The Best of Both Worlds
By: Dawn J. Grubb
Photos by: F&E Schmidt Photography

 

This lakeside retreat is second home to an Atlanta couple who enjoy their old-time cabin home in comfort and style.

For Jim and Cathy Smith, solace from modern city life and its hectic pace is just a few hours’ drive from home. About every other weekend, the Atlanta, Georgia, couple heads toward their lakefront getaway nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Smiths had long dreamed of building an 1800s-style log home. Avid watersports fans, they already had the perfect site on the shore of Lake Burton in Rabun County. The parcel is also just a stone’s throw from the Appalachian Trail.

As they contemplated what they wanted in a weekend home, Jim and Cathy knew two things for sure: It had to be roomy enough to accommodate them, their three children, five grandchildren and elderly parents; and it had to provide spectacular lake views. The couple’s 2,800 square foot home designed by Fireside Log Homes delivers all that and then some. Walls of windows in the great room and an expansive wraparound deck offer a panorama of Lake Burton, while an open floor plan featuring four bedrooms and baths keeps the entire family comfortable during long weekend retreats." We wanted a cabin-era feel but with modern comforts,” Jim says. “It’s the best of both worlds.”

Ready Rapport

It all clicked easily. Don Mahaffey, president of Fireside Log Homes and a friend of the Smiths, found a plan he thought suited the couple’s needs perfectly." I told them, ‘I have the most comfortable floor plan to show you. I want to see if it affects you the way it does me,’” Mahaffey recalls. A tour of another Fireside home with the same footprint sealed the deal. The only change the Smiths made was to flip the footprint so the master bedroom would have a lake view. Another selling point: The Smiths really liked the way Fireside treats their wood. Back in the early 1990s, Fireside developed Process 2000, a patented chemical treatment system that uses environmentally-safe biocides to reinforce the wood’s cells. Fireside says Process 2000 minimizes shrinking, twisting and expansion that naturally occurs in wood, and deters wood-boring insects and decay caused by fungi and mildew. Mahaffey says homeowners like Process 2000 because it cuts the long-term maintenance costs associated with adjustments to address settling.

Trouble-Free Construction

The Smiths chose to remain on the sidelines during construction, instead hiring a local builder and craftsman to finish their home. The process took just nine months beginning to end, with a mild winter helping speed the process along. Jim says he was amazed at how the manufacturer could build a home at a plant and then reassemble it onsite without any problems. Although he and Cathy stood back and let the pros do their job, Jim admits he was anxious it wouldn’t work. It comes down to trust. “Log homes are unique and some say more difficult to build. Find someone you have confidence in and get the right expertise,” he advises. “All joints and structures came together perfectly. There was very little waste. I was pleasantly surprised.” Jim and Cathy made one other important decision: they didn’t stain their home’s interior log surfaces, choosing instead to finish them with a clear polyurethane to showcase the wood’s natural beauty. They made the decision even though Fireside recommended against it. Mahaffey admits the final product surprised him. “Although we didn’t recommend it, it just turned out beautifully,” he says. “I can’t find any fault in this home.”

Vista Delights

With the home set just 50 feet from lakeshore, Jim and Cathy’s favorite feature is the view. The family usually gathers in the great room, where windows flank an impressive stacked stone fireplace. To show off their home’s stunning red oak flooring and unstained eastern white pine walls, Cathy requested woven rag area rugs throughout. “The hand-woven rug in the great room dictated the design, and we selected furniture around it,” says interior designer Carolyn Ragan. Another smart decision on the Smiths’ part was asking Ragan and Robin Helms of Carolyn Ragan Interiors to add the final polish. Even though it was the firm’s first log home project, Jim and Cathy were confident the mother-daughter team could deliver because they knew the couple’s tastes. “She’d done work for us before, so we knew we could rely on her expertise and taste,” Jim says of Ragan. (See sidebar on page 137.)

That level of trust was important as Ragan and Helms chose the home’s interior design details, including the home’s color palette — greens, golds, burgundy and muted jewel tones — which are used throughout the home. An original oil painting of a pastoral scene hangs over the mantle in the great room and helps set the tone for the whole room. A cathedral ceiling enhances the space’s open feeling, while shorter ceiling elevations in the dining and kitchen areas add visual appeal and create cozy, well-defined entertaining areas. Ragan designed a long island in the kitchen so the Smiths could serve buffet-style. A local craftsman built all the custom cabinetry. The Smiths also wanted a large screened porch accessible from the dining area and kitchen so they could enjoy the outdoors without uninvited insects. The 10'x14' space features vintage urns and wicker furniture, which add to the home’s nostalgic yet relaxing atmosphere.

Home Bound

Jim and Cathy are true homebodies who enjoy entertaining their large family and many friends. Someone is at the cabin just about every weekend. Visitors often find the Smith grandchildren down at the boat dock, catching fish and hauling their captives up to the goldfish pond. Great-grandma watches from the porch, where she rocks on the porch swing in the shade. The home’s comfortable, people-friendly design makes even the most active weekends flow smoothly. And Jim and Cathy couldn’t be more pleased. “We always wanted a lake house and we always liked the look of log cabins. We owned the property for years, so we were able to have the best of both worlds,” Jim says. “Our goal was to create a final floor plan that would accentuate this location. I think we’ve succeeded — it looks good and people can come and go as they please.” Mahaffey credits the couple for the final product. “Thank goodness for their excellent taste and knowing how the home needed to be sited. The home and site just work perfectly together,” he says. “A lot of times people will design a home, then try to make it fit a site. This never works — it makes life difficult, increases costs and drives frustrations up. But they knew exactly what they wanted, and it works.” Indeed. The Smiths have created their own little piece of paradise they can share with family and friends for years to come.

Dawn J. Grubb is owner of 24/7 Communications in Overland Park, Kansas.

This home is based on our Welcome Home Floor Plan.

Click photos for a larger view

Although the interior designers suggested using an Atlanta kitchen design firm, the Smiths were adamant about tapping local craftsmen. A local woodworker built the kitchen’s warm, honey-colored, beadboard cabinetry.	The great room, dining area and kitchen flow together, creating a functional, inviting gathering place. Varied ceiling systems define the spaces while a blend of antiques and modern furnishings create both comfort and style.
The stained glass valance above the front door adds a splash of color to white pine walls.	Sturdy wood beams that comprise the roof system add architectural interest in the great room. Adding to the natural rustic look is a Tennessee river rock fireplace. The stones were dry stacked so no mortar can be seen.
To make each of the four bedrooms unique, designers Ragan and Helms chose a theme and decorated around it. The furnishings are a blend of old and new, such as this twig bed built by a local craftsman.	Large area rugs like this one in the master suite set the tone and color palette for the room. The four-poster bed is one of the homeowners’ favorite furnishings.
Lounging on the screened portion of the wraparound deck is a favorite family pastime. A ceiling fan circulates air coming off the lake on stuffy summer days.