With forests of wild mountain laurel, majestic waterfalls, and sweeping views, Cashiers, NC, is, unquestionably, a magical place. Steeped in Native American and Appalachian heritage, the area is a nature lover’s paradise with hiking trails, a late-19th century truss bridge, and even the Cashiers Sliding Rock — a 10-foot-high nature-made rockslide that leads to a pool of water below.
Amid the rustic terrain, you’ll find a smattering of mountain, lakeside, and country club homes, from charming cottages to sleek and sprawling estates, each with a unique style that reflects the area’s character and accentuates the breathtaking panorama. One such home in Lonesome Valley is a pillar of tranquility on the side of a cliff. This modern mountain retreat offers everything from stone fireplaces to cozy day beds overlooking the wooded expanse.
This stunning mountain retreat is set back against the lush green landscape of Cashiers, NC.
Perched on a mountainside with an exquisite backdrop, this 3,500-square-foot beauty is a sight to behold. Set on an acre, it boasts three bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths — rustic and charming but far from quaint. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the dreamy design, the home was the brainchild of interior designer Janice Dietz of The Consulting House in Atlanta. Moreover, it’s her second home — a place where she and her family spend much of their time throughout the year. And, it’s no wonder.
With its vaulted ceilings, barn wood accents, and modern elegance-meets-rugged mountain aesthetic, the home is a study in contrast. It’s simple yet sophisticated, modern with a nod to its rustic setting. But that’s not all. The rest of the neighborhood has a lot to offer, too. “It has a restaurant called Canyon Kitchen, which is probably the nicest restaurant in the Cashiers area,” explains Janice. “There’s also Canyon Spa, a fitness center, a pool, tennis courts, and a private lake. It has about 12 miles of walking trails throughout the community. It’s not a typical country club; it’s really about people who appreciate the surroundings. It’s a gorgeous place that’s all about nature.”
Join us on a tour, starting in the heart of the home — the kitchen.
The kitchen cabinetry (in Benjamin Moore Brush Blue) offsets the soapstone island countertop and white oak flooring. “Atlanta is a very pristine market,” Janice tells us. “Everything is white marble and white kitchens; I didn’t want that up in the mountains. I wanted this to be different. That’s why I went with that blue.”
A close-up of the kitchen offers a more detailed look at the Wolf 48-inch range with a griddle and custom hood vent.
In the kitchen’s dining area, a reclaimed wood dining table from Restoration Hardware is paired with chairs from Charleston Forge, a North Carolina-based company.
While nature may have been the impetus behind the home’s design, it also posed its fair share of building challenges. “Lonesome Valley gracefully spans the valley floor of the largest box canyon east of the Rockies,” explains Janice. “The build was extremely challenging given the slope and terrain of the land constructed over solid rock, granite, and natural springs throughout the property. The entire foundation had to be pinned given the solid rock terrain.”
The elevation that contributed to construction headaches is also the feature that gives the home its wow factor. It is a grown-up’s treehouse — an impressive structure set in a forest canopy that welcomes in natural light and employs materials like stone and reclaimed wood to enhance the surroundings.
“Every space is layered with unique and creative details, and they unveil themselves each time you walk through,” says Janice of her design. “I like to create homes that are sophisticated but comfortable. I hate the term because it’s overused, but I sort of did a ‘modern farmhouse’ with clean lines. It’s very warm and inviting, modern but not contemporary. It’s a lot of layers, textures, and warmth. I like walking into a space that feels great; I don’t like spaces competing with me. I like creating relaxing, sophisticated, comfortable spaces.”
“The lighting fixture over the dining table is from Lowcountry Originals out of Savannah, GA,” says Janice. “They make everything to order.” Additionally, stools from Charleston Forge offer countertop seating.
