Mountain Echo

Douglas fir timbers, cedar shake and Tennessee fieldstone clad this Arts and Crafts-inspired mountain home, which was designed by Edgens Herzog Architects and built by JW Underwood Construction.

The covered loggia, with its generous conversation areas overlooking sprawling mountain views, has become the family’s favorite hangout.

An open window between the great room and the kitchen makes entertaining easy. To create a serving area beneath, designer Cathy Rhodes chose a cabinet by Vanguard. “It’s the perfect height to pass appetizers and drinks from the bar on the other side [of the window],” she says.

“I chose a soft warm white (Benjamin Moore Titanium) to show off the beams, windows, paneling and floors,” says Rhodes, who wanted the architectural details to shine. A pair of dining areas, both inside and on a screened porch, each seats 10 people. “The adults can be on the porch while the kids are inside,” says Rhodes.

Layers of subtle color and texture give the kitchen warmth. Base oak cabinets are stained soft gray to allow the wood grain to show through. Upper cabinets are painted Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray for a slight variation in finishes. Zinc strappings on the hood introduce another element while complementing the gray tones.

While the house is secluded within the Pinchot community, it’s still within golf cart-driving distance to Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club.

A built-in window seat enjoys front-yard views in the entry; the antique bench is from Scott Antique Markets and framed Driftwood pieces by Palecek.

A veritable retreat, the master bedroom offers serenity thanks to a vaulted ceiling, limestone fireplace and wall of windows.

Shiplap walls lend a tailored cabin feel while bleached wood mirrors with rivet detailing add rustic elegance.

Supremely private, the master bathroom “feels like it’s in a treehouse,” says Rhodes.

Look at the view. That’s all interior designer Cathy Rhodes had to do when choosing the palette for this Cashiers, North Carolina, home. “The colors and textures echo the natural surroundings,” she says. Soft grays, creamy hues and wood finishes recall tree bark and the rocky outcropping the home sits on. Blues, light and dark, pull in the ever-changing range of tones of the Blue Ridge Mountains. “The whole draw to Cashiers is the beautiful mountain setting,” says Rhodes.

Located on almost 6 acres in Pinchot, a master planned community, this Atlanta family’s home embraces vistas of a meadow, forests and, of course, the mountain range. Designed by architects Sarah Frances Herzog and Sam Edgens of Edgens Herzog Architects, the home offers a nearly seamless connection between indoors and out. “The house transitions beautifully from the exterior to the interior rooms, through the porches and to the property beyond,” says Herzog.

Inspired by English Arts and Crafts precedents, the home integrates well with its mountain setting thanks to materials common to western North Carolina. Cedar shingle siding and a cedar shake roof clad the outside. Inside, hand-scraped maple floors finished in a soft gray glaze, white pine beams stained dark and Tennessee fieldstone make the home feel like it grew out of the mountains themselves. “When you walk through the entry and into the great room with its 12-foot ceilings and stunning mountain view, you are immediately welcomed outside,” says Rhodes.

Even with the plentiful views from indoor rooms, it’s the outdoor living space that the family enjoys most. The kitchen opens onto a covered loggia and screened porch with an outdoor dining table, fireplace and sitting area. “People come to the mountains to be outdoors. It’s lovely to have multiple places where family and friends can gather,” says Herzog.

Because the family spends most weekends here, the owners also asked for spaces that offered privacy for kids and adults alike. The architects tapped into transitional spaces to tuck in little getaways such as the game and puzzle nook, built-in daybed and window seat. Upstairs, the couple’s high schoolers can find escape in their bedrooms as well as a bunk room and game room for hanging out with their own guests.

The master bedroom also offers plenty of respite. “This is the most secluded part of the house,” says Herzog. “It’s also at the point where the house sits highest above grade so we knew there was an opportunity to create large banks of windows. It’s peaceful, serene and has beautiful views.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Cathy Rhodes, Cathy Rhodes Interiors, (404) 307-0616; cathyrhodesinteriors.com ARCHITECTS Sarah Frances Herzog and Sam Edgens, Edgens Herzog Architects, (828) 526-2413; edgensherzog.com BUILDER John Underwood; JW Underwood Construction, (828) 371-2777; jwunderwoodconstruction.com LANDSCAPE DESIGN Tate Landscaping Services, Inc., (828) 526-8953; tatelandscapingservices.com