ATLANTA HOMES & LIFESTYLES
AUGUST 2024
& ESCAPES
BREEZY WEEKEND GETAWAYS LAKES & ESCAPES
LAKES
VOLUME 43, NO. 8
Contents AUGUST 2024
HOME 58
Point Presence
A Lake Burton vacation home by a design dream team captures water views from every angle, serving as a peaceful place for family fun and entertaining 74
Modern Medley
A collaboration between a team of talents results in a modern lake home with sophisticated, laid-back style 92
Country Calm
A barn house with fresh flair in rural Georgia provides respite for a young family of five
LIFE
92 STYLE 11
Lakeside Living
Designer Alison Womack Jowers fashions a sunny summer gathering for friends and family on Lake Burton 17
Backyard Beauty
Take your outdoor spaces to the next level with these savvy style ideas PAGE 30 2
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My Atlanta Neighborhood Cashiers, North Carolina
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Calendar Happenings this month
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Naomi Growing Pains
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Dish Auburn Angel
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Travel Passport to Style
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End Note Carole Weaks’ must-haves
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Editor’s Letter
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Ad Index
On the Cover INTERIOR DESIGNER JAMIE KIRKMAN INTERIORS ARCHITECT T.S. ADAMS STUDIO ARCHITECTS, INC. PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY FOLLOWILL
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Discover The Reserve, a private, residential mountain club for those who live for adventure and love deeper community. From the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the deep indigo water of Lake Keowee, life here is home to world-class amenities and unmatched hospitality.
ENJOY LIFE WIT HOUT RES ERVATI O N � PROPERT IES AVAI LAB LE � RES ERVEAT LAKEKEOWEE .CO M
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STYLE
TA B L E T O P S
ATLANTA HOMES & LIFESTYLES: Your tabletop emanates effortless style. Tell us about the inspiration behind your design. ALISON WOMACK JOWERS: When we bought the lake house during COVID, I wasn’t thinking “lake,” I was thinking “happy!” The kitchen cabinets were originally dark gray, but I had a desire to do something surprising and painted them bright yellow, which inspired the color scheme. From there, I didn’t need a transportive tabletop because we are already in a place surrounded by beauty. Natural materials take center stage, and the moss mound is a constant centerpiece of my table. For this setting, Kelly and Katie from Ephemera Design Concepts added potted ferns to the moss mound to create a “living plant arrangement.” I prefer an open almost flowing feel to arrangements to ensure the main focus is the view. 12
AH&L: There’s no shortage of scenic sights at your lake home, whether at the table, by the bar, or on the porch. How do your entertaining zones differ at the lake than when you’re entertaining in Atlanta? AWJ: In Atlanta, you invite guests to your home where you have dinner in the dining room. At the lake, friends tend to pop in by boat, so different entertainment areas are perfect for this reason. The top of the boathouse is a daytime entertainment area for us, and we have a large farm table on the front side of the house that is slightly shaded for when you want a reprieve from water activities. I love ending the evening on the screened porch overlooking the lake. The common theme throughout each area is laughter—it lingers longer than the light and can be found in any space, any time of the day.
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STYLE
TA B L E T O P S
Mellow Yellow above Cut flowers with pine in a Global Views Cascading Reef
Vase take center stage on the covered porch. left Designer Alison Womack Jowers in her Lake Burton home. opposite Yellow glasses, linen napkins, and placemats from Lucy’s Market complement the yellow cabinets in the nearby kitchen.
LOCALLOVES SPRINGER MOUNTAIN FARMS “Their Grilled Mexican Street Corn and Chicken Kabobs recipe uses local ingredients and is my favorite at-home seasonal dinner.” OLDKNOW BEV CO “Located in Clayton, Georgia, the canned Botanico Vodka Seltzer is my go-to cocktail.” HENRI’S BAKERY & DELI “An Atlanta staple! I can’t wait for this to open in Clayton.”
AH&L: The bar next to your fireplace has a stone sink built into the furniture, which is such a unique feature. Tell us more about this and how you use it. AWJ: The furniture itself is the Murano Sideboard with frosted white glass doors from Tritter Feefer. Custom-made in LaGrange, Georgia, this piece houses a wine cooler and ice machine and serves as our bar. I found the stone sink on a family vacation in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. AH&L: Your mother, Cheryl Womack, is an acclaimed Atlanta designer as well, so you’ve grown up in this industry. What was it like working with your mom and how did you develop your personal design style over the years? AWJ: Studying business and marketing in college, working with Cheryl wasn’t the game plan, but Mom always included me in outings such as antiquing trips in the U.S. and abroad, design lectures, museum exhibits, glass shows, garden club events—you name it. I was able to stretch my own imagination and develop my own style while acquiring knowledge and skill from my mother. You may think she is “all in” for traditional, but Cheryl’s eye for cutting-edge design never ceases to surprise and amaze me. It has been such a joy to work and learn from her. 13
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EMBRACE the space If you’re on the fence about how to frame your yard, look no further. Designed by LAND PLUS, a charming gated archway (left) greets guests upon entry, leading to the formal perennial garden. To add additional structure, a stucco-and-brick wall in a garden by HARRISON DESIGN (below), highlights a melody of English-style perennials and vibrant vegetation while also providing privacy and whimsy.