Reclaimed wood is a running theme throughout the home. Solid timbers from Appalachian Antique Hardwoods, LLC out of Waynesville, NC, add character to the ceilings and doorframes. “When you first walk in, you’ve got the 13-foot gray barn-wood ceiling, and then you go into the big living room,” Janice says. “I wanted to create an interesting transom to continue with the light in the house, but I didn’t want to do windows — how would I ever clean that? I did iron detail and a custom iron railing, which I designed with Kevin Grisso. His company is Custom Artisan Works out of Atlanta.”
This hallway cutout features pieces from artist Howard Finster and notable 20th-century artist Jean Dubuffet. Reclaimed wood fixtures on either side of the niche feature vintage glass light tubes.
The family room features double bunk beds, cozy seating, and a beautifully crafted stone fireplace.
A closer look at the custom bunk beds showcases incredible woodwork and swing light insets that allow for nighttime reading. “I built them to the size I wanted, with a little ledge on the back,” Janice says of the beds. “If somebody is lying down, they’ve got a nice backrest and a ledge for their phone or whatever else.” Additionally, there’s a hidden outlet to charge a phone or laptop.
“As a designer, I get tired of things, so I wanted to create something that you don’t see people do,” Janice tells us. “I did barn wood outside the house and brought it into specific places within the house.” This hallway, which is right outside of the family room, features barn doors, reclaimed wood timbers, pendant lights with Edison bulbs, and artwork by
Thornton Dial.
The primary bedroom features a vaulted ceiling with trusses and an eye-catching fixture from Oly Studio.
While the main bedroom has its own unique style, Janice wanted the other two bedrooms (which her daughters currently occupy) to have their own identity. Still, there are notable similarities that perfectly tie them together. “I wanted them to be different but similar,” she tells us, “so they have the same color tin ceiling with a different design. They both have wood accent back walls, but one has brown, and the other is a whitewash. They both have the same sconces on the wall, but one has a smoke finish, and the other has sterling.”
Made in Bradenton, FL, by American Tin Ceilings, the intricate ceiling tiles in Janice’s younger daughter’s bedroom offer texture and pattern on the “fifth wall.”
A white reclaimed wood statement wall, king-size Bernhardt bed, and nightstands from CFC round out this bedroom. Luxury pillows and a duvet from Pom Pom at Home add a feminine touch.
“I like textures,” Janice says when discussing this bathroom, which is attached to her younger daughter’s bedroom. “I did double vanities in all bathrooms,” she adds. “I figure that as my children get older and end up having a spouse, or we have friends come with guests, [everyone] can have their own sink.” The narrow Marquina tumbled stone flooring adds a layer of depth to the space.
The second bedroom, which belongs to Janice’s older daughter, features a four-poster bed and a brown reclaimed wood statement wall.
“I got that rug from Moattar in Atlanta,” shares Janice. “I wanted this house to be cozy — a great hangout house — so all of the rugs are textural and fuzzy. They are casual but nice.”
A custom door to the laundry room boasts a fun appliqué that Janice found on Etsy!
The mudroom showcases Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore. The space is made ultra-cozy with a built-in bench and pillows. (Their Maltipoo, Calder, agrees!)
Capitalizing on the gorgeous treeline views, most rooms in the home boast oversized windows, including the screened-in porch, which also has electronic shades to accommodate year-round enjoyment. From porches and patios to daybed swings, there’s no shortage of places from which to admire a sunrise, count the stars, or listen as raindrops freckle the forest floor. A perfectly dreamy escape!
The screened-in porch has doors that open up to an attached grill porch, while a Kettal swing from Atlanta’s Paul Plus showroom offers a comfortable spot to lounge in front of the fire.
Custom daybed swings from Lowcountry Originals offer a serene spot for reading, relaxing, or sleeping. “Every guest has fallen asleep on them, and we’ve taken pictures,” laughs Janice.
“When you’re on my main level and go out to the back porch where we have the daybed swings, you are over 40 feet above the ground — literally in the trees,” says Janice.
All photos courtesy of Aaron Hogsed.
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