Lakefront Legacy
Pritchett + Dixon and The Design Atelier create a private Lake Burton oasis for a family and their friends to enjoy for generations to come


A years-long search led an Atlanta couple to a Lake Burton property with coveted views of Charlie Mountain. The lot presented challengesβit was steep and there were Georgia Power setbacks to contend withβbut architects Todd Pritchett and Craig Dixon of Pritchett + Dixon did a seemingly effortless job designing a home that maximizes the property and lends the perfect destination for the family to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Pritchett, who grew up around Lake Burton, and Dixon drew inspiration from classic lake home style. βWe like everything to have a sense of place and a strong connection to the outside,β says Pritchett. He and Dixon wove natural materials into the home, like stones from nearby North Carolina for the living room fireplace and timbers from a local sawmillβelements that are ever-present reminders that youβre in a Lake Burton home. To emphasize the vista, a 16-foot lakefront window invites the outdoors inside.
Interior designers Melanie Millner and Katie Moorhouse of The Design Atelier were tasked with making the house feel sophisticated yet comfortable within the voluminous space. Their starting point: the earth tone palette of blues, creams, taupes and grays. βWe were looking out the window and said the view here is just incredible,β says Moorhouse. βWe took what was outside the windows and brought it in.βΒ
Aside from the earthy hues, durability was paramount for Millner and Moorhouse when selecting the furnishings. The living room sofa and window seatβa favorite spot of the familyβs St. Bernardβwere upholstered in an indoor-outdoor fabric so it can withstand years of heavy use. The chairs swivel so that one can go from blissful lake scenery to watching the game on TV.Β
Another key element was the use of breakaway spaces throughout the home. The house plays host to groups, but the nooks that the designers and architects created make it easy for individuals to escape for a bit of solitude. In addition to the window seats, a loft with chaise lounges overlooks the lake, while downstairs guest corridors house separate bedrooms and a bunk room, game room and living room.
While many lake houses have stunning vistas, this one is positioned in such a way that it feels like an islandβone that belongs to this family alone. The sunrise views are fantastic, says Moorhouse, and when you look out over the lake toward Charlie Mountain, with no other land in sight, you almost feel like youβre floating.Β
INTERIOR DESIGN Melanie Millner and Katie Moorhouse, The Design Atelier, (404) 365-8662; thedesignatelier.com Β ARCHITECT Todd Pritchett and Craig Dixon, Pritchett + Dixon; pritchettdixon.com BUILDER Steve Jones, SJ Contracting, (706) 212-2006; stevejonesconstruction.comΒ