Summerour’s modern-day interpretation of Southern vernacular architecture reveals itself in the form of an 18th-century dogtrot-inspired hunting lodge.
A cantilevered porch takes advantage of both a sloping lot and panoramic views of the property’s lake.
The hue of the blooming tulips echoes the soft salmon color Millner subtly employed throughout the interior spaces.
In this Keith Summerour–designed hunting retreat, designer Melanie Millner of The Design Atelier enlisted Atlanta furniture designer Kevin Scanlon to build the 84-inch round dining table, which seats 10 comfortably. Jason Smith of Smithworks Iron & Design crafted the iron chandelier hanging above.
Zinc-lined bins on either side of the local stone mantel elegantly store stashes of firewood. Millner injected the personality of the lady of the house into the main living area in the form of the salmon-hued mohair chair near the fire.
River-recovered sinker cypress walls and shotgun shell trim on the zinc-topped island delight in the kitchen.
River-recovered sinker cypress walls and shotgun shell trim on the zinc-topped island delight in the kitchen.
In the kitchen, a steel-framed box bay window takes center stage, opening to the covered terrace.
Shotgun shells serve as trim on the zinc-topped island
a kitchen cabinetry detail
In the kitchen, a steel-framed box bay window takes center stage, opening to the covered terrace.
this South Carolina hunting lodge redefines rustic
Outdoor dining here is more of a rule than the exception.
the hardworking mudroom
In the living room, an open shelving unit designed by Willis Everett of Vintage Lumber was inspired by a similar unit in Everett’s own office.
A guest room powder is equal parts stylish and functional
character-rich details at every turn
Millner enlisted Kevin Scanlon to transform an antique French rifle rack into a vanity
As with most properties, it’s the location that matters most. The lake “wraps this house so that it feels somewhat situated on a peninsula,” says Summerour, who designed the 45-degree-angle cantilevered porch to engage with its panoramic views. “That’s an unusual feature to be attached to what otherwise would be called a South Carolina vernacular–style cabin architecture,” the architect explains.
A private porch off the master.
A rope swing off the master bedroom overlooks the lake
a secret hideaway for the homeowner’s sons
In an upstairs bathroom, Millner designed the trough vanity, which was fabricated on-site by the builder; the result is a look that’s both primitive and edgy.
Upstairs, two bunk rooms sleep as many as 11 people. Millner and Charlotte, North Carolina, builder John Boyte created character-rich details in each of these spaces with vintage lumber architectural detailing from Willis Everett of Vintage Lumber.
Upstairs, two bunk rooms sleep as many as 11 people. Millner and Charlotte, North Carolina, builder John Boyte created character-rich details in each of these spaces with vintage lumber architectural detailing from Willis Everett of Vintage Lumber.
Upstairs, two bunk rooms sleep as many as 11 people. Millner and Charlotte, North Carolina, builder John Boyte created character-rich details in each of these spaces with vintage lumber architectural detailing from Willis Everett of Vintage Lumber.
The second-floor game room is a hub of post-hunt activity, whether relaxing by the fire, engaging in a game of pool or rehashing the day from custom-designed banquettes flanking a game table. Summerour sourced the granite slabs framing the fireplace from a nearby South Carolina quarry. “We wanted to use stone from the site—preferably pieces that had already been quarried—and use them as vestiges,” says the architect.
The second-floor game room is a hub of post-hunt activity, whether relaxing by the fire, engaging in a game of pool or rehashing the day from custom-designed banquettes flanking a game table. Summerour sourced the granite slabs framing the fireplace from a nearby South Carolina quarry. “We wanted to use stone from the site—preferably pieces that had already been quarried—and use them as vestiges,” says the architect.
In a house that sleeps as many as 20, this light-filled guest room exudes warmth and respite.
In the master bathroom, Millner enlisted Willis Everett of Vintage Lumber to build his-and-hers vanities.
A series of botanicals from Holland & Company hang above a bench from B.D. Jeffries near the master closet.
A shotgun shell button-tufted upholstered wall adds interest to a main-floor guest bedroom.
One of architect Keith Summerour’s specialties, especially as it pertains to his country projects, is his ability to delicately interweave his clients’ contemporary lifestyles into the framework of period floor plans. And for one family’s 4,000-square-foot hunting property near South Carolina’s Lake Wateree, the historic precedent Summerour paid homage to was the utilitarian nature of the 18th-century dogtrot.
In Summerour’s present-day interpretation of the Southern vernacular, it’s the living-dining room on the main floor, and the game room above, that act as central “breezeways”—multifunctional spaces that connect to bedrooms on either side. Another modern-day spin: opening up the back side of the living space to a wall of glass doors that lead to the cantilevered porch—a design decision Summerour dictated due to the sloping nature of the property, as well as to maximize panoramic views afforded by the horseshoe-like shape of the lake below.
And, while the resulting retreat is far from utilitarian, its floor plan is highly functional, designed to sleep as many as 18 but also to contain, store and launder their equipment, from clothing and boots to fishing gear and shotguns—with almost military precision.
As important as its function, though, was crafting a home that would rival the thrill of the hunt itself. Enter Melanie Millner, an Atlanta interior designer and owner of The Design Atelier. Together with builder John Boyte of Charlotte, North Carolina, the trio set out to infuse every crevice of the retreat with a distinct richness of materials, which collectively impart a masculine but moody flair.
The strength of these materials—river-recovered sinker cypress walls throughout, and quarried granite slabs employed to create a mantel—at once echo the delight of discovery on a hunt and contribute to a subtle wow factor evident in the tiniest details. In the kitchen, for instance, shotgun shells reveal themselves in the form of trim on the zinc-topped kitchen island built by Skylar Morgan Furniture + Design. And in the powder room, Millner enlisted Kevin Scanlon to transform an antique French rifle-rack into a conversation-worthy vanity. Also noteable is the Willis Everett-sourced vintage lumber employed in unexpected places, its natural imperfections translating as the just the right finishing touch for bunk beds, bathroom vanities and architectural trim alike.
It’s this incredibly tactile canvas that allowed Millner’s signature brand of chic to shine—the lady of the house and their three children, after all, also needed to feel at home here. Each of the four main-floor bedrooms retain a more traditional flair, with a shotgun shell button-tufted, upholstered wall in one guest room and feminine elements such as a sunburst mirror and series of botanicals hanging in the master. In the living room, Millner injected a bit of the wife’s personality with the salmon-hued mohair chair by the mantel. Just as entrancing are design details such as the box bay window that opens from the kitchen bar to the covered porch; a three-tiered bunk room; or the secret passage with a trap door where the couple’s sons play when they’re not hunting.
“There’s lots of detail here, but it’s masked behind rich material,” says Summerour. Millner agrees: “When you walk in, it feels so rich and thoughtful.”
INTERIOR DESIGN Melanie Millner, The Design Atelier (404) 365-8662; thedesignatelier.com. ARCHITECT Keith Summerour, Summerour and Associates Architects (678) 904-8105; summerour.net BUILDER John Boyte, John F. Boyte Company (980) 321-5179; thesanctuary-crescent.com
