A Lake Martin Home Designed for Legacy, Simplicity and Escape
“I wanted it to be as simple as possible,” says Sally Blackwell when describing her and husband Slade’s Lake Martin home. “My goal was to go in the opposite direction of what’s expected. When you walk in, you feel like you are truly on vacation.”
The Blackwells are no strangers to Lake Martin, having rented a historic Russell Lands on Lake Martin cabin for about 10 years. “When the company decided to develop The Willows, we had the opportunity to buy the original rental lot,” says Slade. “Our family has so many memories there, so we decided to continue making new ones by designing and building a home with a view towards the future.”
A One-Story Lake House Floor Plan That Maximizes Views
While the Willows neighborhood was in development, the Blackwells started sketching out their hopes and dreams and collecting inspiration. With the help of architect Heath Clement, the couple settled on a one-story design, a rarity at the lake.
“The lot was so large that we were able to design a home that would speak to the property’s curve and embrace the view at all times,” says Heath. “And while all bedrooms are on the same floor, the plan is split, so the primary suite is on one end and the guest quarters are on the other side, accessed by a breezeway. It operates like a separate guest cottage, only it’s attached.” Adds Slade, “We wanted a place that could contract and grow as needed, so even when it’s just Sally and me, it still feels welcoming.”
The Breezeway Design That Connects Indoor and Outdoor Living
“I wanted people to have different experiences in the various outdoor spaces,” says Heath Clement. “The breezeway that divides the main house from the guest bedrooms doubles as the dining porch.” In west-facing properties at the lake, such as the Blackwells’ lot, the sun can prove quite a challenge as the family experienced in their former rental house. “By about 1pm until sunset, the light was so hot and bright that you literally could not look outside,” says Slade. Because of this, architect Heath Clement was tasked with creating a clever and attractive solution.
Solving Harsh Sunlight and the Architectural Secret of the 22-Degree Angle
He used transom windows on both sides of the main living space and tucked them under the roof’s overhang. “With the size and configuration of windows, the sunlight is diffused and the sun doesn’t shine directly into the house until it angles below 22 degrees—and that’s only for a short time,” Heath says. “At that point, the sun quickly drops behind the trees.” “I wanted people to have different experiences in the various outdoor spaces,” says architect Heath Clement.
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)
