This Lake Keowee Home Brings a Taste of British Sensibility Down South

Featuring Cotswold-style eyebrow arches and whimsical flared gables, the simulated slate roof by DaVinci Roofscapes creates a strong focal point for visitors descending the driveway from the road above.

Portuguese limestone from Stone Tile Group beautifully complements the plaster walls and wooden coffered ceiling in the front entry.

An oil painting sourced from an antiques shop at High Point Market is one of the many antiques that can be found throughout.

Sconces from Visual Comfort illuminate a first-floor powder room outfitted with quarter sawn white oak cabinets

In the formal living room, a limestone fireplace surround from François & Co. forms a luminous backdrop for a pair of sofas by Taylor King. The draperies were fabricated by Kaylee’s Creations using fabric from Schumacher.

A wooden table is surrounded by complementary upholstered chairs from Alfonso Marina in the formal dining room. The Cera rug is by Jaipur Living.

Cabinetry designed by Curated by Lawler Design Studio adds character and charm to the kitchen.

The home’s unique design by MHK Architecture includes a light well over the kitchen island and bowed beams that reflect the whimsical Cotswold-inspired roof.

Hand-crafted cabinetry painted in a dark green hue creates a handsome storage solution in the mudroom.

A chandelier by Ralph Lauren for Visual Comfort & Co. illuminates the wooden ceiling in the primary bedroom. The bed is from Theodore Alexander.

Painted millwork complements tile from Walker Zanger in the spa-like primary bathroom. The chandelier is by Suzanne Kasler for Visual Comfort & Co.

Painted millwork complements tile from Walker Zanger in the spa-like primary bathroom. The chandelier is by Suzanne Kasler for Visual Comfort & Co.

Draperies fabricated by Kaylee’s Creations using William Morris fabric accent the light purple wall color in a space that’s part dressing room, part salon.

In the keeping room, a fireplace with a rustic stone surround sourced from Big Rock anchors a pair of recliners by Hancock & Moore.

A built-in nook in the bunkroom creates a lovely spot to curl up with a book. The pillows are from Serena & Lily and Ryan Studio.

The mosaic floor tile’s one-of-a-kind pattern adds a bespoke touch to the bunkroom bathroom.

On the covered porch overlooking the lake, wood-framed sofas by Kingsley Bate and a pair of teak cocktail tables create a comfortable spot to enjoy the natural scenery.

An arched door with an inset herringbone pattern leads from the swimming pool terrace to a verdant garden.

A large rock with a hole cut in the center serves as a firepit in the lakefront lawn.

A more decorative alternative to downspouts, chains that hang from the gutters channel the flow of water to create a water feature.

After years of happy summers on Lake Keowee, a beloved recreation area tucked into the mountains of South Carolina, one couple decided to put down roots and acquired a lakefront parcel, soon commissioning architect Jeremy Driskell of MHK Architecture, interior designers Suzanna Lawler and Tayler Salvioli of Lawler Design Studio, and builder The Stillwater Group to design a getaway large enough for the whole family to gather.

Blending contemporary, Craftsman, and Cotswold influences, the result is a sprawling stone-clad abode with soaring windows flanking the front entry and a sweeping, multiradius roofline featuring eyebrow arches and flared gables. “Since you approach the house from the road above, the roof is the first thing you see, so we wanted to make it unique and welcoming,” says Driskell. A covered porch and lush, landscaped lawn, meanwhile, take advantage of the lake views from the back of the home, where a lap pool, porch, sundeck, and garden create a spot for the family to relax and recreate.

For the interior architecture, Driskell collaborated closely with Lawler and Salvioli, ultimately incorporating custom coffered ceilings, quarter-sawn oak cabinetry by Amish craftsmen, wainscoting, and stone fireplaces. “This house oozes character and really transports you,” says Lawler.

In the front entry, for example, luminous plaster walls reflect natural light while balancing the wooden coffered ceiling and Portuguese limestone flooring. Plaster also clads the minimalist hood in the kitchen, playing off the quartzite countertops, quarter-sawn oak cabinetry, and curved beams that echo the roofline’s curves. “The plaster keeps it light and airy,” says Salvioli.

Indeed, a carved stone fireplace mantel plays off the subtly reflective plaster walls in the open living room, anchoring a pair of seating areas furnished with a layered mix of contemporary upholstered furniture and antiques, many from the owners’ collection. “The goal was finding the right place for each piece—where it could tell its own story without competing with anything around it,” says Salvioli, pointing to a massive communion chest in the front entry. “That was the hard part, but also the rewarding part.”

While the main living areas are neutral by design, with color playing a supporting role, the designers let loose in the ancillary areas, selecting a light purple hue for the walls in a large dressing room, for example, and a deep green for the beadboard walls in one of the en suite bathrooms. “It all came together beautifully,” says Lawler, noting that despite the home’s large size, nearly 8,000 square feet, the rooms feel quaint and cozy. And while some houses are built for weekends, this one was built for generations. The designer concludes, “This is lake life at its finest.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Suzanna Lawler and Tayler Salvioli, Lawler Design Studio, (937) 902-7558; lawlerdesignstudio.com ARCHITECT Jeremy Driskell, MHK Architecture, (864) 603-3260; mhkarchitecture.com BUILDER The Stillwater Group; (864) 481-9339; thestillwatergroup.net