A Lake Keowee, South Carolina, Home’s Contemporary Details Capitalize on the Sweeping Water Views

Spanning nearly the entire height of the wall, a French limestone and plaster fireplace, designed by Brittany Stafford of Source, is dramatic in both scale and texture.

The design team put a pass-through area to good use as a bar and sitting room.

Architect Brad Wright added oak timbers to frame out the kitchen and add a bit of softness, the shape of them repeated on the island. The trio opted against a large range hood in order to capitalize on the outdoor scenery.

Designer and homeowner Jessica Whitley chose a massive custom dining table to accommodate as many people around it as possible. It has an almost panoramic view thanks to the windows.

On the island, Stafford selected a Brazilian quartzite that appears as though it was pulled from the water.

Leather art from Bobo Intriguing Objects in Atlanta adds dimension to the wall behind the spiral staircase.

In the foyer, doors are neatly hidden away to emphasize the views. The painting by Britten Roetzel is particularly special for the homeowners, whose daughter shares a name with the artist.

Dark colors in the foyer powder bath, such as Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams, create an intimate and cozy space. The integrated stone sink fabricated by Visionary Stoneworks is a striking focal point.

Feather wallpaper by Schumacher adorns the wall behind the bed in the primary bedroom. The antique fish trap pendant lights are from Dixon Rye.

Located in the primary suite, chaise lounges from Verellen are a soft landing spot to watch sunrises and sunsets

With an Arabescato Oribico marble surround, the primary bath’s tub feels almost as if it’s reflecting the water. “We wanted it to feel sexy but feminine, and had to have the right mix of materials for it to feel strong yet soft at the same time,” says Whitley.

In the tower’s bar area, the sectional sofa is shaped like a T, so guests can choose to circle around the nearby pool table or perch above the water.

A striking Palecek mirror featuring layered wood pieces serves as the focal point in the tower’s powder bath.

The expansive porch overlooks the lake and will soon overlook a pool too.

With six built-in beds, the bunkroom is the kids’ zone. Ottomans from Verellen are a playful nod to the setting.

Serene lake views are in abundance from every guest room, making each one equally desired, according to Whitley.

To add some playfulness to the bunkroom bathroom, Stafford used a crisp blue-and-white encaustic tile that flows into the shower.

Built by Will Hines of Keeoco Development, Inc. with landscape design by Alex Smith, the Whitley family’s Lake Keowee, South Carolina, home is a respite for guests and family alike.

Large windows and natural light are a given when it comes to shoreline home design, but the real genius lies in the creative use of lines, angles, and materials. And in the case of this nearly 9,000-square-foot Lake Keowee, South Carolina, home, five innovative design minds are better than one.

Homeowner and designer Jessica Whitley led the charge for the design in collaboration with Brittany Stafford of Source, architect Brad Wright, builder Will Hines, and landscape designer Alex Smith. Her inspirations, unsurprisingly, were the natural elements surrounding the home such as the water and the trees. The crux then was how to capitalize on those details without compromising her vision. “I wanted it to feel like a resort-style home—to feel like I’m on vacation,” says Whitley. “Brad and I are very collaborative. We draw together and have honest conversations.”

Wright, who also designed the Whitley family’s primary residence in nearby Athens, Georgia, began by learning the contours of the land. “The first time I walked the lot, I startled a deer on the southeast portion of the property that is surrounded by water on two sides. It was immediately obvious that this was the ideal spot for the home’s covered porch,” he says.

And the area is a crowd favorite, particularly thanks to the custom suspended porch beds that almost float like they are on the water. “Because of the way we did the iron pieces, they sway perfectly. You have to kick people off of them,” says Whitley.

From the cast-covered porch, each room spills seamlessly into the next. The kitchen is the Whitleys’ social hub, perfect for hosting a crowd in luxurious comfort. The large dining table matches the scale of the island that’s topped with a waterfall-edged Brazilian quartzite. Suspended above, custom lighting pinpoints what is being served or cooked, and the range hood is noticeably missing too. “We chose a simple hood, so we could capture the views,” says Stafford.

A pass-through bar creates a spot prime for entertaining before opening to the great room, which is layered in shades of white with performance fabrics to ease stain removal. “Jessica has such a great eye,” says Stafford. “When you use neutrals, it’s such a gift to be able to partner all the textures together and make them work.” Stafford emphasized the room’s vibrance by designing a grand French limestone fireplace and using Venetian plaster for the walls. “Our team felt like it was important to create depth, and plaster has the amazing ability to do that,” she says.

As for Whitley’s preferred rooms in the house, the primary suite is a retreat from guests. Here, two plush chaise lounges overlook the lake, a soaking tub with an Arabescato Oribico surround is a spa-like sanctuary, and a coffee bar is nestled inside for preparing morning brews without leaving the bedroom. The materials in the space mimic the colors outside, such as the browns and taupes of the bark and the soil as well as the movement of the water. Stafford agrees, “We wanted to bring in a natural, very monochromatic texture and create depth through the material itself.”

When the family wants to be together, one can oftentimes find them in the tower, accessible by a spiral staircase designed and executed by Whitley and Wright. The family and their guests lounge on the oversize mohair sectional, sip cocktails, and play pool while overlooking a treehouse view of the lake.

Wright says of the finished product, “The goal for this project was to use natural materials that connect it to the beauty of its surroundings. Cypress siding represents the surrounding water, the cedar shingle roof conveys the feel of the forest’s canopy, and natural limestone anchors the home to the earth.” Couple those natural materials with contemporary elements, and the resulting Whitley home is warm, youthful, and inspiring.

INTERIOR DESIGN Jessica Whitley, Jessica Whitley Studio, jessica-whitley.com ARCHITECT Brad Wright, Wright Design, (864) 501-4944; wrightdesignllc.com SPECIFICATIONS Brittany Stafford, (404) 390-4055; sourceatl.com BUILDER Will Hines, Keeoco Development Inc., (706) 816-3677; keeocodevelopment.com LANDSCAPE DESIGNER Alex Smith, Alex Smith Garden Design, LTD. (770) 455-8878; alexsmithgardendesign.com