A Departure from the “Usual Suspects”
For Sally and Slade Blackwell, building at Lake Martin was a homecoming with a twist. The couple are no strangers to these waters, having spent a decade renting a historic Russell Lands cabin nearby. When the opportunity arose to purchase the very lot they had grown to love in the new Willows development, they jumped at the chance to trade their rental keys for a permanent lake house.
But while their history was rooted in the rustic charm of a cabin, their vision for the future was decidedly different. To bring it to life, they called on Meredith Roberts of Gray Blake Interiors. “Sally loves design and is a very involved client,” says Meredith. “She 1,000 percent did not want anything too lakey.”
“I call the Blackwells closet modernists, and I am a bit as well. For this project, we gravitated towards a cleaner aesthetic and a departure from the usual suspects.”
– The home’s architect, Heath Clement
Architectural details and materials distinguish the Blackwells’ home from what might be expected at the lake. While tall, the ceilings are not vaulted. All wood detailing, including beams, are painted white, and the floors are a pale white oak throughout.
Defining Casual Elegance
A subtle shade of Purbeck Stone (Farrow & Ball) gives dimension to the kitchen, bar, and bathroom cabinets. Marble countertops add visual texture, contrasting the smooth, custom plaster hood. “Throughout the home, I dialed into the idea of casual elegance with plush upholstery and that mix of old and new,” says Meredith.
Curated Details and Custom Living Casual Elegance
“For the lighting, we chose more modern pieces. For example, in the dining room, we grouped three fixtures together for a dose of glamour over the antique oak table.” Custom slipcovered benches and host chairs surround the table. “We added velvet trim along the back of the chairs and the bottoms of the benches for a tactile bit of luxury.”
The Rhapsody-in-White Private Suites
Meredith explains that the lack of accessories is intentional. “The Blackwells wanted a clean shell that allows the architecture to tell the story with a sense of welcome escape from the everyday back home.”
We were not bringing elements of the outdoors in as is typical in a lake house. Sally wanted something opposite with the interiors—simple and neutral with a sophisticated edge.
– Meredith Roberts
Seamless Horizons
Outside, Heath introduced a negative-edge swimming pool for a visual effect of water with no boundaries. He also ensured that the view of the lake is continuous. “From inside the house, you don’t see outdoor furniture blocking your sightline,” says the architect. “We even placed the boat dock off to the side a bit for that reason. It’s still convenient but doesn’t interfere with the main attraction—those views.”
Want a Closer Look at the “Bones” of This Build?
See how the house itself was designed to breathe with the landscape and achieve the perfect balance of natural light on the lake.
Resources
Architecture: B. Heath Clement, Clement Architecture & Design General Contractor: Marbury McCullough, TCC Contractors Interior Design: Meredith Roberts, Gray Blake Interiors Landscape Design: Earthworks Landscape Supply Main Wall Color: White Dove, Benjamin Moore Hardwood Flooring: Pale White Oak (Custom) Lighting: Lighting & Lamp Kitchen Range: AllSouth Appliance Group Inc. Hardware: Brandino Brass Bar Cabinet Color: Worsted, Farrow & Ball Bar Faucet: Fixtures & Finishes Bunk Room Chairs: Rosegate Design Primary Bath Fixtures: Fixtures & Finishes Countertops: Triton Stone Group, fabricated by Surface One Rugs: Eighteenth Street Orientals
