Knight Strategies designed this outdoor living space situated below a guest cottage on the shores of Lake Lure in North Carolina, and installed most of the elements. This included the pergola made from pressure-treated Southern pine, and finished with Cabot's Australian Timber Oil in a natural tone. The pergola is supported by mortared stone columns that were veneered with sea mist stone to match the existing stone foundation from the 1950s. Terraced, curving, dry-stacked, Tennessee fieldstone walls were used to soften the strong linear elements of the outdoor patio, which is trimmed in cedar. The 100-foot-long wall creates a raised bed that is filled with gardenias, perennials and annuals. Twenty-seven-watt Hadco wall washes provide the landscape lighting. On the patio, the bar (left) has a sea mist stone veneered front and a curved, granite countertop custom cut by Mountain Marble & Granite in Asheville. The main residence is seen in the background.

Upon taking up permanent residence at a lakefront property that had been a family vacation spot since the 1950s, a couple decided that an under-used guest cottage provided an excellent starting point for what would become a full-featured outdoor entertainment area that will add much enjoyment to their retirement years in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

The designated space was a covered area with a large concrete patio underneath the cottage. It had amazing views of the lake but was only being used for storage and to harbor a Ping-Pong table and a single picnic table. The owners' wish list included an area to grill, and seating and dining areas big enough for family or dinner parties but still able to maintain an intimate feel, perfect for two.

To put this plan in action, they commissioned Vic Knight of Knight Strategies, a design/build firm based in this small resort community, which lies 25 miles southeast of Asheville, N.C. As he strategized with his new clients, Knight realized that some of their ideas could make for a challenging design and construction process.

Going with the Flow
The first challenge was that the owners wanted their new area to encompass flowing forms with as little straight lines as possible.

The original foundation wall featured this stair step cutout. For the far wall in the kitchen, Knight Strategies built up the cutout with a two-sided solid stone wall. The original railing was sanded and refinished with a Rust-Oleum product that mimics hammered metal. In the foreground is a memorial garden in honor of the owner's brother. Black Mondo grass and Irish moss serves as its groundcover.

 

The fire ring deck was designed with a cantilevered and curved front edge to accentuate the view overlooking Lake Lure.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+The railing is cedar and the decking is pressured-treated Southern pine finished with the same stain as the pergola. Behind the deck is a seatwall capped with cut Tennessee crab orchard stone.

Outdoor curtains were added for elegance and to block the afternoon sun's heat and glare. The curtains were made from 10' x 10' canvas drop cloths that were hemmed by a local seamstress. The lighting is from Designers Fountain. A variety of seating options, including a large refurbished picnic table, were set up to accommodate small intimate dinners as well as large gatherings. The original railing had to be cut and reinstalled between the new support columns.

A hand-selected Tennessee crab orchard stone with this quote was placed as a centerpiece above the grill. Martin Monument, a local supplier, provided on-site sand blasting services for the carving.

Second, the wife's father had built the house several decades before and the couple wanted the existing stone and other materials to blend seamlessly with the new materials to create the illusion that it had all been constructed at the same time. Knight Strategies was up for the challenge and began creating an outdoor living area that would draw attention to all the right spots with curving walls and decks that would invite family and friends to sit back, relax and enjoy for decades to come.

And what better way to enjoy family and friends than outside surrounded by nature, yet with convenient access to a kitchen that keeps you engaged with the party while preparing an evening meal. Since the kitchen in the main house did not provide that access, Knight Strategies recommended installing a full service kitchen in the new outdoor area. The plan incorporated a 48-inch grill, two side burners, warming drawer, icemaker, sink and refrigerator, as well as ample storage for plates and silverware.

The kitchen was strategically placed under the covered area of the patio to maximize its use whether rain or shine. Its centerpiece is a hand-selected Tennessee crab orchard stone which was carefully set into the wall just above the grill with the quote "Live, Laugh, Love" carved into its surface, reflecting the owners' personality. The remainder of the covered space was used for a comfortable seating area, which can quickly be slid out of the way to accommodate a family game of pingpong.

The full outdoor kitchen installation included a 48-inch KitchenAide grill, two side burners, warming drawer, icemaker, sink and refrigerator, as well as ample storage in custom-built cedar cabinets with granite tops. The cabinets were constructed by Ashley's Kitchen and Bath of Black Mountain, N.C. The counter's fascia and the back wall are veneered with the same stone as the new columns and bar.

Shading the Site
The uncovered portion of the patio overlooks the stunning views of Lake Lure but is subject to the hot afternoon sun so Knight recommended the area be covered with a pergola. Outdoor curtains were added for a touch of elegance and the practicality of further blocking the sun's heat and glare. This then provided a perfect spot to place the refurbished picnic table, which added charm and ample seating for dinners on the lake. Guests can also pull up a stool to the one-of-a-kind, curved, granite countertop adjacent to the kitchen to enjoy an evening glass of wine.

Just down from the dining area, the free flowing lines carry on to draw guests to one of the most intimate areas of the design: an elegant curving deck that surrounds cozy seating and a fire ring, and that cantilevers out above the landscape to create an infinity edge overlooking the stunning views of the lake. This design heightens the drama of an evening around the fire as the lights from distant houses twinkle off the water.

The fire pit and a variety of comfortable furniture were purchased from Hickory Fireplace & Patio. The fire pit is an O.W. Lee model from Casual Fireside. The furniture was made by Summer Classic.

The centerpiece of the memorial garden is a cast stone sculpture surrounded by boxwood hedges.

Merging the Decades
In order to blend the new construction with the existing structure, careful attention was given to new masonry columns and walls to help them match the stonework completed 50 years previous. Sea mist stone was selected as a veneer for the columns, the fronts of the counters and the back wall in the kitchen. Larger pieces of the stone were used for a two-sided, solid stone wall addition to the existing foundation wall behind the grill.

To pave the covered area and the patio, Knight chose 24-inch-square Italian porcelain tile, which adds warmth to the space and ties the areas together. The owners wanted to salvage the original metal railing along the edge of the patio so it was cut into sections, sanded, finished with a Rust-Oleum spray paint that mimics hammered metal, and then reinstalled in-between the new columns supporting the pergola. In order to meet current building code, the grade below the patio had to be raised. To accomplish this, the crew constructed a beautifully curved, dry-stacked wall from Tennessee fieldstone that was carried in by hand. This curvilinear wall follows the entire length of the project, creating an ideal raised bed that was filled with gardenias, perennials and annuals to provide year-round fragrance, color and beauty.

Low-voltage landscape lighting by Hadco illuminates the three-foot-tall, 100-foot-long wall, which adds drama when viewed from the lake at night. As the owners wind up their evening and head to the main house, they encounter a small memorial garden that celebrates the life of the owner's younger brother.

In the end, the owners were thrilled with the function and beauty of their new outdoor living space and appreciated the careful attention to detail that made it flow seamlessly. It truly is a magical spot to enjoy the lure of days and nights on the lake.