INTERIOR DESIGN Lee Cooney
WRITTEN BY Bek Mitchell-Kidd
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Dustin Peck
Just up the road, nestled in dense lush woods and free from street views, is another superb Grandfather Golf & Country Club property. Immediately upon approaching the residence you get a sense that you are welcome here. You have two choices of how to enter the 1,800-square-foot home, which was renovated and completed in 2015. To the left is the formal entry: a lovely, large-stepped entrances with exposed beams, passing by the shiplap exterior to an unassuming yet notable front door.
The tone is set in the entryway. It’s cozy, bright, comfortable – this is stylish mountain living. Visitors are greeted with a divine assembly of a Currey table, picturesque scones by VC, and “Driven Textile No. 1” from Benson Cobb.
The transition from entryway to the open, one-level home is attractive. Sherwin Williams’ Agreeable Gray color lends just the right touch to encourage entry without feeling over-bearing, and continues through to the kitchen emphasizing the sizable quartz island. There is also a large Moroccan rug in the entryway, which provides the first of only a few pops of color.
If you choose to enter from the right of the house, you are quickly immersed in arguable one of the best ares of the house. They say the kitchen is the heart of the house, but this outdoor living space is where the home is. A magnificent one-of-a-kind, mason-built stone fireplace holds court over the perfect-sized area. With plenty of seating, entertaining is made easy, and rumor has it even hammocks have been known to swing from the massive beams. The surrounding natural wooded area is dense and transports you quickly into a relaxed state of mind, while everyone is kept comfortable from the industrial-sized fan from Big Ass Fans.
Entry to the house from the outdoor living room places you in the large indoor living area featuring another fireplace, which is one of the only original pieces from before the extensive renovation. An invitingly large, custom-made sectional couch anchors the living space. Restraint must be exercised not to immediately fling oneself upon it.
Somehow, its enormous size and promise of comfort do not overwhelm the area. In an excellent use of space, three hair-on-hide ottomans in front of the sofa also serve as coffee tables or extra seating. There’s a great modern flair with addition of a sunburst mirror constructed of wood an iron over the console table to the left of the fireplace.
The owners worked with interior designer Lee Cooney of An Art Source based in Charlotte, NC. Given that the dining room and kitchen are in the same space as the living room, the lighting selection was crucial. With well-placed and sized lighting, Cooney masterfully created individual spaces without compromising the open feel. Natural light streams in too; the main living area has exceptionally high ceilings and a flood of all-new windows.
There’s a powder room off the living room whose Benjamin Moore HC 166 color will make you want to linger way longer than you may need too. There is also heavy paneling that is a delicious contrast to the neutral palette throughout the rest of the home.
The master bedroom and spa-like bathroom offer a contemporary feel. Four pieces of art from Wendover Art Group are placed on either side of the master bathroom entry, and give the experience bed linens from Isabella reflect the light white of the bathroom that’s not too bright, thanks to Farrow and Ball’s half-shaded white.
There are also two guest rooms that share a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. While these are smaller rooms, the exceptional selection and layout of the furniture leaves no guest wanting. Artwork makes a statement in the guest area of the house too.
Describing her process of artwork selection and placement for the home, Lee explains, “The artwork came toward the end of the project, but it really completed the look we were going for. The variety of artwork throughout the space consists of prints, canvas, triptychs, Lucite frames and photography. All are relative to the mountains and are keeping with a nature-based feel.”
This is the family’s second season at the house, and they have reveled in the magic of a NC mountain summer, with croquet and tennis matches and of course some of the best golfing the country has to offer. And, they’ve renovated and created the perfect setting for their family and friends to share in it too.
About the Designer
Lee Cooney is an interior designer in Charlotte, NC. Her design business, An Art Source, started when a good friend asked her help with her new home 20 years ago. Her work has been published in Florida Architecture, Better Homes and Gardens and various special interest magazines. The best part of her job is that she works closely with friends, which makes work fun every day. Lee, an art history major, is married with two adult children and two golden retrievers.
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