Summer Simplicity
Built by Greenwood Communities and Resorts and hosted at Greenwood’s premier South Carolina community, The Reserve at Lake Keowee, the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles 2008 Designer Showhouse combines the efforts of Keith Summerour of Summerour Architects and Nancy Pendergrast of Summerour Interiors in partnership with Beth Webb of Beth Webb Interiors. Designed by architect Keith Summerour, owner of Summerour Architects, the 2008 Designer Showhouse is a five-bedroom, five-and-one-half bath home with more than 7,200 square feet of livable space. The property sits on nearly 1.5 acres that features a sandy beach and covered boat dock.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 3,900-acre The Reserve at Lake Keowee community in Sunset, South Carolina, already has more than $100 million worth of amenities in place, including a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, a 200-slip marina, tennis courts, interim fitness center, pool pavilion, post office, market and a community clubhouse. The Reserve resides on nearly 30 miles of shoreline on crystal clear Lake Keowee.
CLINTON SMITH: Your mission was to create the new Southern house. What qualities make it so?
BETH WEBB: The best projects begin and end with an intelligent integration of architectural and interior design. It is so important to consider the close connection of an interior to its location, in this case the lake, its views and the exceptional color palette. We strove to create a graceful interior with an emphasis on harmonious palettes, uncluttered livability and unexpected choices, with the focus always being on the light, scale and natural tonalities. Transparency became a key word; everything was designed to relate so one space flows into the other, outside in and inside out. We really worked to create contemporary interior architecture with a soulful presence.
NANCY PENDERGRAST: This is definitely not your typical lake house; however, the home is in keeping with the comfortable nature of one. From the barn wood flooring, to the gray lye on the new oak beams, to wrapping and mitering the kitchen cabinets, these elements are definitely not seen every day, and rarely, if ever, all seen under one roof. One of the best qualities of the house is the clean yet rustic nature of everything—from the floors to the furniture to the beams. Looking at the house, you will notice the old barn wood floors with original paint layered with gorgeously crafted new Tai Ping carpets, making the contrast very apparent. This layering continues throughout the house. While moving through, each room feels more inviting and relaxing than the last.
CLINTON SMITH: Eclectic is often overused in describing interiors these days, and I’m not going to use it here, but there is a variety of styles represented in this house. What’s the common thread that ties everything together?
BETH WEBB: There was a very strong international influence. I have been profoundly influenced by Flemish design and the work of Piet Boon. With the use of beautiful materials and multitudes of texture, light and color you can transform a room into a sophisticated and welcoming interior, resulting in a clean, simple statement, but one that’s also full of warmth and character.
NANCY PENDERGRAST: It’s really a mixture of both soft contemporary and clean Belgian lines. We wanted this house to feel clean without being cold, homey without being chaotic, livable without being cluttered.
CLINTON SMITH: Belgian style has been described as the new “French Country” in decorating trends. But there seems to be more of a timelessness to the look. How did you transport the style and make it seem so “at home” in rural South Carolina and not trendy?
NANCY PENDERGRAST: We were able to use new lines of furniture and fabrics that really had not been seen by the public, so staying away from “trendy” was a little easier. Using a calming palette made the landscape speak for itself, making it feel at home and not trying to fight with its surroundings.
CLINTON SMITH: There’s little that’s superfluous in this house—every space is used, everything chosen has a purpose—was that a request of the clients?
BETH WEBB: The McMansion is a thing of the past, and I have always liked to utilize each and every space, particularly in a second home. I do not believe in unused rooms.
NANCY PENDERGRAST: We also stayed true to each room’s core meaning. For instance, the den was the space to have the TV, and it needed to be cozy for the family of five. The quality of the furniture, fabric and rugs were so wonderful that we didn’t need to add more; there was no reason to keep layering.
CLINTON SMITH: The living room is something else—there’s so much going on in one space: cooking, lounging, eating. How did you pull it off?
BETH WEBB: All of the design elements had to be functional, user-friendly and durable. We used pure, honest, natural materials for a new “basic chic.” If you are going to be minimal, you have to be sensual in your choices to imbue the interior with warmth and livability. The room’s classic proportions and scale made it all come together so seamlessly.
NANCY PENDERGRAST: It was the most fun, but complicated room to pull off. We had to have all three areas complement each other, so we began with the non-kitchen kitchen. Keeping the kitchen palette cool and clean, we wanted to do the same for the dining and living room areas.
