St. Jude Dream Home®

Story by Terri Glazer | Photos courtesy of ScenaVR | More information about the 2020 Memphis St. Jude Dream Home® Giveaway

Although the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus wrote “the only thing constant is change” around 500 BC, it rings truer today than ever—just ask the organizers of the Memphis St. Jude Dream Home® Giveaway!

Not everything has changed, however. For the 21st year in a row, a lucky winner will be awarded the keys to a brand-new luxury home here in the Mid South at the end of the month. Like in past years, a $100 ticket reservation buys the chance to win the house, valued at an estimated $500,000, and other prizes including a new car from Wolfchase Nissan or Wolfchase Honda. And, as always, the $1.5 million raised through the St. Jude Dream Home® Giveaway will benefit the life-saving work of St. Jude, the world’s premier pediatric cancer research center.

What is different this year, is that out of an abundance of care, the open house for the St. Jude Dream Home® in Lakeland’s Kensington Manor neighborhood has been postponed until further notice for patrons’ personal safety and well-being. 

That fact hasn’t stopped Southern Serenity Homes and the other trade partners from their labor of love, building a gem of a house, though. The traditional-style two-story residence features a low-maintenance brick exterior highlighted by a gracious covered front porch. With approximately 4,000 square feet, there will be plenty of room for the future homeowners to entertain in comfort. Four bedrooms and baths will easily accommodate a growing family.

“Dream Home” is a fitting name for the house—it includes highly sought-after amenities like Brizo fixtures, Shaw flooring, Trane HVAC systems and high-end Bosch appliances as well as unique features like an expansive laundry room with a dog washing station. The outdoor living area, complete with a full kitchen, sits ready for memories to be made.

Another fact that hasn’t changed is that the number of tickets available is limited. This year, just 15,000 tickets will be sold. Just as in the past, a sell-out is expected before the live drawing, set for Sun., June 28 on WMC Action News 5. 

Since sponsors Ashley Homestore® and Stash Home won’t be able to work their magic staging this year’s edition, we thought we’d throw it back to last year, and reminisce about one of our all-time favorites among the 500+ St. Jude Dream Homes that have been built nationwide over the years, raising over $420 million for the hospital’s fight to end childhood cancer. 

The 2019 Nashville St. Jude Dream Home® was a true showstopper. Located in the Jackson Hills community in Mt. Juliet, the four-bedroom, three-bath home fulfilled the top three requirements for real estate: “location, location, location.” Says ALSAC/St. Jude spokesperson Mare Rote, “The rear porch overlooked the brand-new community sports field, a wiffle ball field that has become the favorite gathering spot for Jackson Hills residents.”

Vaulted ceilings accented with wood beams gave the open first floor an expansive feel. A fieldstone fireplace anchored the living area, while the adjacent kitchen projected a sophisticated feel thanks to a massive island. Base cabinets in almost-black paired with white wall cabinets topped by glass-paned display doors to add interest, while a classic white farm sink and subway tile backsplash lent a timeless feel. The custom vent hood and classic lantern light fixtures took the kitchen’s elegance factor to the next level.

Staff designers for Signature Homes, the firm that has built the last seven Nashville St. Jude Dream Home® Giveaway homes, hit a home run with an unexpected feature in the laundry room, often an afterthought when it comes to decor. Moroccan-style tile in black and white covers the floor and an entire wall for an extra punch of pattern. Juxtaposed against clean white shiplap, the treatment took this laundry room far past utilitarian.

The ultimate design highlight of the home was the master suite, an area that truly had star power. Michael Moloney, featured decorator on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, who served as the celebrity design ambassador for the home, focused his talents on the master bedroom and bath, and the results were stunning. Moloney’s creation featured handsome dark wainscoting on the bedroom walls, the perfect backdrop for the rugged poster bed. In the master bath, he combined rustic (the stained wood floating vanity), dramatic (the black herringbone wall tile) and elegant (the luxe gold fixtures) in perfect harmony. Just past the deep soaking tub and huge open shower, the master closet’s gourmet coffee maker and built-in dresser would make morning routines a breeze.

“Last year’s lucky [Nashville] winner purchased just one ticket for $100,” recalls Rote, emphasizing the fact that the limited number of tickets available increases the odds for winning the home or one of the other prizes. For a list of the additional prizes this year’s Memphis ticket holders are eligible to win, go to dreamhome.org. 

In this time of so much change and uncertainty, the most important fact that has not changed is that St. Jude is one of Memphis’ greatest assets, leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Treatments invented at the hospital have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the doors opened over 50 years ago. St. Jude freely shares discoveries it makes and never bills patients’ families for treatment, travel, housing or food.