Sky-filled windows, soaring beams, and a
fireplace between the deck doors highlight
the dramatic great room.
BY LORETTA NOVICK
P
HOTOS BY
PAUL JEREMIAS /STYLING BY SUSAN KINNEY
A three-level vacation
home has a bird's-eye view
of nature's magic.
43
Living High In
NORTH CAROLINA
Living High In
NORTH CAROLINA
W
HEN LYNN GASTINEAU DECIDED TO BUILD A SECOND
home, she had a spectacular setting in mind. In the scenic
mountains bordering Asheville (site of the famous Biltmore
Estate), she found a community composed exclusively of log houses. On an
eight-acre site, she would build a dream leisure home, a place that might also
serve for future retirement.
To realize that dream, she had plenty going for her. For one thing, she'd lived
in log homes most of her adult life and knew all their features. In fact, she says,
"My son and daughter grew up in log homes, something their friends find
cool."
More importantly, log homes are Lynn's business. As president of
Gastineau Log Homes in New Bloomfield, Missouri (and possibly the only
woman to found such a company), she was familiar with construction and
materials. Knowledge had begun early with the family's sawmill business
and, since 1977, Gastineau Log Homes has developed new designs and
building techniques to satisfy the growing demand for log homes.
I
n Lynn's vacation house, logs would be oak, her company's specialty
and a wood noted for its color, grain, strength, and durability.
Another plus: the prevalence of oak in Missouri is sufficient
to put its cost on a par with pine, which Gastineau Log Homes
also offers.
Lynn selected a D-profile log, beveled for added interest. The side facing
the interior of the home, the flat side, makes it easier to hang pictures,
mirrors, and so forth. This side was also given a polyurethane
satin finish both for looks and easy maintenance.
"The house is on a steep slope with gorgeous views of the Smoky
Mountains, so I took advantage of every perspective," Lynn reports.
In the great room, enormous prow windows and a deck overlook the
valley below and distant peaks. Completed in the spring of 2003, the
three-level house has 3,800 square feet of living space and another
1,800 square feet of decks and porches.
"I started with one of our standard layouts," says Lynn, "and kept
expanding from there. Optimum daylight was one of my priorities. I
think log houses are at their best when plenty of natural light comes in
to balance the solid wood look." Protection from excessive UV exposure
comes from porch roofs, overhangs, and a special coating for exterior
surfaces.
An outside stone staircase rises to a main-level deck, with entry to the
dining room and a striking view through the great room windows opposite.
Adjoining is the handsome kitchen and, steps away, a half-bath-
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ABOVE: Opening to a private
porch in the treetops, this
elegantly furnished bedroom
is a place to relax.
RIGHT TOP: For an appealing
country look, this bathroom
features a sink set
into a hand-painted bureau.
RIGHT BOTTOM: Glass
doors and tall windows
bring the outdoors into a
cozy, carpeted bedroom.
46
"Optimum daylight was one of my priorities.
I think log houses are at their best when plenty of
natural light comes in to balance the solid wood look."
47
ABOVE: In the well-planned kitchen, a granite counter and white tiles contrast with warm-toned oak. LEFT: An antique Russian textile on
the chairs adds a touch of luxury to the dining room.
room and utility room. Two large bedrooms flank the great
room, each with access to a private porch and panoramic
views. Both have bathrooms equipped with his-and-her
sinks and a Jacuzzi tub. Lynn had one bathroom raised six
inches so a relaxing bather can look directly out the window
into the treetops.
A final custom touch: in one bathroom, sinks were set
into colonial-style bureaus hand painted with a fish motif.
B
ut the award for originality should go to the top-
level entry, where a bridge was constructed to connect
the high ground with the loft deck. Visitors
are greeted by a dramatic visual interplay of
angles and beams, wood and glass that frame both deck
and inside loft. Balusters for the bridge railing are of strong,
lightweight aluminum, which arrived prepainted. These
narrower balusters allow a clearer look at the landscape on
either side of the bridge. As a finishing accent, acorn finials
ornament the newel posts.
Lynn put much thought into the cheery kitchen, with its
granite counters, task lighting, and state-of-the-art appliances.
A microwave oven was installed at eye level and a
wine rack inserted at counter's end. A so-called farmer
sink—one that's partially free of the counter—adds a country
note, as does a colorful rug set on the oak floor.
With her busy schedule, Lynn entrusted much of the decorating
to a local specialist, who achieved a remarkable
blend of country comfort and contemporary style. In
nearby Maggie Valley, the High Country store proved an
excellent source of attractive pieces. For a touch of luxury,
the dining room chairs were covered with an antique Russian
textile. Although oak floors predominate, the bedrooms
were carpeted and all bathrooms have ceramic tile.
The loft level was designed to accommodate a range of
activities, or just quiet repose. Oak walls and ceiling are
balanced by a boldly patterned carpet; a Chinese "root"
chair blends with traditional furnishings.
Hurd aluminum-clad low-E windows offer energy efficiency
throughout the house. Between the great room deck
doors, a gas fireplace was ingeniously vented to leave the
gable above untouched. Heating and air-conditioning
needs are fully met by two propane-fueled systems. If
weather turns moderately cool, the two gas fireplaces can
swiftly take the chill off. Lynn confesses to enjoying the
convenience of a remote-controlled flick-on hearth. For
the roof, she chose fireproof fiberglass shingles in a dark
red that also matches the window trim.
As with many vacation houses, electric power provides
quick on-off usage while minimizing energy waste in the
owner's absence. Here, the hot water heater and kitchen
oven are electric but, with her preference for cooking with
gas, Lynn selected a gas range top.
Landscaping comes largely courtesy of the natural environment.
"We put in some ivy," Lynn reports, "and there's
mountain laurel and rhododendron, but the community
has a rule against mowing." No loss, apparently.
For decades, the region has been a vacation retreat. One
lure for Lynn was the access to golf courses. White-water
rafting is also popular locally and, for history buffs, Civil
War sites, such as Gatlinburg, are an easy drive. For cultural
events, there's Asheville itself, so close that "on a clear
night, you can see its lights from the deck."
Mornings on the deck present another bit of nature's
magic. "Mist can be so thick that you barely see in front
of you. Then slowly, it rises and reveals this breathtaking
beauty." In its ideal setting, Lynn's dream house works
exactly according to plan. *
LOG HOME PRODUCER: Gastineau Log Homes, New
Bloomfield, Missouri; BUILDER: Carolina Log Homes,
Inc., Maggie Valley, North Carolina.
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On the steeply sloped property,
an artfully constructed bridge
connects the high ground with
the home's top level.
An oak staircase leads to
the roomy loft overlooking
the great room's inviting
conversation center.
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