A Second Home in the North Carolina Mountains is Unrecognizable After a Major Makeover

Renovated by designer Betty Burgess, architect D. Stanley Dixon, and builder Byrd Construction LLC, views of Sassafras Mountain in South Carolina are a dreamy backdrop for a reimagined home’s picturesque setting.

The great room holds true to its name after Burgess and Dixon added boards on the vaulted ceilings, painted the same shade of white as the walls, which visually lifted the space. “The ceilings all of a sudden soared,” says Burgess. “It was one of the biggest singular changes,” agrees Dixon.

Above the islands by Keystone Kitchen & Bath, oversize pendants covered in Zak+Fox fabric soften and warm the kitchen. The floors are reclaimed heart pine.

Because the family enjoys cooking, a goal was for the kitchen to work as flawlessly as it looks. Stone from the original space was salvaged and now houses a handsome black Lacanche range and a stone-slab backsplash.

Open to the kitchen, the new dining room is part of an expansion to the original home and offers ample space to entertain family and friends.

In the primary bedroom, Burgess re-covered a chaise in Claremont fabric that features an organic fern pattern, echoing the home’s natural surroundings. A porch located off the room is an ideal landing spot for morning coffee.

Floor-to-ceiling white tile sets a relaxed mood in the primary bathroom. Mountain views through the window and a shapely Renaissance Tile & Bath tub further foster a spa-like environment.

Above the guest bed is a 19th-century English oil painting of a hunting dog, tucked underneath three pieces of Asian and Italian pottery. “I love my client’s taste in different mediums of art,” says Burgess.

Red chairs were salvaged from the home’s previous owners and flank an antique wood-carved sideboard—one of the family’s favorite pieces.

The girls’ room is a place for play with canopied beds and a pint-size table and chairs. The round linen pendant is from Imprint House.

The hallway carpet looks like sisal but is actually an outdoor rug from Dash & Albert, making for easy cleanup after hikes. The lights above are antique, made from mercury glass.

Sconces from The Urban Electric Co. feature shades covered in a whimsical Caroline Cecil Textiles fabric, which is repeated in the sink’s skirt. The wallcovering is from Botanica Trading.

Fresh air and crisp summer temperatures; car horns and sirens replaced with chirping birds and calm breezes; a sea of trees instead of concrete. This is what a young New York City-based family desired when they were searching for a second home in Cashiers, North Carolina. And when they happened upon a five-bedroom home close to nearby relatives, the timing was just right.

The hillside house had great bones thanks to high ceilings, a spacious floor plan, and front-row views of Sassafras Mountain in South Carolina, but with a dated mountain style, an extensive renovation was necessary to transform it into the city escape they were looking for. Designer Betty Burgess’ first order of business was painting the dark boarded walls white to brighten spaces throughout. In the great room, architect Stan Dixon closed an awkward I Love Lucy-style window that opened to the kitchen and replaced windows and doors with bifold doors that allow for a seamless transition between the indoors and out. “One of the first things we did was open up the vaulted area to capture the spectacular view,” says Burgess. “The porch is amazing, who wouldn’t want to be out there all the time?”

A nearly complete gut of the kitchen allowed the team to get creative in their redesign, including the addition of a new dining area and rear porch. “All of the heaviness came out of the house with that kitchen renovation,” says Dixon. Open shelving and cabinetry with a light oak stain sets a graceful tone, while double islands provide ample prep space when hosting. A stone surround kept from the original kitchen adds a sense of historical charm, and oversize pendants dressed in a patterned blue fabric draw the eye upward. “Kitchens tend to be cold with all the appliances, surfaces, and chair legs,” says Burgess. “Any opportunity to soften or warm up a kitchen with fabric, I want to do that.”

Across the house, the primary suite is a quiet oasis. In the bedroom, organic prints and rich neutral fabrics mingle with handsome iron details and abstract artwork, encouraging ultimate relaxation. Nearby, the primary bathroom underwent perhaps the biggest change. “The primary bath was choppy with a separate shower and tub,” recalls Burgess. “Stan had the great idea to open the bathroom into one big water space and pitched the floor down to the center.” Tiled walls and a curvaceous freestanding tub create the spa-like atmosphere the homeowner wanted.

And now with a mountain summer under their belt, the design-build team accomplished precisely what the homeowners craved: a home for the family to cherish now and grow into for years to come.

INTERIOR DESIGN Betty Burgess, Betty Burgess Design, (404) 841-7707; bettyburgessdesign.com ARCHITECT Stan Dixon, D. Stanley Dixon Architect, (404) 574-1430; dsdixonarchitect.com BUILDER Byrd’s Construction LLC, (251) 305-7724; byrdsconstructionllc.com