A Lakefront Getaway Designed by Brad Ramsey Brings the Outdoors In

There’s something in these hills. For a Nashville family with ties to Clemson University in South Carolina, frequent visits to Tigertown called for putting down roots nearby. So they decided to build a vacation home and entrusted their longtime designer, Next Waver Brad Ramsey, to hone their vision. With a lakefront location in a community known as Sunset, the home begged to be a sanctuary for indoor-outdoor living. “This is my fifth project with these clients, so they gave me a lot of free rein,” Ramsey says.

The designer knew the clean lines of the rustic modern house by Jeremy Driskell of MHK Architecture needed to be balanced by a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. So he relied on organic, earthy materials and finishes to warm up the 7,471-square-foot house. Case in point: To avoid having the kitchen, with its high ceilings and small footprint, feel “like a huge, white void,” Ramsey says, his team chose “to shiplap the ceiling and surrounding walls just up in the highest portion.” Lower white oak cabinets complement the varying wood tones above.

In the great room, expansive windows, wood beams, and a six-foot-wide stone veneer fireplace seamlessly blend the indoors and out. “Probably the best seat in the house is the custom chaise we had made to float in front of the window,” Ramsey says of the bench by Hallman Furniture. “It is the perfect place to nap with the amazing lake views.”

To fill in the remainder of the seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom, blank-slate home, Ramsey reached for furnishings in a calming, neutral color palette. One-of-a-kind pieces, like a coffee table from Clubcu and a vintage primary bathroom rug, add character. In spots where large window views don’t act as art, framed pieces linked to nature, like an abstract painting of mushroom fields, hang on the walls.

Clever features ensure the entire family can take full advantage of their surrounding environment while upping their entertaining game. Glass walls along the dining area open up to the upper porch and can be folded around the corner and out of the way for breezy meals. Out on the porch, hidden screens in the ceiling can be lowered to keep bugs at bay. Ensconced in its idyllic setting, this home makes every day feel like a vacation.

Exterior

Living Room

“We created as much seating as possible,” Ramsey says. Coffee table: Clubcu. Sofa, ottomans, and side table: Vanguard Furniture. Round table: West Elm. Rug: Fibreworks. Bench: custom, Hallman Furniture.

An ample niche near the Isokern fireplace holds plenty of wood. Chandelier: Kuzco. TV: Samsung. Table lamps: Hudson Valley Lighting. Cushions: Four Hands. Wall art: Molly Supplee (left) and Julio Laja Chichicaxtle (right).

Kitchen

Visual Comfort & Co. integrated LED pendants illuminate the lofty space after nightfall. Range: KitchenAid. Countertops: Cambria. Cabinetry: Grabill Cabinets. Hardware: Emtek. Counter stools: Arteriors.

Powder Room

Primary Bedroom

Above the Universal Furniture bed, art from Natural Curiosities echoes the view. Chandelier: Visual Comfort & Co. Lamps: Hudson Valley Lighting. Nightstands: Noir. Rug: Loloi. Curtains: Dandelion Interiors. Bench, side table, and chairs: Four Hands.

En Suite Bath

A soaking tub by MTI Baths with Rohl fixtures sits in an alcove, offering a scenic spot to unwind. Curtains: Dandelion Interiors with Forest Drapery Hardware. Stool: Found. Flooring: TileBar. Rug: vintage.

Pool

Patio

Ramsey set Four Hands chaise lounges facing the lake to create a quiet relaxation spot along with a dining table, which seats five, for casual meals. Dining chairs and ottoman: CB2. Pillows: Jaipur Living.

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