South Point family finds comfort in riverside home

SOUTH POINT -- It's a home, a summer playground and a spectacular view all rolled into one.

Michael and Paula Vega's house overlooking the Ohio River offers fun in the sun for their family. The couple enjoys seeing all their children and extended family fish, swim, picnic and play along the Ohio River in South Point, Ohio. Then when the sun fades into sunset, they enjoy the magnificent view the river offers.

Three years ago when they built their dream house along the Ohio, they chose to take full advantage of the vistas.

"When we designed the house, we chose to have lots of windows so we could get the river view from inside," Paula Vega said.

Michael Vega pointed out that they also get to take advantage of fireworks when anyone is celebrating in Huntington.

"We can even see as far as the Camden Park fireworks," he said.

The Vegas have worked at having an open floor plan for their home. You can see throughout the downstairs from one position. They can also take in the river view from any room on the main floor and the lower level family room. Watching their children at play outside brings them much pleasure and they have created just the house for that job.

Though the house is on the Ohio side of the river, it is convenient to downtown Huntington. Both of the Vegas are professionals in the medical field and commute back and forth to Cabell Huntington Hospital.

"We sometimes cycle to work and back; it's not that far," she said.

"We can feel like we are so far from the city but looking across the river, that's Huntington," Michael added.

Overlooking the Ohio, the backyard offers a swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Both are made of gunite and are used year-round. Gunite is concrete delivered to the surface through a high pressure hose. Because the concrete is delivered with such force it is more dense, compacted and stronger than conventional concrete. It is quite durable and could last a lifetime. In the Vega yard, it has the look of stone. However, there are several options available for the finished look.

The adjacent patio with outdoor grill sits underneath a shaded pergola. Near that is an herb garden that is tended to by Michael and his daughter Lauren. Plenty of seating has allowed for all the family to gather, whether swimming or visiting. To sharpen the youngster's skills, tennis and basketball courts are located just across the road.

The backyard offers the family all sorts of outdoor recreational opportunities including boating. The Vegas can dock their boat at the family dock so it is in close proximity to the house. Besides the normal activities associated with a boat, they sometimes just use it as a mode of transportation to get to Huntington.

"We can hop on the boat and be at Pullman Square in minutes for a movie," Michael said. "When there's a concert on the river, it's nice to pull up, drop anchor, sit on the boat and listen."

It's a very large yard that encompasses their home and river bank. For that reason, keeping up the grass, flowers and landscaping is a family affair. Everyone takes a turn mowing the lawn while Paula primarily works on the flowers. The Vega sons not only spend time fishing and boating on the river but have to take their turn with the grass cutting.

Both of Michael's sisters have homes close by, and the families often get together to share in the recreational activities.

"In the summer, I try to get everyone together for ice cream on Sunday evenings," Paula said. "All the kids like to go down on the riverbank and build a fire, roast marshmallows and make s'mores.

"Even the dogs love the river, they swim in it every day. Every now and then we think about taking a vacation and then ask ourselves why? Everything we need is right here."

Howie McCormick/The Herald-Dispatch

Michael and Paula Vega, center, with their children Evan, from left, Lauren, and Austin moved in to their Chesapeake riverfront home in 2005 and did much of their own landscaping under the advisement of the staff at Hatcher's Greenhouse.

Howie McCormick/The Herald-Dispatch

The Vega family is always ready to entertain guests or have a movie night for the family with a projector screen which lowers from the ceiling.

Howie McCormick/The Herald-Dispatch

The living room of the Vega home.

Howie McCormick/The Herald-Dispatch

The Vegas also utilized a unique mix of hardwood flooring and tile throughout a portion of the main floor of the home.

Howie McCormick/The Herald-Dispatch

The woodwork and railing is one of the main attractions of the home's interior. Paula Vaga said the original plans called for drywall on the wall facing under the steps, but they opted to put up the railing to open up the view a little.

Howie McCormick/The Herald-Dispatch

A backyard oasis awaits the Vega family when they feel like taking a swim. With an outdoor seating area for guests and plenty of room around the pool, it's a peaceful area to relax and unwind with a view of the Ohio River.

Howie McCormick/The Herald-Dispatch

The dining room in the Vega home uses a cinnamon-type color to accent the woodwork on the table and chair set, as well as other furniture in the room.