Lakefront Hideaway

When Katherine and Bill approached Timberframe Carolina to design and build their new retreat home in The Settings on Lake Rhodhiss, they wanted to make sure it felt different than their city home.  They wanted a place to escape and hideaway from their high profile executive jobs at a national bank.  They wanted it to feel like a lodge with large open spaces and grand stone fireplaces.  They also wanted to make sure it blended with the outdoors.

When you approach their house in the woods, down a long gravel driveway, you are greeted by a large timber posts supported on substantial stone columns.  This timber frame structure includes a hefty scissors truss and roof over the front porch.   The mixture of natural materials blends their home into the landscape – vertical and horizontal cedar siding, cedar shingles and stone.

The large flagstone front patio underneath a high timber framed roof provides a natural setting to sit out front enjoying the shade while awaiting visitors.

Upon entering through the oversized wooden front door, you are captured by the long views of the woods through the large glass wall beyond the great room.  The vertical posts framing and supporting these windows help to bring the outdoors inside by mimicking the trees beyond.

The house was designed with the outdoors in mind.  All the day-to-day main living areas (great room, dining, kitchen, screen porch) are all on the end of the house closest the lake and the dock.  When sitting at the dining area table you can enjoy long water views and quick access to the outdoors.  As you move towards the adjacent kitchen you are drawn outside to the screen porch through double swinging French doors that can be left open for easy transitions.  The large 19’x24’ timber frame porch is visually anchored on the far end by a large 8’ wide stone fireplace – reminiscent of the Grove Park Inn.  The family plans on spending most of their time outside enjoying the warm feeling of both the fireplace and the timber frame above. 

Adjacent to the screen porch, family and friends can enjoy the wooded setting and lake views while relaxing in the outdoor Jacuzzi.  Kids and adults alike can spend time running back and forth to the boat dock, Jacuzzi and bathroom.  And to assist with changing of clothes or attending to urgent bathroom needs, a bathroom is adjacent to the Jacuzzi with a door directly from the outside.  This minimizes kids having to enter the house tracking in dirt and dripping water about. 

The kids’ entertainment areas are found on the ground floor in the walkout basement.  Kids and guests can relax on the stone covered patios enjoying the shade of summer.  They have easy access to the indoor living areas including drinks and games without having to go upstairs to the main kitchen/dining area.  This allows for adults to hang out on the main floor while the kids have free roam of the entire ground floor.

By understanding your lifestyle and how you live, these techniques are examples of how we can custom design your home to both your lot and your lifestyle.