On the shores of Lake Norman, a rambling home provides a family a weekend retreat for visitors and families to enjoy the property, which is surrounded on three sides by water. This house is well lived in. Children fill the air with laughter and family hunting dogs are allowed anywhere they want to be…they are part of the family after all.

The view from the master bedroom is amazing. You can step out onto the large balcony to enjoy the sunset or sunrise, or simply lay in the custom finished bed from Habersham Plantation. Wide-plank pine floors adorn the floor of the suite and built-ins provide a place for books, TV, family portraits and treasures.

Two other bedrooms on the second floor are available for guests- one with a fabulous view of the side yard and lake. This floor was decorated with a refined cottage style in mind, although the large home rambles so it can’t be mistaken for a cottage.

The main floor boasts hand-scraped wood floors, a kitchen and bar area was redesigned to make better use of the space, creating large pantry cabinets on either side of the cased opening to the dining room where a custom finished large round table from Lorts seats 8-10. Sheaf-back chairs complete the look and a copper crafted wine rack collected and used in a previous home occupies a corner. A tall red cabinet contains dishes and glasses for dining and you are treated to an octagonal window placement using fabric adorned with pheasants.

The kitchen wall are tiled to the ceiling using small 2 X 2 subway tile of slate and a copper farm sink sits under the leaded glass window. The bar was newly crafted, but made to look as though it had been there forever. The homeowner wanted to remove the brick counter and archway between the bar and the family, but I convinced him it had to stay (as it adds so much texture), and once he obtained the perfect window for light to sit atop, he was happy with the decision.

The family room has custom seating designed at the factory of Hancock and Moore and rugs used in a previous mountain home fit perfectly. The adjacent sun porch walks out to a splendid lake view and the owner sourced the multiple-faceted transom leaded glass windows used throughout the home. The sun room made use of the homeowners grandmother’s Duncan Phyfe sofa with an antique wrought iron French glass top cocktail table acquired at a local antique shop. A dining table used in the homeowner’s main home worked beautifully on the porch.

The main floor guest suite utilizes repurposed furnishings from a previous mountain home with few exceptions. Ralph Lauren paisley drapes adorn the windows and a hand painted Eddy West chest provides abundant storage for guests.

The client and I had such great fun procuring treasures both from their own attic from previous lake and mountain homes along with freshly obtained items specifically for this home.

The walkout basement has yet to be remodeled so there is much to look forward to.

The top floor houses a huge bonus room that we hold 2 sets of bunk beds and a large play area for the grandchildren. There are other rooms yet to be completed on this floor as well and the room over the garage adjacent to the house and accessible by a flagstone covered walkway.