A brick feature wall in the living room offers a creative alternative to conventional stone fireplaces often found in mountain homes. Its ruggedness is offset by delicate elements, such as the custom skirt detail on the chairs from Wesley Hall.
Creating an inviting atmosphere was top of mind for Dixon when designing the entryway
He achieved an inviting atmosphere when designing the entryway by using interior windows made to look antique. They peer into the sunken living room, which was also designed to emulate the coziness of an older residence. Interior designer Heather Dewberry fashioned a unique mix of the traditional and the whimsical with striking results.
A tone-on-tone coloration in the kitchen keeps things light and fresh. The chairs from Charles Stewart are upholstered in a Duralee fabric, and the light fixture by Currey & Company also received a custom finish. opposite This cheerful dining nook directly off the kitchen was inspired by the homeowners’ favorite booth at an Atlanta restaurant. The artwork is by Joe Camoosa.
“Once you’ve worked with a client that many times, there’s an immediate trust.” —D. Stanley Dixon
A tone-on-tone coloration in the kitchen keeps things light and fresh. The chairs from Charles Stewart are upholstered in a Duralee fabric, and the light fixture by Currey & Company also received a custom finish. opposite This cheerful dining nook directly off the kitchen was inspired by the homeowners’ favorite booth at an Atlanta restaurant. The artwork is by Joe Camoosa.
A tone-on-tone coloration in the kitchen keeps things light and fresh. The chairs from Charles Stewart are upholstered in a Duralee fabric, and the light fixture by Currey & Company also received a custom finish. opposite This cheerful dining nook directly off the kitchen was inspired by the homeowners’ favorite booth at an Atlanta restaurant. The artwork is by Joe Camoosa.
For quieter moments, the homeowners can retreat to the richly layered library. While smaller in scale than the home’s other rooms, it’s not short on personality or comfort. A custom emerald-green lacquer on the walls and a faux antelope carpet make for a stunning combination without detracting from the room’s greatest feature: the mountain views.
With the home essentially built for hosting, Dixon gave special consideration to the flow of rooms. “There’s a great visual link from the kitchen all the way to the living room fireplace,” he says. “While it feels connected, there’s still a little formality and separation between spaces, so that it doesn’t feel like the kitchen sink is right on top of you when entertaining.” In the combination living/dining room, rustic pecky cypress walls are tempered with contemporary artwork by Elizabeth Barber.
The master bedroom’s bold color scheme was inspired by the floral pillow on the bed. “Many clients wouldn’t use two vibrant colors together, as we did in here,” says Dewberry. The bedskirt features the homeowners’ favorite China Seas fabric, while the window treatments are punctuated with a fretwork trim by Samuel & Sons through Ainsworth-Noah.
Dewberry devised a fresh navy and lavender palette for the guest bedroom. The glazed-linen drapery features a damask pattern by Bailey & Griffin, and the bedding is by Jane Wilner.
Dewberry devised a fresh navy and lavender palette for the guest bedroom. The glazed-linen drapery features a damask pattern by Bailey & Griffin, and the bedding is by Jane Wilner.
Thibaut’s Imperial Dragon and Madeira Chain wallpapers create interest in this tiny, windowless vestibule.
In the nearby guest bath, a graphic Jim Thompson wallcovering adds major impact while birch-bark mirrors and a vintage rattan chair keep the space from feeling too modern.
Thoughtful touches such as the branch railing make spaces like the rear porch a stand-out. Dixon also designed a handsome pair of shutters from shiplap boards and iron strap hinges to conceal an outdoor television. Swivel chairs from Lane Venture, along with a bold rug from Myers Carpet, provide all the comforts of an indoor room.
Thoughtful touches such as the branch railing make spaces like the rear porch a stand-out. Dixon also designed a handsome pair of shutters from shiplap boards and iron strap hinges to conceal an outdoor television. Swivel chairs from Lane Venture, along with a bold rug from Myers Carpet, provide all the comforts of an indoor room.
Thoughtful touches such as the branch railing make spaces like the rear porch a stand-out. Dixon also designed a handsome pair of shutters from shiplap boards and iron strap hinges to conceal an outdoor television. Swivel chairs from Lane Venture, along with a bold rug from Myers Carpet, provide all the comforts of an indoor room.
While many turn to the likes of Pinterest and Houzz for interior inspiration when building a new home in this day and age, Ross and Sally Singletary opted for a more instinctive approach when it came to the design of their mountain retreat in Cashiers, North Carolina. They handed over creative license to architect D. Stanley Dixon and interior designer Heather Dewberry; the pair also oversaw the design of the couple’s other homes in Atlanta and Jacksonville.
“Once you’ve worked with a client that many times, there’s an immediate trust,” says Dixon. “It really gives you the freedom to be creative. There’s no second-guessing, just letting you do your job and do it well.”
The Singletarys’ main directive? To show them something they hadn’t seen before.
As soon as you step inside this newly built home, it becomes apparent that Dixon and Dewberry did not fail to deliver something extraordinary. Visitors are greeted with a gallery-like foyer that features a pair of paned interior windows that offer views into the sunken living room, effectively setting the tone for the home’s unique charms. Underfoot, a graphic and vivid blue David Hicks–inspired rug—smartly juxtaposed against warm-white shiplap walls—also hints that this is no ordinary mountain getaway.
The mix of traditional and whimsical is a common thread throughout the home, where bold, saturated colors and vibrant wallpapers hold court next to classic lines and silhouettes. “We wanted people to be surprised when they walked through the front door,” says Dewberry. “While the Singletarys have a lot of their own personality and flair, they were willing to take exciting design risks and were very open to more striking combinations.”
Case in point: A downstairs vestibule plays up Sally’s love of chinoiserie with a dragon-patterned wallpaper. Rather than simply paint the adjoining walls a complementary color, Dewberry selected a modern wallpaper that not only adds balance but further ups the intrigue. Daring design decisions weren’t reserved for the home’s smallest spaces; the library and even the bedrooms are wrapped in eye-catching color schemes and patterns.
While the home is a testament to creativity, it’s foremost a welcoming retreat where the couple regularly hosts family and friends. One favorite gathering spot is the sunny dining nook where guests can pile into the curved banquette that mimics in size and scale the couple’s favorite booth at a beloved restaurant in Atlanta. “We actually went to the restaurant and took precise dimensions of that booth and its relationship to the table,” recalls Dixon. “It’s a spot that’s held many fond memories for them and their family, and we wanted to re-create that here.” Covered in a fresh yellow leather, the nostalgic nook faces a floor-to-ceiling steel window with stunning mountain views.
“It’s very fun to design for Sally and Ross, as they appreciate detail and originality,” says Dewberry. “They added so much of their art and family antiques to the mix once we provided the colorful backdrop. They trusted that it was going to be great and going to be different.” Mission certainly accomplished.
INTERIOR DESIGN Heather Dewberry, Huff-Dewberry Inc., (404) 355-7600; huffdewberry.com ARCHITECT D. Stanley Dixon, D. Stanley Dixon Architect, Inc., (404) 574-1430; dsdixonarchitect.com