lifestyle living

When Greg Cook retired from his career as an Air Force pilot, he and his wife, Tammy, were ready to buy a home and stay put.

“We moved 14 times in 22 years,” Tammy said.

Greg had been assigned to the Pentagon when he retired, but the couple had family in Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene.

“All I ever wanted to do was come back to this area,” he said.

So they searched the Internet for a place to call home. When Tammy discovered a house in Greenacres with a virtual tour labeled, “A pilot’s dream home,” she had the feeling it was what they’d been looking for.

“We always envisioned a home in the country,” Greg said.

The house, situated on 10 acres, included an aircraft hanger and a private airstrip just across the street. In 2004, they bought the custom-built home having only seen it on the Internet.

They call the property “High Spirits Estates.”

Natural light spills from huge living room windows and across the Italian tile floor. The couple chose the flooring because it reminds them of Europe. As a military family, the Cooks traveled the world. Their extensive collection of art and antiques features pieces from France, Luxembourg and Spain.

“Our house is eclectic,” Greg said.

Baccarat crystal hurricane lamps sparkle in the dining room dominated by a pub-style dining set. The couple enjoy entertaining. In fact, their love of good food and good wine has led them to a new venture. They’re planting a vineyard and hope to eventually market their own wine.

The circular shape of the kitchen is unique and features plenty of cupboard and countertop space. A river rock gas fireplace adds to the cozy feel of the large space.

Tammy’s sitting room is filled with collectibles. Across the hall, the recently redecorated master bedroom suite, has a soft beige ceramic tile floor. A coat of rose-colored paint adds warmth to the Victorian themed room. A canopy bed framed by dramatic pillars is the focal point of the room. The private deck offers a view of Mica Peak.

While the airstrip and acreage attracted Greg to this home, Tammy found the shower in the master bath to be a huge selling point.

“Women love bathrooms and kitchens,” she said. The stone tile walk-in shower with a partial glass block wall has “his and her” faucets and showerheads.

The lower level of the home features a large daylight basement. Glass doors open to a patio and hot tub.

The Cooks have two daughters in college. When the girls are home they’ve got plenty of space to entertain friends.

“This is the kids’ domain,” Greg said.

Greg’s domain is in the hangar that houses his fixed-wing plane. A tiki bar, complete with a giant parrot perched on the top, occupies one corner. Cook is a Jimmy Buffett fan and is thrilled to finally have a place to display his “parrot head” collection.

“All of this stuff was in boxes forever,” he said.

Part of the hangar is devoted to Greg’s collection of military memorabilia. He spent a total of seven years working at the Pentagon and a pentagon-shaped shadow box filled with ribbons and awards was a retirement gift.

Greg currently works as a defense consultant, writes for trade journals and even has a couple of novels in the works.

The couple also breed and raise Shelties.

“For us this is about lifestyle,” Greg said of their dream home. “We’ve surrounded ourselves with the things we love.”