This Georgia Lake House Was Built For Life On The Water

After decades of spending time on Lake Burton in Georgia, this couple built a home to host the next generation of water lovers.

Chip Groome has spent summers on Lake Burton in North Georgia since childhood, but that doesn’t mean he could drive you to a neighboring house. “Everybody comes and goes by boat,” he says. Out of the 50 or so friends’ homes close by, he admits, “I bet I couldn’t find 10 of them by car. I wouldn’t know how to get there.”

Whenever Chip and his wife, Cathy, are at the lake, the water is everything to them: It’s their transportation, inspiration, and playground. So when a lot came on the market in 2006, they grabbed it. Never mind the lack of a seawall, trees that were falling into the lake, or the challenging setback rules. They had 380 feet of shoreline and a view of the Appalachian Mountains directly ahead, and they didn’t intend to waste any of it.

They called their friends and residential design team Todd Pritchett and Craig Dixon, who immediately caught their vision. “The peninsula provided privacy and stunning long-range views, but the setback from the water left a very small footprint to build a home on,” says Pritchett. To problem solve, they designed the interior layout first, making unconventional moves like putting the primary bedroom on the second level and placing the dining room in the widened central corridor, all to capture the best vistas of the scenic lake and mountains from every space.

As for the home’s look, Cathy (a fine artist) aimed for a “not-fancy Southern farmhouse” with shiplap, wooden beams, regional stone, and white walls. She furnished it with easy-living pieces they had on hand and deftly deployed her favorite colors—lake blue and mink brown—in small doses.

The pared-down, low-maintenance aesthetic is put to the test every July when the Groomes’ grown daughters bring their five kids for a month of painting rocks, tubing, skiing, and making merry chaos. The couple recently completed a playroom addition to encourage this fourth generation of lake dwellers. “Our kids grew up on the water, so they just love it,” says Cathy. “And now they plan to raise their kids here.”

Related: The 18 Best Lakes Across The South

Seek Out the Sun

“Cathy’s artistic love of light has always driven the design of our houses,” says Chip, a commercial developer. Pritchett and Dixon knew her well enough that they didn’t have to ask—they just drew windows into the plan for the staircase. The playroom-and-studio addition has since blocked them, but designer Susan Negri preserved their sun-enhancing effect by replacing the panes with antique mirrors.

Revisit Pass-Through Spots

To fit the narrow lot and leave room for a screened porch, the residential designers nixed a separate dining room and instead widened the central corridor of the house to accommodate a table and chairs. “We wanted to create surprises,” says Pritchett. “When you open the door, you get a fantastic view of the water and mountains through the dining area.”

Slow it Down

The living room furnishings evolved over time. “We started with what we had and then updated whenever we could,” Cathy says. “The mix gives the home more of a warm feel.” She has never regretted the white walls or the dark tobacco finish on the heart-pine floors and accent pieces; they highlight any furniture style and add depth. A whitewashed tongue-and-groove ceiling brings in the character of wood without sacrificing brightness.

Take a Relaxed Approach

Long before English country-inspired kitchens became a trend, Cathy asked for vertical plank cabinetry to underscore the Southern farmhouse vibe she wanted. Her godmother, who was a designer, selected the color, French Canvas (OC-41) by Benjamin Moore, for its faint green undertones. “It reflects the outside, though you don’t really notice the green,” Cathy says.

Hang Outside All Year Long

No surprise: The screened porch is the home’s MVP. It hosts morning coffee, hours of rainy-day reading, and even family gatherings in the winter. “We always have a fire going out here,” notes Cathy. “We use this space all the time.” Ipe flooring and a durable woven sectional with all-weather fabric cushions support this rough-and-tumble use.

Channel a Little Bit of Summer-House Nostalgia

“Simple” and “calm” were Cathy’s watchwords for bedrooms, including the guest space (above) where her three granddaughters stay during their July holiday. She dressed a trio of heirloom spindle beds in muted stripes and solids and relied on shiplap for a character boost. “I knew that would give the area more warmth and personality,” she says. Cathy also lent her talents to the room: The large-scale canoe piece on the wall is her own work.

Shift the Focus to Sweeping Views

“I will drive up here at night just to wake up the next morning and see the sunrise over the lake and the mountains,” Cathy says of the primary bedroom. The second-level space has water vistas on three sides and doors that open to let in breezes. (A fretwork safety railing adds interest to the exterior.) With so much happening outside, she kept the interiors neutral with soft blue accents as a nod to the lake.

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