“Unique design elements such as an archway create a memorable entry into a rear yard or can frame a focal point beyond.” —Alec Michaelides, Land Plus
This settles it—your dream design is already set in stone. Incorporating natural elements that mirror the architecture of the Stan Dixon-designed home, a cutting garden by CARSON MCELHENEY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE features sultry stacked stone and fence detailing. 18
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LAND PLUS BY ERICA GEORGE DINES; HARRISON DESIGN, CARSON MCELHENEY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO BY EMILY FOLLOWILL; FLORALIS BY DAVID CHRISTENSEN
game TIME
Give guests a reason to stay and play with integrated outdoor games that aren’t just fun, but attractive too. Landscape design by HOWARD DESIGN STUDIO, a wide-stretching bocce ball court settles into the landscape of this serene scene with ease, creating the perfect environment for playful pool parties complete with activities for everyone.
PAVE the way Spice up your poolside space with an artful arrangement of pavers. Designed by FLORALIS, chic chevron patterns in artificial turf from THE EUROPEAN COMPANY nod to the home’s silhouette, creating a sense of cohesion throughout the outdoor area. As a welcome bonus, peeking turf provides a respite for too-hot feet.
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Line Up
The main entryway showcases bold steel doors by Calhoun Design & Metalworks and striking Ironware pendants from Paul+. opposite The exterior of this Lake Burton home flaunts different rooflines and beautiful stone that blends with its environment. The landscape design is by Jonathan Bussell.
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POINT PRESENCE
A Lake Burton vacation home by a design dream team captures water views from every angle, serving as a peaceful place for family fun and entertaining Written by ANGELA CARAWAY-CARLTON Photographed by EMILY FOLLOWILL Styled by ELEANOR ROPER
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Seamless Transition above The dining room blissfully coexists with the kitchen and bar for a cohesive flow when entertaining. right Designer Jamie Kirkman kept the great room’s furniture tightly curated, leaving space near the windows to allow the lake views to reign supreme.
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WITH A RARE, COVETABLE point lot on Lake Burton, architect Tim Adams captured dreamy lake views from every angle possible when designing this vacation home for a Sandy Springs family. “You have water on three of the four sides,” says Adams, who worked in tandem with interior designer Jamie Kirkman, builder Sam Jenkins, and landscape architect Jonathan Bussell. “It’s not often that you have a lot with this much water frontage, so we immediately embraced that and created a footprint that wraps that whole point.” The entryway’s transparent steel doorway deliberately parades those scenes, immediately pulling you into the blissful lake life. Moving through the house, natural wood beams and stone accents echo the home’s exterior, and expansive steel windows and doorways continue to break down the barrier between the inside and the outside. Grand
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Captivating Curve
Spanning nearly the entire height of the wall, a French limestone and plaster fireplace, designed by Brittany Stafford of Source, is dramatic in both scale and texture.
modern medley A collaboration between a team of design talents results in a modern lake home with sophisticated, laid-back style Written by NICOLE LETTS Photographed by MALI AZIMA
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Happy Hour
The design team put a pass-through area to good use as a bar and sitting room.
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Taking Shape Architect Brad Wright added oak timbers to frame out the kitchen and add a bit of softness, the shape of them repeated on the island. The trio opted against a large range hood in order to capitalize on the outdoor scenery.
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Large windows and natural light are a given when it comes to shoreline home design, but the real genius lies in the creative use of lines, angles, and materials. And in the case of this nearly 9,000-square-foot Lake Keowee, South Carolina, home, five innovative design minds are better than one. Homeowner and designer Jessica Whitley led the charge for the design in collaboration with Brittany Stafford of Source, architect Brad Wright, builder Will Hines, and landscape designer Alex Smith. Her inspirations, unsurprisingly, were the natural elements surrounding the home such as the water and the trees. The crux then was how to capitalize on those details without compromising her vision. “I wanted it to feel like a resort-style home—to
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feel like I’m on vacation,” says Whitley. “Brad and I are very collaborative. We draw together and have honest conversations.” Wright, who also designed the Whitley family’s primary residence in nearby Athens, Georgia, began by learning the contours of the land. “The first time I walked the lot, I startled a deer on the southeast portion of the property that is surrounded by water on two sides. It was immediately obvious that this was the ideal spot for the home’s covered porch,” he says. And the area is a crowd favorite, particularly thanks to the custom suspended porch beds that almost float like they are on the water. “Because of the way we did the iron pieces, they sway perfectly. You have to kick people off of them,” says Whitley. 77
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Country Calm A barn house with fresh flair in rural Georgia provides respite for a young family of five Written by SEJAL BHIMA Photographed by EMILY FOLLOWILL Styled by YVONNE ORCHARD
Natural Beauty
Years in the making, a barn house located outside of Madison, Georgia, finally became a reality for an outdoor-loving family. It was designed and built by Southern Landscape Designs alongside Liz Williams Interiors.
