Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Modern Mountain Magic in Asheville
Inspired by their mountain views, a North Carolina couple build their forever home
Breaking Up a Typical Box
Starla and Scott hail from Oklahoma and Texas and were used to brick ranches with traditional rooflines. “We knew we wanted something totally different from that,” Starla says.
A series of dynamic rooflines tops the different volumes of the house, and a variety of materials including cedar, painted cedar and stone break them up visually even more. Even the garage, often an overwhelming, out-of-scale eyesore on a typical facade, is broken up into two different pavilion-like structures, one clad in stone and the other in cedar. The Campbells knew they wanted to be able to make the most of the views from inside and bring in the natural light from clerestory windows. (In this photo we are only seeing one level; what looks like a second story is simply the high ceilings in some of the main level’s rooms.)
The siting of the house on the property was also important. “Our architect, John Petri, is old school in that he spent a lot of time on the site studying the views, the light and the best place to see the sunset,” Starla says. He planned the front porch on the left accordingly. It enjoys views on three sides, but the mountain view to the west off the back of the house provides the most spectacular sunset spectacles. Additionally, the couple are hoping to retire early and stay here forever, so he planned for them to age in place here.
Savings tip: Starla estimates that creating two custom garage doors like these would have cost about $12,000. Instead the builders used basic ready-made doors from Clopay and trimmed them out with wood slats to create a custom look for about $5,000.
Find a design-build firm in your area
Starla and Scott hail from Oklahoma and Texas and were used to brick ranches with traditional rooflines. “We knew we wanted something totally different from that,” Starla says.
A series of dynamic rooflines tops the different volumes of the house, and a variety of materials including cedar, painted cedar and stone break them up visually even more. Even the garage, often an overwhelming, out-of-scale eyesore on a typical facade, is broken up into two different pavilion-like structures, one clad in stone and the other in cedar. The Campbells knew they wanted to be able to make the most of the views from inside and bring in the natural light from clerestory windows. (In this photo we are only seeing one level; what looks like a second story is simply the high ceilings in some of the main level’s rooms.)
The siting of the house on the property was also important. “Our architect, John Petri, is old school in that he spent a lot of time on the site studying the views, the light and the best place to see the sunset,” Starla says. He planned the front porch on the left accordingly. It enjoys views on three sides, but the mountain view to the west off the back of the house provides the most spectacular sunset spectacles. Additionally, the couple are hoping to retire early and stay here forever, so he planned for them to age in place here.
Savings tip: Starla estimates that creating two custom garage doors like these would have cost about $12,000. Instead the builders used basic ready-made doors from Clopay and trimmed them out with wood slats to create a custom look for about $5,000.
Find a design-build firm in your area
The Entry Sets the Tone
The entry is a good example of the Campbells’ approach. “We love the balance of clean lines with all of the textures of stone, cedar and views through the glass,” Starla says. “We wanted the architecture to provide lots of visual interest, taking advantage of the natural materials, and be able to stand alone without adding a lot of decor to it.” To keep an organic feeling, they stuck with matte and metallic tones as well as finishes that have a patina. Look through the window and note how the stone wall appears to continue from inside to out.
The entry is a good example of the Campbells’ approach. “We love the balance of clean lines with all of the textures of stone, cedar and views through the glass,” Starla says. “We wanted the architecture to provide lots of visual interest, taking advantage of the natural materials, and be able to stand alone without adding a lot of decor to it.” To keep an organic feeling, they stuck with matte and metallic tones as well as finishes that have a patina. Look through the window and note how the stone wall appears to continue from inside to out.
In the great room, the windows, a large stone fireplace and an oversize sliding barn door add more of these architectural elements. Starla notes that when she looked up barn doors like this online she saw that they cost thousands of dollars each. Instead she had the trim carpenter custom-build five interior sliding barn doors for around $2,000 total. “We tried hard to be really smart with our choices,” she says.
A local artisan made the forged-steel fireplace doors. There is ample storage for logs below the hearth. The log storage is lined in steel as well.
The designers carefully considered the scale of every element to suit the 17-foot-high ceilings. The ceilings in the living room are covered in dark-stained wood and beams to maintain a feeling of rustic coziness that balances the soaring height.
Wall and cabinet paint: Extra White, Sherwin-Williams
A local artisan made the forged-steel fireplace doors. There is ample storage for logs below the hearth. The log storage is lined in steel as well.
The designers carefully considered the scale of every element to suit the 17-foot-high ceilings. The ceilings in the living room are covered in dark-stained wood and beams to maintain a feeling of rustic coziness that balances the soaring height.
