HAVING GROWN UP in a modern home, Lynn Toms knew she’d eventually trade her traditional house for one reminiscent of her youth. The open concepts and abundant natural light of modern design were key options she and her husband, Logan, wanted for their emptynester home. When an attractive property in the Hope Valley Country Club became available, they put their plan into action.
They hired architect Philip Szostak of Szostak Design after seeing many other homes he’d designed in the neighborhood. His command of the modern aesthetic and reputation for melding architecture into fine art was what they envisioned for their future home. They also brought in Alabama-based designer Betsy Brown of Betsy Brown, Inc. after falling in love with the work displayed on her website’s portfolio.
“Both Phil and Betsy were a dream to work with,” says Toms. “Phil has a strong presence but always took time to listen to us. Betsy embraced our desire for a modern yet warm aesthetic and created a place that feels open and cozy at the same time.”
Szostak analyzed the homesite, ideally located at the intersection of two fairways, ascertaining the best sight lines and sun angles to consider in the plans. “This site was as integral to the overall design as the architecture and the interior,” Szostak says. “We wanted to bring the house to ground level with multiple access doors and expansive windows so the outdoors and indoors flowed together cohesively.”
The entry gallery displays the client’s curated art collection, and the open kitchen and living and dining rooms offer expansive ceilings and beautiful views while serving as the hub around which the other spaces circulate. The main terrace along the southern facade features a linear pool, an outdoor fireplace, and a cooking area for enjoying outdoor living under the native pines.
Brown, Szostak, and the Tomses collaborated on several iterations of the comprehensive design. “Phil Szostak designs houses that basically tell you what to do,” Brown says. “We wanted to complement the architecture while also making the space extremely comfortable.
Having the finished home look as if it were created by one hand was critical to its authenticity.” The home is a study in balance—of light and dark, of open and private, of sleek and soft. A simple palette of timber flooring, white paint, and marble allows the furniture and artwork to truly become expressed. The furnishings in the living area extend the architecture, creating a comfortable place for the Tomses to relax with friends, family, and their dogs. A sectional sofa, movable chairs, a banquette, and barstools create a malleable living/dining vignette for entertaining and conversation. Simple, clean-lined pendants above the bar and banquette embrace the continuity of horizontal lines, which is echoed in linear bookcases, cabinetry, and furniture throughout the home. Several commissioned pieces of artwork, including a Robert Bristow desk and a fourpanel painting by Marco Lorenzetto, add interest and function.
Natural oak accents soften the black-and-white interior. Sheer linen draperies in recessed ceiling pockets and a walled courtyard off the main bedroom suite offer privacy from the nearby walking path and golf course without encumbering natural light or views of the outdoor living areas. One of Toms’s favorite angles in the home—the hallway between the living area and the “glass box” office—provides a panoramic view of the golf course, the magnolias, and her beloved Japanese maple. “Our home is a product of a shared vision,” Toms says. “The team’s seamless collaboration resulted in a home where we can enjoy indoor-outdoor living in a comfortable modern setting.”