Paying it Forward

A tall door with glass panels opens to a lofty entry with views of the lake in this Blue Ridge home renovated by Harrison Design. The rug is by Keivan Woven Arts and the bench is by Bernhardt. 

Covered in fabric from Glant, a sumptuous sofa and a quartet of chairs complement a lofty great room with spectacular views of Lake Blue Ridge and the mountains in the distance.

An oversize floor-to-ceiling fieldstone fireplace takes advantage of the soaring ceilings in the open great room.

Paired with a nailhead-studded leather ottoman by Ralph Lauren, a pair of swivel chairs from Lee Industries take advantage of the fantastic lake and mountain vistas from what the designers have dubbed the “overlook bar.” The hide rug is from Kyle Bunting.

A horizontal pendant light from Rocky Mountain Hardware sheds light on the perimeter countertops from Marmi in the luxe kitchen. Covered in fabric from Holland & Sherry, the custom stools are by Justin Van Breda.

A blackened copper mixed with stainless steel hood by Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio beautifully occupies a niche in the spacious open kitchen, playing off the glossy brick backsplash from Waterworks and a mix of counter surfaces.

Bark-covered walls from Bark House bring the outside into the dining room, where an elevated metal fireplace allows the family to see the crackling fire during mealtimes. Positioned above a console table from Gregorius Pineo, a canoe adds to the sense of rusticity.

An area rug by Stark anchors a Danish cord panel bed by Gregorius Pineo through Jerry Pair in the lower-level guest suite overlooking the water and mountains. The bench is by Charles Stewart.

Paired with a table by Palecek, a chic chair by Holly Hunt offers a place to enjoy the warmth from the floor-to-ceiling metal fireplace. The draperies are by Lee Jofa.

Requiring partial removal of the roof to crane into place, the Italian travertine tub in the lower-level en suite bathroom runneth over by design. 

Illuminated custom mirrors frame the angular travertine vanities the homeowner asked the designers to incorporate into the guest room’s en suite bathroom, which is outfitted with limestone flooring.

Staged with pottery from Noah J. & Co. and boxes from Made Goods, the handsome built-in shelving unit on the third floor conceals a door that opens to a stairway leading to the rooftop deck. The mohair rug is by Justin Van Breda. 

Flanked by a tailored wooden nightstand from Bernhardt, a bed by Gregorius Pineo through Jerry Pair adds to the soothing array of natural textures in the lower-level guest bedroom. The artwork is from Swoox.

A bed with a live edge from Skylar Morgan complements the reclaimed barnwood walls in the upper-level primary bedroom, where a leather chair by Ralph Lauren and a built-in bench offer spots to relax and enjoy a fire.

The luxurious soaker tub pops against the dark marble flooring from Material Bespoke Stone + Tile in the primary bathroom.

Rounded shapes that include a walnut chandelier from David Alexander and a rattan reed wall sculpture by Eileen Braun soften the linear dimensions in the primary bedroom.

Barstools by Made Goods complement the saddle-style stools from the owner’s collection in the lower-level game room. The art is by Dawne Raulet.

Illuminated by a chandelier by Ochre, a custom billiards table by Roaring Fork Custom Billiards makes a big statement in the lower-level game room. 

Nearly unrecognizable after an extensive renovation by Harrison Design, the lakefront home’s rustic fieldstone is accented with painted grappa siding and reclaimed barnwood. The landscape architecture was done by Bill Caldwell.

“This is probably the premier lot on the lake. We felt a sense of responsibility to do it justice.” —Derek Hopkins 

Harrison Design’s interior designer Karen Ferguson and senior project manager Derek Hopkins had done several projects for their client—and members of his family—when he recruited them to transform a dated log cabin-style home into a modern yet timeless retreat that he planned to pass down through the generations.

“This is probably the premier lot on the lake,” says Hopkins, pointing to its secluded location on a forested point with nearly 270-degree views of Lake Blue Ridge and the rolling mountains beyond. “We felt a sense of responsibility to do it justice.”

After stripping down the exterior, Hopkins clad the structure with fieldstone accented by painted garapa siding and reclaimed barnwood eaves that flow inside, blurring the distinction between inside and out.

The interior transformation is equally dramatic, its once choppy layout reconfigured into more open, flowing rooms that open to spacious waterfront decks. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of property,” explains Hopkins. “[The owner] wanted the architecture to take all that in.”

Indeed, an oversize glass door offers visitors the first peek at the water through the glass doors in the living room, where a tapered fieldstone fireplace calls attention to the soaring ceilings, creating a dramatic focal point for an oversize sectional and plush lounge chairs.

Raised so it can be viewed from the live-edge walnut table, a steel-clad fireplace likewise elevates the dining room, its walls covered in tree-bark panels juxtaposed by a crystal antler-style chandelier. “They love nature, so it was important that we wove in those natural elements throughout the house,” says Ferguson.

An open staircase with leather treads and a glass railing leads from the front foyer to the upper level, where reclaimed barnwood envelops the primary bedroom—one of many spots the designers used it throughout. Just down the hall, built-in shelving conceals a staircase that leads to a skylight. Simply flip a switch, and it opens to a rooftop deck with unimpeded scenic vistas.

Natural elements also define the dramatic lower level, which offers a bunkroom ideal for sleepovers, a moody wine cellar with birch panels, a media room and a game area that includes a bar and a bespoke billiards table carved out of a single chunk of wood.

The home more than meets the mark for the owner and his family, who often congregate there just as they had imagined. “This became a passion project for the client,” says Ferguson. “It was fun getting to know what makes them excited then make that come to life for them.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Karen Ferguson, Harrison Design, (404) 365-7760; harrisondesign.com
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER Derek Hopkins, Harrison Design, (404) 365-7760; harrisondesign.com
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Bill Caldwell, BCLA Design, bcladesign.com
CONTRACTOR Bildon Construction
KITCHEN CABINETRY Design Galleria; (404) 261-0111, designgalleria.net