A Collateral Descendant of Philip Trammell Shutze Transforms a Highlands, North Carolina, Log Cabin Into a Sophisticated Full-Time Home

“Our home is more modern and sophisticated, as if a fashion designer came to Highlands to stay for the weekend.”

An antique train-station bench passed down by designer and homeowner Margaret Shutze’s grandmother holds court in the foyer.

The Shutzes left the exterior of their 5,000-square-foot cabin mostly untouched. Built by the previous owner who lived on the property for more than 40 years, the Shutzes now lovingly refer to it as The Peregrine and are still good friends with their predecessors.

In the renovated kitchen, skylights and windows play a major part in the home’s newly light and bright aesthetic.

The property’s private lake is stocked with rainbow trout for guests who enjoy fly fishing.

“Our whole vision was to encourage people to feel connected to nature…almost like you’re downloading joy.”

The Shutzes were able to restore all five of the home’s original stone fireplaces, including the one in the primary bedroom.

Though other parts of the house boast brightened walls, the Shutzes chose to highlight the original log in the library.

When visitors wander the neighborhoods of Atlanta and gaze at the timeless, classical homes that make up the blueprint of the city, it’s likely that some of the work they are admiring is that of renowned architect Philip Trammell Shutze. But on a sweeping 28-acre property lovingly restored and renovated in Highlands, North Carolina, it’s one of Shutze’s collateral descendants that guests have to thank.

Chris Shutze, the great-great-grand nephew of the famed architect, and his wife, Margaret, purchased Flat Mountain Farm in 2019 from an 8th-generation Highlander. Originally a rhododendron farm in the 1970s, the land was inherited by the previous owner who then built a Joe Webb-style log home on-site—something the surrounding area is known for. When the Shutzes took ownership, it required a creative imagination to envision how the dilapidated structure­—left empty for over a year—could become a full-time home for a young family of four. “There were a lot of critters we had to evict,” laughs Margaret. “We bought the property as-is and thought it would be mainly cosmetic upgrades, but it became a much bigger undertaking than we originally anticipated.”

But the pair were no strangers to solving design challenges. Chris, formerly a general contractor before becoming a custom-furniture maker, and Margaret, a luxury-hotel designer for more than two decades, spent the next nearly four years painstakingly renovating and restoring the original cabin—plus three additional cabins on property that make up their boutique resort—into a luxury home that breathes an air of elegance. “Our house is more modern and sophisticated, as if a fashion designer came to Highlands to stay for the weekend,” says Margaret. “We created a different story for each of our cabins. That’s where I think Flat Mountain Farm stands apart, because nothing is the same—it’s all unique.”

Though exterior walls remained, the interior floor plan was reimagined, electrical and plumbing systems were updated, low ceilings were raised, and rustic elements were balanced with modern design details. Chris handcrafted many dramatic moments in the house, including custom millwork, cabinetry and vanities for the kitchen and bathrooms, and a custom wood-and-iron table in the dining room. In the foyer, familial roots run deep with a hand-hewn steel railing—another one of Margaret and Chris’ creations—paired with a refined plaster chandelier overhead and an antique train-station bench passed down by Margaret’s grandmother. “I love the term ‘quiet luxury,’ where a space doesn’t have to be so shiny and loud,” she says. “There are so many beautiful high-end details in our home, but it’s subtle. I love the mix, and wanted it to feel approachable and lived-in.”

With respect for the home’s history, the Shutzes embarked on other restoration projects, including saving the home’s five working stone fireplaces and salvaging sconces from its previous life. But it’s the new entertaining terrace that keeps their eyes on the future. An unusable pool was decked to create 2,100 square feet of space for the family to host guests, with each member—even the young boys—pitching in to help frame the structure, drill holes, and handcraft spindles. “My sons now feel a sense of ownership in the house too, which is cool to see,” says Margaret.

And today, just over a year after completion, the Shutzes’ home base is better than anything they could’ve imagined—and somewhere their family can grow into for years to come. Says Margaret, “Our whole vision was to encourage people to feel connected to nature. Get outside, enjoy the fresh air, recharge. Almost like you’re downloading joy.”

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