Shortly after moving his getaway to Smith Lake six years ago, real estate developer Walton Brown took to the area so much that he started looking for an area on the lake to develop. He found it in 22 acres of land. Two levels, a line of lakefront property and a raised plateau overlooking the water, seemed the ideal place for the retreat he envisioned. “I was amazed by the views from the higher elevations of the property and the ease of access to the water from the lower shelf, ” Walton says.
The development, Point William, offers potential buyers the choice of either single-family lakeside houses or row houses on the hill above. Each lot has its own water frontage, even the row homes, which feature golf cart paths leading down to the lake. Lots are limited to maximize privacy, which is further aided by the community’s location.
“It’s very serene, ” says Katharine Edmonds, who bought the first house in the community with her husband, Bryson. “We’re located on a slough where few boats ever pass, and even the fishermen who come by turn off their motors.”
Walton chose the spot for its natural beauty, characterized by a steep topography dotted with large boulders and stone outcroppings. But instead of having the rocks removed, Walton, working with Shepard & Davis Architecture, sought to preserve the natural elements and even incorporate them into the house designs. “The main aesthetic goal, not just for the houses but the land and landscape, was to interfere with the environment as little as possible, ” Walton says.
The unique features of the lots will give each house its own distinct flavor. “There are five house plans to choose from, but every house is going to feel individual because every site is different enough that we will have to alter the houses slightly to fit into each property, ” says Ben Shepard of Shepard & Davis Architecture.
This is readily apparent in the Edmonds’ house, which was partly built upon an outcropping and looks as if it simply grew out of the stone. This symbiotic relationship with nature gives the house an integrated look, blending it with the environment and obscuring the time in which it was built. “One of the things I always try to achieve with my developments is that I don’t want anything to look like it’s brand new, ” Walton says. “My aspiration is to build things that are timeless, things you can’t really date.”
Expanding vertically instead of horizontally, the home leaves more room for the natural elements. Exterior walls of stone and wood further tie the house to its surroundings, which, like the rest of the planned houses, feature only indigenous plant life.
To capture some of this rustic personality on the inside, the couple turned to Andrew Brown, who designed the interiors of their Mountain Brook home. Having worked with the family before, Andrew knew their tastes and started planning his design before the builders had even broken ground.
The interior maximizes the sense of space, with white walls sporting little ornament. “I tend toward a style that is not quite minimal and has a monochromatic feel, ” Andrew says. He favors objects with a sleek, contemporary aesthetic that are water- and pet-friendly to ensure that the house is livable and beautiful.
The Edmonds’ house is just the first part of the community, which will contain no more than 20 lake side houses, each with the maximum-sized dock as allowed by Alabama Power. The finished upper level will include a neighborhood infinity pool with lake views, amphitheater, and park. “I want this to look like an old neighborhood, with a mixture of individual space and community, ” Walton says.
Resources
POINT WILLIAM 256.747.1510 pointwilliam.com developer: POINT WILLIAM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, LLC architecture: SHEPARD & DAVIS ARCHITECTURE 205.322.7770 shepardanddavis.com interior design & drapery: Andrew Brown, ANDREW BROWN INTERIORS 205.879.7949 andrewbrowninteriors.com paint color: ALABASTER BY SHERWIN-WILLIAMS sherwin-williams.com audio visual entertainment systems: HD INNOVATIONS 205.567.3533 hdinnovationsav.com kitchen/dining area: table & banquette: ANDREW BROWN INTERIORS chandelier: OLY olystudio.com living room: chairs: ANDREW BROWN INTERIORS 205.879.7949 andrewbrowninteriors.com B & B ITALIA bebitalia.it DONGHIA donghia.com cocktail table: MADE GOODS 626-333-1177 • madegoods.com oars: TRICIA’S TREASURES 205.871.9779 triciastreasures.us inglenook: couch & pillows: ANDREW BROWN INTERIORS hair on hide pillows: JERRY PAIR 800.367.7247 jerrypair.com Master bedroom: bed, frame, pillows, & throw: ANDREW BROWN INTERIORS headboard fabric: GLANT 800.884.5268 glant.com pillow & throw fabric: PETER FASANO peterfasano.com lamps: VISUAL COMFORT 713.686.5999 • visualcomfort.com art over bed: TRICIA’S TREASURES son’s bedroom: headboard & bolster: ANDREW BROWN INTERIORS • fabric: King Cotton 205.322.5878 life preservers: TRICIA’S TREASURES
