Rain Garden Residence
We are often part of a design/build team, and that was the case for this new construction project located in The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Arden, NC. We had worked with both Samsel Architects and Glennwood Custom Builders on numerous past projects, and were happy to collaborate with them on another high end custom home project. The homeowners would be living out of state during the process, so they looked to their team to coordinate and collaborate on their behalf throughout construction. This modern home is designed around a front entry courtyard that’s accessible through sliding doors in the Living Room, and can also be seen from the Dining Room. During the final furniture and art installation, there was a rain storm that inspired the name of this project as the “Rain Garden Residence”.
The architects envisioned this home as a modern take on prairie style architecture with a roofline that hugs the landscape. The mountain views of Asheville and beyond are visible just opposite the garden, on the other side of the Living Room. With such long range views providing incredible color and texture, our design team kept fabrics and finishes intentionally neutral in this room. Our clients love to entertain and make drinks for their friends, so the wet bar is also a focal point of this space, balanced on the other end of the room by a walnut and steel clad gas fireplace. We collaborated with the architects on all of the finishes here, so as not to detract from the views of the garden or the landscape. Ultimately, we settled on a “walnut and white” palette for paint and wood finishes. Accents of steel and stone are included for contrast and durability as well. Those finishes, in addition to the European white oak floors, are repeated throughout the home for continuity from room to room.
For the furnishings and decor, we sourced locally crafted furniture throughout the home. The upholstery is North Carolina made, and the dining table was custom crafted right here in Asheville. Being located in WNC, we have a plethora of talent right at our doorsteps, and often connect clients with skilled furniture makers, potters, artists and artisans. Our clients enjoy having custom pieces made locally, while also investing in the local art + craft community. The design team also introduced the clients to local galleries, and sourced regional artwork for each space. While we enjoy selecting the furniture and decor, our team also selected the fixtures and finishes throughout the home, in collaboration with the architectural team. We then worked throughout construction to ensure the concept was implemented by the skilled builder’s subcontractors, during regular site visits throughout construction. All team members took great pride in this project, and in seeing the finished home. In fact, everyone was there during the art install and photo shoot days, and we toasted with the team and clients in the end. We love what we do, and are proud to be part of such a collaborative effort on our client’s behalf!