Wall and cabinet paint: Extra White, Sherwin-Williams
Designing for a Lifestyle
Petri spoke at length with the Campbells about how they like to live at home. “We did not want to waste one inch in this house,” Starla says. She and Scott live casually and agreed that they had no use for a formal dining room, as they prefer to eat in a cozy booth or in front of the TV, or to take their plates out to the porch.
For occasions when they have extra dinner guests, they decided on a drop-leaf table that doubles as a sofa table and a dining table that can seat 12. Scott crafted the table from maple wood that was reclaimed from a 70-year-old boxcar. We’ll see wood from this batch pop up a few more times around the house.
The large, comfortable sofa suits them well. The coffee table brings in more rustic wood but in a clean cylindrical shape. The dark beams from the ceiling continue into the kitchen while the crisp white paint and square clerestory windows bring the modern into mountain modern.
The floors throughout the house are engineered hand-scraped walnut. The planks are 9 inches wide and they ground the design in a dark, rich layer of natural texture.
Petri spoke at length with the Campbells about how they like to live at home. “We did not want to waste one inch in this house,” Starla says. She and Scott live casually and agreed that they had no use for a formal dining room, as they prefer to eat in a cozy booth or in front of the TV, or to take their plates out to the porch.
For occasions when they have extra dinner guests, they decided on a drop-leaf table that doubles as a sofa table and a dining table that can seat 12. Scott crafted the table from maple wood that was reclaimed from a 70-year-old boxcar. We’ll see wood from this batch pop up a few more times around the house.
The large, comfortable sofa suits them well. The coffee table brings in more rustic wood but in a clean cylindrical shape. The dark beams from the ceiling continue into the kitchen while the crisp white paint and square clerestory windows bring the modern into mountain modern.
The floors throughout the house are engineered hand-scraped walnut. The planks are 9 inches wide and they ground the design in a dark, rich layer of natural texture.
Easy Indoor-Outdoor Transitions
Twelve-foot-wide pocketing glass doors make indoor-outdoor mountain living easy. However, unless the Campbells are entertaining, they leave these closed because they’ve spied a black bear or two wandering from their driveway onto the porch.
Twelve-foot-wide pocketing glass doors make indoor-outdoor mountain living easy. However, unless the Campbells are entertaining, they leave these closed because they’ve spied a black bear or two wandering from their driveway onto the porch.
The porch has a lounge area around the fireplace. It also has a dining area, and the far end of the porch has an outdoor kitchen that contains the grill, a Big Green Egg ceramic grill, cabinets for storage and a black granite countertop for prep.
Thanks to its thoughtful placement, the porch enjoys views on three sides.
Thanks to its thoughtful placement, the porch enjoys views on three sides.
It also enjoys the best views of spectacular sunsets over the mountains.
Stepping back inside, the kitchen is wide open to the great room and also enjoys expansive views of the surrounding woods and mountains.
The island provides a nice transition between the great room space and the kitchen and can serve as a buffet when the drop-leaf table is serving a dinner group. The island is different from the rest of the cabinet in that it is painted gray and has a countertop of thick, leathered Fantasy Brown marble, which is harder than most marbles and is sometimes marketed as a quartzite.
The tall white cabinet between the two spaces is the beverage station. The couple wanted spring water readily available but hated the look of water coolers. “And I’m really lazy in the mornings, but I want my coffee,” Starla says. Inside the cabinet is a system that holds a 5-gallon water bottle cooler and hot-water system and a Keurig, so it’s all one easy stop to get it ready in the morning.
Island paint: Grizzle Grey, Sherwin-Williams
The island provides a nice transition between the great room space and the kitchen and can serve as a buffet when the drop-leaf table is serving a dinner group. The island is different from the rest of the cabinet in that it is painted gray and has a countertop of thick, leathered Fantasy Brown marble, which is harder than most marbles and is sometimes marketed as a quartzite.
The tall white cabinet between the two spaces is the beverage station. The couple wanted spring water readily available but hated the look of water coolers. “And I’m really lazy in the mornings, but I want my coffee,” Starla says. Inside the cabinet is a system that holds a 5-gallon water bottle cooler and hot-water system and a Keurig, so it’s all one easy stop to get it ready in the morning.
Island paint: Grizzle Grey, Sherwin-Williams
Those sitting on the social side of the kitchen or working at the sink enjoy big mountain views. Elements that add organic touches include the handcrafted walnut stools and the light fixtures, which have twig-like silhouettes.
The perimeter countertops are black granite with a leathered finish. They are the same as the countertops in the outdoor kitchen, lending more indoor-outdoor continuity.
Wall and cabinet paint: Extra White, Sherwin-Williams; trim and booth paint: Peppercorn, Sherwin-Williams
Browse wood bar stools
The perimeter countertops are black granite with a leathered finish. They are the same as the countertops in the outdoor kitchen, lending more indoor-outdoor continuity.
