Place to Belong

Built with native North Carolina fieldstone, this handsome retreat is a collaboration betweenarchitect D. Stanley Dixon, landscape architect John Howard and Betty Burgess of Betty Burgess Design.

A 28-foot-long Oushak rug and linen sheers dress up the entry foyer, which is illuminated by large bell jar lanterns from The Urban Electric Co.

A charming arched doorway leads to a mudroom off of the kitchen in this dwelling built with native North Carolina fieldstone.

White pottery lamps from Lush Life play off of the modern chairs from Janus et Cie on the covered back porch with spectacular mountain views.

Underneath an iron chandelier, an antique table surrounded by slipcovered chairs creates a beautiful spot to break bread in the open living area.

A custom mirror by designer Betty Burgess reflects light into the central living room, where a dark sofa and light green chairs surround the rustic fireplace.

The custom pewter hood with brass banding, designed by Dixon, leans into the industrial vibe of the well- appointed kitchen.

Pendants with pleated fabric shades soften the masculine-leaning kitchen, which includes a custom marble-topped island with iron legs and banding. The barstools with cowhide seats are from R Hughes.

An antique zinc pendant and matching countertop add character and interest to the bar, which has direct access to the living room, covered porch and a keeping room off of the kitchen.

A three-piece stone fireplace mantel and Crab Orchard stone flooring complement the pine wall paneling in the den.

Custom leather doors with nailhead detailing by Burgess separate the kitchen from the stairway landing, where built-in bookshelves surround the entrance to the powder room.

Designed with serenity in mind, the master bedroom features white walls and furnishings, including an upholstered headboard and a plush chair, both covered in fabric from Cowtan & Tout. The iron rope chandelier is by Paul Ferrante through Ainsworth-Noah.

Queen beds with upholstered headboards covered in floral fabric from Mulberry Home add a pop of color and pattern to the daughter’s room. The custom bedside table is by Fabulous Things Ltd.

Known as the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains, the charming village of Cashiers, North Carolina, seemed like an ideal place for an Alabama couple to escape the summer heat. Architect D. Stanley Dixon and interior designer Betty Burgess created their seasonal getaway, a rustic abode with native fieldstone walls perched on an outlook facing Yellow Mountain. “We wanted it to look like it belonged and that it had been there for a long time,” Dixon says.

 The natural materials have been carried into the light-filled front foyer, where rough-sawn cedar ceiling beams with a lime-washed finish complement the wood flooring and painted shiplap walls. Linen sheers define the entrance to the spacious formal living room, filtering the strong morning sunlight and softening the stone walls. “[The wife] is a very gentle, gracious person, and that same sort of spirit is replicated through the interiors of the house,” Burgess explains.

 While Burgess worked more closely with the wife on the interior design, there’s plenty for the husband, a wonderful cook and gamesman, to appreciate as well. A custom pewter hood with brass detailing, for example, creates a strong focal point in the kitchen, which is outfitted with leathered granite perimeter counters and a tablelike island with iron legs that’s ideal for meal prep. 

 And located three steps down from the main house, the cozy study features Crab Orchard stone flooring, pine paneled walls and a primitive three-piece stone fireplace mantel. “It comes across as modern and rustic at the same time,” Dixon says. “We wanted something that felt authentic to North Carolina—nothing elaborate or too ornate.”

 Burgess flipped the script in the master suite, incorporating light linen draperies and an upholstered headboard to create a peaceful, serene space. “It’s important to me that a bedroom be a place to recharge,” Burgess says. Near the window, a casual chair and an elegant marble sculpture on a pedestal add a touch of modernity.

 That mix of old and new also characterizes the spacious covered stonewalled porch off of the living room. There, clean-lined woven wicker furnishings live alongside a pair of sculptural white chairs with a decidedly modern edge. Hanging from the beamed ceiling, a chandelier made of twigs and branches adds a natural touch that has attracted nesting birds.

 A respite from the Alabama heat and a gathering place for family and friends, the house is everything the owners envisioned for their mountain retreat. Indeed, the husband sent Burgess a heartfelt letter to express the couple’s gratitude for her work on the project. 

 “I am incredibly grateful to have worked with these clients that trusted and appreciated me on this entire journey,” Burgess says. “You put your heart and soul into a project like this, and when a client really understands that, there’s no bigger reward.”