Set in Stone

Luxe furnishings, such as a channel- tufted leather sofa from Bungalow Classic and chaise lounges covered in mohair from Pindler, juxtapose the Tennessee fieldstone walls and rough-hewn reclaimed wood beams in the living room.

The living room deftly balances refined and rustic elements. The iron chandelier is from B.D. Jeffries.

A pair of local locust trees, their bark peeled off, mark the entrance to the steel-framed glass front door, offering visitors a panoramic view of the lake through the living room windows.

Linen-covered barrel-back chairs surround a streamlined fireplace flanked by steel-lined niches for firewood storage in the kitchen. The concrete chandelier is from Bradley.

Seen from the expansive eat-in kitchen, the wet bar in the living room sports reclaimed wood cabinetry, zinc countertops and floating shelving—an ideal spot for the husband’s collection of German beer steins.

Plaster walls and an integrated hood play off the natural white oak cabinetry built by Otis & Company in the light-filled kitchen and breakfast area. The custom black chandelier was fabricated by Smith Ironworks.

Located just off the kitchen, the generously sized mudroom is outfitted with weathered galvanized metal pendants from Generation Lighting and reclaimed oak cabinetry.

Raised up off the floor like a window would be, a set of sliding doors in the breakfast area can be opened to let the breezes in. “It’s like being on a houseboat,” says interior designer Carolyn Malone.

On the covered porch overlooking the water, a pair of woven host chairs from B.D. Jeffries play off the steel-and-wood dining set from AuthenTEAK.

Nearly the size of a twin bed and even more comfortable, a pair of custom sofas face each other in front of the tall stone fireplace on the covered porch off the kitchen. The raffia chandelier is by Masterpiece Lighting.

A large Noguchi paper lantern creates a soft glow in the master bedroom, which is furnished with a custom painted four-poster bed. The matte ceramic table lamps are by Currey & Company.

A built-in banquette and a pair of 1970s chairs by McGuire Furniture surround a vintage table in a polished sitting area off the master bedroom. The black spotlight is from Cedar & Moss.

French limestone flooring, custom oak cabinetry and concrete countertops contribute to the five-star spa-like ambiance in the master bathroom.

While they are named for the Adirondack Mountains, the red chairs and complementary gray outdoor chaise lounges fit right in on Lake Burton.

Walking the property for the first time, architect Frances Flautt Zook knew it was something special—hilly, forested and with enough lakefront acreage to build a home right on the water. 

Her clients had been vacationing there for a few years in a house that once stood on the site. When their children left the nest, they assembled an accomplished team that included Zook, interior designer Carolyn Malone and Charles Moore Builders to build a new retreat for their next chapter. 

The resulting masterpiece features exposed stone walls, dark siding and a cedar shake roof. Columns made from local locust trees hold up the front porch, where a tall steel-framed glass door highlights a breathtaking view of the lake through the living room windows. “The house is all about the lake, so it was important to capture that moment,” explains Zook. “A lake view is relaxing, even more so during a pandemic.”

Besides, the cross breezes are out of this world, the architect adds, noting that there are few bothersome insects at Lake Burton. The black metal window frames juxtapose the living room’s rough-hewn stone walls and reclaimed ceiling beams. “The idea is that this was an old house with modern additions,” says Zook. 

The furnishings also lean in a more modern direction, such as the channel-tufted leather sofa in the living room. And just across the threshold in the bright and airy kitchen, a quartet of linen-covered chairs surround a vintage bench in front of an ultracontemporary white fireplace mantel flanked with steel-lined firewood containers. 

Clad with the same textural plaster as the walls, the minimalist range hood likewise speaks in a modern dialect, contrasting the natural white oak plank cabinetry and concrete countertops. “The plaster changes color throughout the day, and that variation is really interesting,” says Malone, comparing it to the stone walls. “It feels thick and sturdy.”

The quiet palette flows into the first-floor master bedroom, where a dark gray four-poster bed gently contrasts the light shiplap walls. Providing soft illumination, an oversize paper lantern by Noguchi calls attention to the high wood-beamed ceilings. “It felt natural and comfortable,” says Malone.

As did the project itself, coming together little by little over time until every detail was perfect. Shortly after the owners finally saw the outcome, they phoned the designers to express their appreciation. “They loved the house,” says Malone. “It means so much when a client tells you that.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Carolyn Malone and Nona Pappas, Carolyn Malone Antiques and Interiors, (404) 264-9509; carolynmalone.com ARCHITECT Frances Flautt Zook, Frances Zook Architect; franceszook.com BUILDER Charles Moore Builders, (706) 490-2098