Designed With Amore

The third time's the charm for the Piscitellis

By Brittany Conley
Photos by G. Frank Hart

Alex and Terry Piscitelli met and fell in love in the 1980s. They had big dreams and the ambition to make those dreams their shared reality. Their sights were set on New York, they bought a house on Long Island and, for 33 years, they made that house a home. It's where they raised their son, celebrated all the milestones in life, and forged their careers. But as they got older and their son moved off to California to pursue his own dreams, the Piscitellis saw their goals shifting, naturally. Suddenly, the blustery New York winters felt colder. They ached for sunshine instead of snow. They wanted to figure out how to retire earlier and enjoy it longer. And, while New York will always hold a special place in their hearts, they knew it was time to look elsewhere.

"When [our son] graduated college, we realized we didn't need to be in New York any longer," says Terry. "Living in New York was hard. We worked a lot and we really didn't need to. I have a sister in Wilmington, so we were familiar with the area and loved it so we started looking." One thing the Piscitellis were certain of was they wanted to live in a planned community. Something that would offer them the chance to learn new things, like golf and pickleball. "We really liked Leland and Brunswick Forest," she says.

They found a builder model home in Shelmore that they liked, and in 2016 they finally made it home. They were happy there, eventually mastering pickleball and making great strides in their golf game. There were opportunities for Terry to use her expertise in finance to work with the homeowners association and make a difference in her own, brand-new, community. They weren't officially retired yet, but it was more clearly on the horizon than ever before. Life was looking up in Shelmore. There was only one area that needed some improvement.

The longer they lived in their new house, despite its obvious charms and the attention to detail the builders had taken, it was custom…but not Piscitelli custom. "We enjoyed the house and the life we were building, but over time we realized there were some things we would have done differently," says Terry. And after all the hard work they'd put into their careers and time spent in their Long Island home, they knew that to fulfill all they had worked toward, they needed something truly built with them in mind. It was time to shop for land and a builder who could make their custom dreams come true.

It didn't take long to find the right spot. "We found this lot in the Cape Fear neighborhood. We looked at it and said, 'gee we could really build our dream home right there," says Terry. "We bought it in 2020." With stunning lake views, it may have been easy to imagine their dream home there, but the lot they fell in love with proved to have its challenges.

"There were some challenges because the lot we are on is not typical for the neighborhood because it is on an alleyway," says Alex. "For instance, we needed to have the garage on the back of the house." With plenty of ideas and the parameters they had to work with in mind, the Piscitellis started interviewing local builders. Among those they interviewed, Liberty Homes stood out as a premier custom home builder with a reputation for excellence in the Wilmington area. Known for their meticulous craftsmanship and client-focused approach, Liberty Homes gave the Piscitellis confidence they had found the right partner.

Just like the Piscitellis were making some big changes, so had Liberty Homes not long before taking on this project. The founder, Roger James, was getting ready to retire, looking to pass the torch to his son Bryan. And in 2023, he did just that. Under Bryan, Liberty Homes has a sense of freshness but is still committed to maintaining the integrity and demand for quality that his father built into the company from day one–the principles that drew the Piscitellis to the company in the first place.

Like the Piscitellis, Bryan James was born and raised on Long Island. His grandparents first left Long Island 40 years ago, followed a decade or so later by his parents who expressed a desire to leave behind the snow and slush and the ever-increasing population, choosing to make the move to Wilmington. After his parents left Long Island, Bryan stayed behind a couple of years as he was fresh out of high school and the appeal of independence was just too much to pass up–until he visited his parents a handful of times in their new Wilmington home and he decided it was time to make the move as well. "I really just loved it and made the leap–one of the best things I ever did," says James.

