ACROSS FROM Pisgah National Forest on the rolling inclines above Grandmother Lake, a majestic home stands out among the trees, offering unobstructed views of Grandfather Mountain and the lush forests on its slopes.
When Ken Pursley of Pursley Dixon Architecture was approached by a repeat client to design a mountain retreat on the lot in the Linville resort community, he knew he’d have to flex his creative muscle in navigating the project. The terrain was tricky but the views, amazing.
“This was our third major project with the client and a totally different feel than their two previous homes,” the architect explains. “This design needed to not only capture the homeowners’ personalities, but also a sense of place, celebrating the beauty of the surrounding nature. The architecture needed to be responsive to the landscape to maximize the home’s impact.
From the size of the windows to the raw materials to the unique methods required to build on drastic elevation changes, the site itself posed a challenge and an opportunity. Because there was a level of trust already established, they were willing to step outside the box for this design.”
The home’s stately presence on the mountainside, raised porches, and windowed facades offer a bit of drama and hint at the modern ambiance waiting just inside the entry. The style, described by interior designer Bronwyn Ford of Pursley Dixon Ford Interior Design, is warm modernism—clean and simple but also cozy.
“The home has a modern framework, but I layered in elements to soften the hard lines and blend seamlessly with the mix of stone, steel, and wood in the space,” Ford says. “Scale was another big factor to consider when styling, especially when considering how to fill the volume without impeding the views. The client had a definite viewpoint and was collaborative throughout. They were very much an integral part of the design process, and we strived to infuse their personality into every aspect.”
Ensuring that the windows facing Grandfather Mountain were tall enough to avoid dissecting the view was paramount. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the open concept living area, main bedroom, and office are framed by long curtains that lift the eyes while softening the glass. White oak paneling with grayed undertones adds warmth without heaviness, and areas of lowered ceiling heights create cozy alcoves for dining and sitting together around one of the home’s numerous wood-burning fireplaces. Exposed ceiling beams add a touch of mountain-cabin ambiance while expertly concealing recessed lighting fixtures.
Another objective was to make sure the home complemented the aspects of the Linville community without fully giving in to a rustic design. For instance, bark siding, historically revered in the mountain town, was incorporated in small amounts— alcoves, shutters, a bar area, and an outdoor fireplace—as a nod to tradition without becoming a primary driver of the aesthetic.
Throughout, the owners’ personal art and pottery collection mingles with carefully curated furnishings and accessories that create impact against the neutral palette and highlight the framed views of Grandfather Mountain that themselves become works of art. The finished product, a collaborative effort of Pursley, Ford, and project architect Mark Kline, who managed the project throughout the construction process, is a serene mountain getaway with panoramic vistas from every room in the house.
“With a cantilevered porch suspended fifty feet in the air, expansive windows that frame picturesque views, and an interior that simultaneously feels open yet cozy, the overall aesthetic of the finished home takes your breath away,” Pursley says. “Nature truly becomes one with the architecture and the interior design of this home.”