REALTOR KAT I M I L L E R is her own best client. She and her husband Cory weren’t looking to move, but when Kati was assigned as the marketing agent for GlenCove by Old Edwards, a private wellness community nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Cashiers, North Carolina, the couple couldn’t resist moving there themselves.
Each of the homes, designed by architect Sam Edgens of Edgens Herzog Architects, has a European farmhouse–style to them, with sweeping architectural lines, brick facades, and synthetic slate roofs. “We loved the architecture and the floor plan,” says Kati. The community itself was also a draw: GlenCove features resort-style living, complete with hiking trails, a twelve-hole golf course, afitness center, an organic garden, and a pool—all of which would provide plenty of entertainment for the Millers and their two teenage children.
Once the plans were in place, building and designing the home became a family affair. Cory, the owner of Miller Residential, handled the home’s construction, and enlisted the help of his sister-in-law Allan Chapman of Charlotte-based firm Allan Chapman Interiors to design the rooms.
The couple wanted a modern take on a traditional mountain home—an aesthetic fit for the primary home that it was. In lieu of adding heavy plaids and dark woods, Chapman instead opted for a neutral color palette throughout and injected visual interest withtextures such as linens and bouclé fabrics. “They wanted clean and inviting,” says Chapman. Their previous furniture didn’t mesh with the new aesthetic, so the homeowners purchased nearly all new pieces for the house.
To achieve a laid-back yet wholly sophisticated and modern mountain feel, finishes were chosen carefully. Chapman selected a mix of nickel, brass, and matte black finishes to complement some of the home’s existing design elements, such as the black iron handrail in the entryway and the metal details on the range hood, which were designed by the architect. The result is a stunning home that plays host to the couple’s family and friends, who visit at least once every few weeks. For larger events and holidays, the couple entertains in the formal dining room and the great room, which features fourteen-foot ceilings and ample seating. The main floor also has a guest bedroom, complete with an en suite bathroom. “People will tell us they’re coming to stay,” says Kati. “They want to take advantage of the hiking or other activities in the mountains.”
When the family isn’t entertaining, they often watch movies together in the small, moody den tucked into the corner of the house and eat dinner on the screened-in porch just off the kitchen, which overlooks the GlenCove community garden. “When it’s cold, the homeowners have the fire going, and they keep some big heavy blankets on the sofas, so you can just curl up,” says Chapman.But for all the beauty of the home’s interior, it’s the outdoors that truly take center stage. “In the mountains, there’s a lot of indoor-outdoor living,” says Chapman. “The area is a rainforest, so everything is in bloom and growing. It almost looks picturesque.” The home came together seamlessly, in part because Chapman was so in tune with Kati and Cory’s vision for a modern mountain retreat. “She had a general idea of what she was looking for, but really let me run with the project,” says Chapman. “I loved working
with my sister-in-law.”