkin patch would work out better.”
Thirteen families have vegetable gardens this summer. They take home what they can eat and the rest is donated to the Foodbank. “It’s a great way for families to come together and do something nice for the community.”
In addition to the community garden, Bob is cultivating a corn field, has a small Christmas tree farm and grows all his own trees for transplantation on his commercial properties. His philosophy is simple, but often overlooked. “Life is really short and you have to take the time, to find some time, to enjoy life. That is what I do here, and I love every minute of it.”
Ally’s Army
Bob was recently named the 2010 National Man of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. His granddaughter, 8-year-old Ally, asked him to participate after she was diagnosed with leukemia last summer.
“I battled cancer several years ago and my wife died of cancer last year,” Bob says. “But when Ally was diagnosed it was devastating. So when she asked me to run I couldn’t say no.”
Raising money and awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is just one of many charities Bob has participated in over the years. “I’m a fix-it type of guy. When she was diagnosed I thought, ‘What can I do to fix leukemia?’” he explains. “I really can’t do anything with regards to research, but with my skill set I can go out and raise money so they can maybe find a cure or at least make Ally’s care, and other children battling the same disease, a little more comfortable.”
Bob’s team, Ally’s Army Battles Cancer, raised more than $430,000 for research and patient care. For more information go to www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.
Resources:
Architect: Edward Feher, Glavan Feher; Builder: R.A. Rhoads; Kitchen designer: Supply One; Flooring: Booher Carpet; Kitchen cabinetry: Mouser Custom Cabinetry; Appliances: Bosch dishwasher; Wolf cooktop and oven; Sub-Zero refrigerator, supplied by The Appliance Gallery; Custom carpentry: Adam Popson & Sons; Indoor pool: Buckeye Pools; Outdoor pool: Kramer Pools; Site landscaping: Siebenthaler; Pool landscaping: Grunden Landscaping Company; Landscape maintenance: Joe’s Landscaping; Siebenthaler; Masonry and outdoor kitchen: Jerry Peters; Water features: Kettering Irrigation
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