Wall and cabinet paint: Extra White, Sherwin-Williams; trim and booth paint: Peppercorn, Sherwin-Williams
Browse wood bar stools
A cozy booth suits the family’s casual lifestyle, and this bay takes advantage of three-sided outdoor views. Scott made the booth’s top from the same boxcar wood he used on the sofa table.
Trim paint: Peppercorn, Sherwin-Williams
Trim paint: Peppercorn, Sherwin-Williams
A Space-Saving Move
Starla works from home full-time and her office is a small nook off the kitchen, where she can enjoy the views. Scott’s latest project is crafting a live-edge walnut desktop for her. “We hope we are able to retire early, and I dreaded the thought of wasting space on two large offices — what would we use them for then?” Starla says. “So I’m happy and cozy in this office.”
A door off her office leads to the screened-in porch in the back of the house.
Starla works from home full-time and her office is a small nook off the kitchen, where she can enjoy the views. Scott’s latest project is crafting a live-edge walnut desktop for her. “We hope we are able to retire early, and I dreaded the thought of wasting space on two large offices — what would we use them for then?” Starla says. “So I’m happy and cozy in this office.”
A door off her office leads to the screened-in porch in the back of the house.
A Favorite Meeting Spot
The screened-in porch is more relaxing than the open porch due to the screens, its hanging bed and the fact that Scott and Starla do not have to have their mental black bear radar activated when they are out here. They both have access to the porch from their offices, and they like to meet there for an after-work drink to catch up and relax. They also like to read, relax and listen to music out here. In addition to the entry off the kitchen and her office, there are entries onto the porch that lead from Scott’s office and from the master bedroom.
On this mountain-facing side of the house, the roof forms a series of dynamic planes. The screened-in porch is on the main level and everything beneath it is the lower level, which is underground on the driveway-facing side of the house. While this side of the house appears larger than that side, the roofline, the massing and the variety of materials keeps it from feeling monolithic, and it blends in nicely with the woodsy surroundings.
The screened-in porch is more relaxing than the open porch due to the screens, its hanging bed and the fact that Scott and Starla do not have to have their mental black bear radar activated when they are out here. They both have access to the porch from their offices, and they like to meet there for an after-work drink to catch up and relax. They also like to read, relax and listen to music out here. In addition to the entry off the kitchen and her office, there are entries onto the porch that lead from Scott’s office and from the master bedroom.
On this mountain-facing side of the house, the roof forms a series of dynamic planes. The screened-in porch is on the main level and everything beneath it is the lower level, which is underground on the driveway-facing side of the house. While this side of the house appears larger than that side, the roofline, the massing and the variety of materials keeps it from feeling monolithic, and it blends in nicely with the woodsy surroundings.
Starla designed this live-edge walnut shelf and Scott made it. The area beyond it is his office.
Another Architectural Feature Marks the Master Bedroom
A floor-to-ceiling headboard wall covered in wood pieces is another substantial architectural element. It’s another example of the Campbells spending their money wisely while making the house look more expensive than it was. “While some suppliers charged $50 per square foot for products like this, we chose one from Home Depot that was $10 per square foot,” Starla says. Scott made the nightstands out of the reclaimed boxcar wood. Simple industrial hanging lights provide an uncluttered look and highlight the textured wall.
In addition to natural touches, Starla found that industrial pieces fit in well with their mountain modern vision.
The bay serves as a reading nook, and Scott has been known to take conference calls here while looking out at the mountains.
Browse industrial-style pendant lights
A floor-to-ceiling headboard wall covered in wood pieces is another substantial architectural element. It’s another example of the Campbells spending their money wisely while making the house look more expensive than it was. “While some suppliers charged $50 per square foot for products like this, we chose one from Home Depot that was $10 per square foot,” Starla says. Scott made the nightstands out of the reclaimed boxcar wood. Simple industrial hanging lights provide an uncluttered look and highlight the textured wall.
In addition to natural touches, Starla found that industrial pieces fit in well with their mountain modern vision.
The bay serves as a reading nook, and Scott has been known to take conference calls here while looking out at the mountains.
Browse industrial-style pendant lights
So the Campbells limited the number of bedrooms to three, decided to forgo a formal dining room and kept one home office very small. But one space where they felt they wanted to use those square feet was in their master bathroom. It has a spacious double vanity, a large tub and an ample shower stall. There is a separate water closet in the space behind the bathtub.
The countertops are soapstone. The unusual sinks are black marble waterfall sinks. “I have to admit, this is one place where I went for form over function. They are beautiful, but with toothpaste we have to clean them constantly. They were not the most practical choice, but I love them,” Starla says.