With a long and rewarding career as a mechanic, James found another life-changing opportunity in 2015: working with his father at Liberty Homes. He soaked up all the knowledge and studied his father's talents, from his eye for detail, creativity, leadership, and values. "One thing Dad always says that sticks out to me is, basically, if I see a former client in the grocery store, do I want to feel like I need to hide or can I walk up and say hello? It's about building relationships and trust with people," says James. He wants everyone at Liberty Homes to be able to stop and say hello, knowing they have given their clients their best, as they would for family. "We treat everybody like family," he adds.

The Piscitellis were happy to team up with the Liberty Homes family. "We met with all the builders, but Liberty was the one builder who made what we wanted to do possible. They were ready to take the challenge. We worked very hard with them and did multiple revisions on floor plans and elevations and they were incredibly accommodating," says Alex. Liberty Homes' team collaborated tirelessly with the Piscitellis, navigating the unique challenges of their lot while ensuring every detail of the design met their vision. Multiple revisions to the floor plans and elevations showcased the team's flexibility and commitment to delivering a home that truly reflected their clients' desires. It took roughly six months for the plans to be finalized. Of course, during the pandemic, everything moved a little more slowly than anyone would like, but construction only took just over a year to complete. Considering the high standards Liberty Homes has for their builds, that timeline is astonishing, especially considering the logistical nightmares everyone faced during the pandemic. 

"One thing we do differently is stick frame our roofs," says James. "Basically, that means we have the lumber delivered to the site and we cut and assemble that ourselves rather than trucking in a load of roof trusses built off-site." This enables Liberty Homes to provide their homeowners with an expansive attic for storage since the area isn't conducive to basements. The real key for Liberty Homes, however, is the team. Mr. James gives a lot of the credit for the success of the Piscitelli home to Cecee Poe, their custom home design specialist who, he says, worked countless hours, sometimes well into the night, perfecting every detail. Truly everyone at Liberty Homes mirrors Cecee's keen eye and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.

It may come as no surprise given his background as a mechanic, but one of James' favorite features of the Piscitelli home is the three-car garage. "[Mr. Piscitelli] is a car guy, so it was extremely important to get the garage right," says James. And, as garages go, this one certainly is a work of art with three arched doors that exude craftsmanship. Just off of the garage, the Piscitellis have a gorgeous space for entertaining and enjoying the sunny skies they longed for while in New York, and is another of James' favorite features. "The [lanai] is incredible. Gorgeous beams and trim, glass enclosure. It's fantastic," says James.

The Piscitellis are in emphatic agreement. "The lanai is where we spend the most time, I think. It's enclosed, where we watch TV and eat our meals, and where I have my coffee. It's such a pretty space," says Terry. "It's just such a comfortable room. I have access to the swimming pool, the bar, and the fireplace. It's just a perfect space."

Alex, however, says for him the kitchen is the space he is most drawn to. Having been born and mostly raised in Italy, he has a deep love of food and 'amore per il vino.' So, it was paramount to design a kitchen that would allow him to prepare food the way he was taught and also elegantly house his collection of fine wines. "I love to cook. Even just being by the stove. I love sitting at the island and looking at the stove and arches and bar. It's where I have my coffee and catch up on the news. By glancing at the wine, the stoves, and the alcove, it just makes me feel very calm and alive," says Alex.

Wine is important to both of them. The pair have traveled the world, tasting and enjoying all kinds of vineyards, large and small. While they are primarily red wine drinkers, they have two large wine coolers in their kitchen, one dedicated to reds and the other to white. It's something very special to them and now they can house their collection in style and in a space meaningful to them–a space truly built for them.

The Piscitellis are quick to admit their first home in the area was beautiful, but it just didn't have the touches they had always longed for. Liberty Homes was able to make their dreams come true with a home that was built, truly, on a foundation of 'amore.' It incorporates the love the Piscitellis have for each other, the things and activities they love, and a place they love. If you have been longing for your dream home, now is the time to contact Bryan and his team at Liberty Homes and have them bring your vision to life. They've forged a legacy of unmatched quality, innovation and client satisfaction and are eager to help you design your new home. Visit libertyhomesandbuilding.com or call to get started on your journey.