Redesigned Upper Level Interior
Previously, we featured the dock and boathouse and home exterior of the gorgeous lake house project that our Atlanta Design & Build team recently completed. Moving inside the home, you will get to experience the amazing redesign of the upper level interior. Our clients envisioned wide-open spaces using beautiful craftsmanship, natural materials and simple lines modeled after Gustav Stickley and the Arts & Crafts movement. They desired intricately designed cabinetry, furniture, and fabrics that harkened back to the day when honest, genuine craftsmanship was trendsetting.
Kitchen before and after
Our clients looked to Atlanta Design & Build to come up with some ideas and solutions that would open up the interior space in their home, bringing in lots of light and breathtaking views. “The home’s existing upstairs interior desperately needed updating—it was frozen back in a 1970s-1980s style,” commented Dale Contant, ADB President “The space felt dark, closed in, and the homeowners could not take advantage of the beautiful views of the lake.”
A glass solarium that previous owners added to the back of the house, had water leaks and structural issues. ADB removed the solarium and replaced it with an expansive addition. Several of the original walls in the upstairs living room were removed and the space was connected seamlessly to the new addition. The upstairs was transformed into a substantial great room that measures 24×37 feet long. This spacious room accommodates dinners and entertaining for family, friends, or business associates with ease.
Massive windows that soar 19 feet from the floor to the ceiling ridge of the great room provide amazing views of the lake. Our team removed the roof from the main living room and installed skylights as well as clerestory windows adding to the ambiance of under-stated grandeur. Box beams of hand-hewed reclaimed wood give the ceiling special depth and character.
At our clients’ request, the flooring was constructed of authentic reclaimed wood from old barns. After removing the original flooring of 2 1/2 inch-thick solid brick pavers, ADB built another floor upon which to install the beautiful pine flooring. All of the Victorian pine millwork and trim was finished on site with each piece precisely ripped to the various widths as required.
A huge, open, Isokern double-sided vented fireplace – their largest size available – with an all-natural stone surround was installed. The team first had to remove the existing two-story high, solid masonry fireplace before they could build the new fireplace. “The fireplace mantle was a solid reclaimed oak beam and our client requested lights and outlets in the mantle,” explained Jamie Franks, Sr. Project Manager. “So we chiseled out places in the back of the solid block of oak for the outlet, transformer, main control, and wiring for a touch switch. This was a new procedure for our team, and we are very proud of our accomplishment.”
ADB opened up the kitchen so it now offers wonderful views of the lake while the homeowners are preparing meals. The handcrafted ceiling beams were designed in the Craftsman style. Custom cabinets were tastefully crafted from quarter-sawn oak and include special Stickley-style details. SubZero and Wolf appliances are faced with matching wood panels so they blend into the cabinetry. Quartzite countertops with a honed finish, natural stone backsplash, and the custom vent hood set off the kitchen beautifully.
“Dale was wonderful from the very beginning in helping us believe that all our ideas could actually be achieved, no matter how complex or complicated,” expressed our clients. “And Jamie, the project supervisor, was amazing with additional remodel ideas and wood craftsmanship details. Our favorite aspect of the finished project is the beautiful great room!”
Review the earlier features of the dock and boathouse, and then the home exterior here. We conclude the series by venturing inside the terrace-level to share this large project’s incredible design metamorphosis.
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after photos courtesy of Barbara Brown Photography