The countertops are soapstone. The unusual sinks are black marble waterfall sinks. “I have to admit, this is one place where I went for form over function. They are beautiful, but with toothpaste we have to clean them constantly. They were not the most practical choice, but I love them,” Starla says.
The opposite side of the room is an open shower stall. “I’ve lived with 3-foot-by-3-foot shower stalls with shower curtains and with glass I had to squeegee every day. I did not want to deal with any more glass,” Starla says. The open shower design is also a good move for aging in place.
Over the bench is a casement window they can open to enjoy the breeze and talk to the bears. And Scott’s talents extend to landscaping; he’s currently working on a secret garden that can be viewed from this window.
Over the bench is a casement window they can open to enjoy the breeze and talk to the bears. And Scott’s talents extend to landscaping; he’s currently working on a secret garden that can be viewed from this window.
Houseguests Bunk Up Here
Now that they live in such an ideal location, the Campbells are finding they are popular hosts, especially for friends and family in Oklahoma and Texas who want to visit and enjoy the mountain air. The lower level includes a small kitchen, a living area, their daughter’s bedroom, two full bathrooms, Scott’s workshop and a bunkroom. “Rather than taking up space with extra guest bedrooms that would be empty most of the time, we decided to make one big bunkroom,” Starla says. She designed the bunks and Scott built them, and each one has its own nook with shelves. When they host a large group it’s one big mountain weekend slumber party.
Builder Sean Sullivan constructed the house with energy efficiency in mind. The home has a silver certification from The Green Built Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability via measurable standards in North Carolina.
Now that they live in such an ideal location, the Campbells are finding they are popular hosts, especially for friends and family in Oklahoma and Texas who want to visit and enjoy the mountain air. The lower level includes a small kitchen, a living area, their daughter’s bedroom, two full bathrooms, Scott’s workshop and a bunkroom. “Rather than taking up space with extra guest bedrooms that would be empty most of the time, we decided to make one big bunkroom,” Starla says. She designed the bunks and Scott built them, and each one has its own nook with shelves. When they host a large group it’s one big mountain weekend slumber party.
Builder Sean Sullivan constructed the house with energy efficiency in mind. The home has a silver certification from The Green Built Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability via measurable standards in North Carolina.
“We feel so blessed to be in this house. To build a home made for the way we live in the mountains is just beyond,” Starla says.
Takeaways
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Takeaways
- In new construction, break up an exterior facade with different masses of volumes and various rooflines. And spend ample time on the building site figuring what you want to view from each room.
- Install slats over a basic boring garage door for a custom look.
- For an organic modern look, mix clean lines and white walls with natural materials. Integrate these materials into the architecture.
- These architectural features are worth prioritizing in the budget. But as the Campbells have shown, they don’t have to break the bank.
- In addition to money, think about what to spend square footage on — consider where you spent your time and where you didn’t in previous homes. There aren’t rules that say there must be a formal dining room or extra bedrooms that are empty most of the time.
- In a bunkroom, give each bunk a niche or shelf for glasses, phones, books, waters and a reading light.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Starla and Scott Campbell, who have one daughter in high school who lives with them, as well as two kids in college
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Size: 4,000 square feet (372 square meters); three bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
Designers: Homeowner Starla Campbell in collaboration with Laura Sullivan of ID.ology Interiors & Design (interiors) and John Petri in collaboration with Sean Sullivan of Living Stone Design + Build (architecture)
Homeowner Starla Campbell talks to black bears out her shower window. She, her husband, Scott, and their daughter live harmoniously in the woods of Asheville, North Carolina, with them. The Campbells perched their house in a high spot with idyllic mountain views, and the home pays homage to its beautiful surroundings. The thoughtful mountain modern architectural style of the house blends in with the landscape while the interiors connect with the outdoors via windows, two porches and layers of natural materials that enrich the space with organic texture and colors.
Both homeowners were very involved in the design and construction of their forever home. And as they both work from home, they knew they would be spending most of their time in the house. Starla’s background is in interior design and Scott is a talented woodworker, and they are passionate about the idyllic surroundings and about handcrafted items. All around the home are pieces that Starla designed and Scott made, and an important part of the design was making sure he had ample space for a workshop for projects. “Modern can get kind of sterile,” Starla says. “We both wanted to add as many natural materials and handcrafted items as possible.”
Architect John Petri completed the plans, and the house was a collaborative effort among Living Stone Design + Build, the Campbells and interior designer Laura Sullivan. “Laura and John helped take our ideas and make our vision come to life,” Starla says. The Campbells were careful with their budget and believed in putting their money into permanent architectural features like interior stone walls while saving on things like appliances and lighting. “This truly was a high-low project,” she says.