CLINTON SMITH: About that kitchen. It’s invisible, yet right there in plain sight. How’d you do that?
NANCY PENDERGRAST: We wanted the cabinets to be pieces of furniture, so that at first glance you wouldn’t notice that there were dishes and pots and pans behind the doors. The hood is totally invisible, wrapped with the cabinet panels because normally the hood is the defining point in a kitchen. We took all of the cabinets up to the ceiling so there was no breaking point, which made it calm and simple. All of the appliances have an integrated front so they are hidden from view.
CLINTON SMITH: The master bedroom is a cocoon. What were the goals of creating that space?
BETH WEBB: The owners wanted their own retreat from three very small and active little boys. The emphasis was on calm serenity, coupled with sensual luxuriousness. The curtain wall wraps one in quiet and blocks the light when needed for long napping and the rare morning of a sleep-in.
CLINTON SMITH: The outdoors cannot be overlooked—this truly is the indoor/outdoor house! Did you design these spaces just as you would any interior space?
BETH WEBB: Real attention was paid to the art of living well, and it was a house that flowed seamlessly into itself. It demanded that these rooms be integrated and treated with the same level of detail and attentiveness we had given to the other interior spaces. The views are so spectacular in every direction and the architecture pays such close attention to each vista that we would not have had any other option.
NANCY PENDERGRAST: The intent of the house was to read as one space, so the inside had to translate to the outside.
CLINTON SMITH: What should visitors to the showhouse be sure not to miss?
BETH WEBB: The Reserve at Lake Keowee in and of itself is an exceptional property with a gorgeous setting. The lake is turquoise blue, and then there is the constant breeze. It is truly difficult to compete with nature, so we chose to play off our setting. No matter which direction you look, you will not be disappointed.
DESIGN DETAILS
ARCHITECTURE
Keith Summerour
Summerour & Associates Architects Inc.
(404) 603-8585
summerour.net
INTERIOR DESIGN
Beth Webb
Beth Webb Interiors
(404) 869-6367
bethwebb.com
Nancy Pendergrast
Summerour Interiors
(404) 603-8585
summerour.net
While at The Reserve at Lake Keowee…
In addition to viewing the showhouse, guests will have the opportunity to enter a special prize package drawing, worth $2,500, that includes a complimentary three-day, two-night stay at The Reserve at Lake Keowee for four people, full use of the community amenities, including one round of golf per person, two lunches and one dinner at the winners’ choice of Reserve restaurants and one full-day boat rental. Guests can enter their names into the drawing at the showhouse registration desk prior to their tour.
Showhouse tours will also coincide with the grand opening of The Village, The Reserve at Lake Keowee’s amenity center. An “Art and Artisans Expose” will feature an artists’ showcase throughout the tour dates; a “Watercraft Showcase” on Saturday and Sunday during the last three weeks of July will allow guests one-on-one sessions with boat vendors showcasing their products and an “Afternoon Delight” both Saturday and Sunday afternoons during the last three weeks of July will feature live musical entertainment. Visit thereserveshowhouse.com for more details.
ABOUT GREENWOOD COMMUNITIES AND RESORTS
Founded in 1978, Greenwood Communities and Resorts is a South Carolina-based master planned community developer. For more than 30 years, Greenwood has operated throughout the Southeast and currently has communities in South Carolina and Georgia. These include Big Canoe in north Georgia and the legendary Palmetto Dunes Resort and residential community on Hilton Head Island, which was recently ranked the No. 1 family resort in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine. For more information, visit GreenwoodCR.com.
ABOUT THE CHARITY
OCONEE HOSPICE OF THE FOOTHILLS FOUNDATION
All ticket sales benefit Oconee Medical Center Hospice of the Foothills. OMC Hospice of the Foothills in Seneca, South Carolina, was born out of the vision of a local surgeon who recognized a great need for hospice services for terminally ill patients in their homes. In its relatively brief 18-year history, the organization has provided specialized care focused on pain and symptom control, improving comfort and providing emotional support for hundreds of patients and their families in three upstate counties.
For further details, including maps, driving directions, showhouse tour dates and hours, a list of sponsors and ticket purchasing information, visit thereserveshowhouse.com.