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Place of Prominence
A painting by Aaron Hazel holds court in the living room. It was purchased by the husband and served as a starting point for the home’s design. Other special pieces include an antique walnut buffet from WebbMarstellar and tree trunk lamp from Joseph Konrad.
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EVERY TIME A YOUNG couple from Madison, Georgia, spent time on their rural plot of land just outside town, they made mental notes. Because while living on Madison’s idyllic Main Street provided no shortage of charm and convenience, they found themselves increasingly drawn to an even slower and quieter pace of life. So one day, the couple sat down at the kitchen table of their in-town home and began sketching on the back of a napkin. It was a cabin, inspired by ideas gathered over years spent enjoying the land—from fishing and hunting with their children to hosting family gatherings. After making tweaks and revisions of their initial concept with builder Southern Landscape Designs—who also designed the outdoor area— the final plans called for a larger barn house that could eventually serve as guest quarters if the family decided to transition to the countryside full time. “They weren’t ready to pull the trigger just yet, so they decided to start with this as sort of a test run,” says interior designer Liz Williams,
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PA S S P O R T T R AV E L
GRACEFUL ESTATE Located in Umbria, Italy, secluded estate TENUTA DI MURLO is where dreams come true
SUMMER ESCAPES TO COASTAL ITALY top the list of many looking for a place to retreat, though it’s a secluded countryside estate in Umbria, Italy, that embodies the ultimate air of luxury. Stressors fade away as winding roads guide you toward your final destination of Tenuta di Murlo—a family-run estate spanning 18,000 acres of rolling hills and flourishing valleys. Just a 20-minute drive from the Perugia airport or a scenic two-hour train ride from Rome or Florence and you’ve arrived in a place fairytales could be inspired by. Owned by Alessio and Carlotta Carabba Tettamanti and in Alessio’s family for centuries, the estate consists of over 80 buildings that were abandoned after World War II—from churches to castles, farmhouses, and other rustic structures. The family has spent nearly two decades restoring and renovating some of these into villas that respect their history, yet live well for present day. Nine villas and three hotel rooms exude the natural charm of the landscape, where lush grounds, private infinity pools, sweeping gardens, and collected interiors—carefully 108
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curated by Carlotta—beckon visitors to unwind. Tucked into the sprawling hills, each villa feels as though it’s worlds away. Villa Molinella, a restored water mill with an alluring private underground jacuzzi, is a romantic getaway for two, while the eight-guest Villa Penna sits hilltop as the estate’s crown jewel. Villa Castiglione Ugolino, an ancient castle and adjoining church, dates back to the 11th century and now houses up to 20 visitors for dreamy holidays, parties, and wedding receptions. Adding to the appeal of the villas, culinary luxuries are in abundance at the estate. Traditional Umbrian dishes interpreted in a modern way dot the menu at Il Caldaro restaurant, where guests can dine in the garden under flowing oak trees or enjoy the warm glow of the interior space that was once an old farmhouse. Or eat at home, where private-chef experiences and meal deliveries from each villa’s personal house manager take alfresco dining to new heights. And if you’re able to abandon your poolside post, there are many worlds to discover at Tenuta di Murlo. Trust in skilled guides
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TENUTA DI MURLO
above Sunset swims offer a front-row seat to the estate’s spectacular vistas. right Villa San Savino, which dates back to the 14th century, was once a church and still features the original kitchen and stone walls.
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PA S S P O R T T R AV E L
and trained dogs as you forage for truffles throughout the dense forests before bringing your finds back to Il Caldaro to immediately enjoy. A cooking class spills the secrets to crafting perfect pasta, where you can indulge in your creations with found truffles, local tomatoes, and fresh cheeses made with goat milk from the property’s herd. After lunch, practice your swing at nearby Antognolla Golf, where cliff-lined fairways and undulating greens earn the course its recognition as one of the best in Italy. And with on-site activities from beekeeping and honey tasting, to horseback riding, hiking and biking excursions, spa treatments, picnics, and more, there is no shortage of fun to be had. The formula of Tenuta di Murlo is a unique one, combining passionate and personable owners, friendly staff, and unmatched experiences with an unexplainable air of ease—all in a picture-perfect setting. The only acceptable question comes at the end of your holiday: “When can I return?” murlo.com
from top to bottom Secluded within the valley of Murlo, Villa Molinella’s charming interior offers an ideal getaway for up to two guests. At Molinella, what was once a water mill has been converted to an underground jacuzzi accessed through a glass door in the living room. Alfresco meals are unmatched at Villa Penna thanks to its perch that overlooks the best views of the estate.
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