Haywood County home blurs the line between architecture and attitude
Photo by David Dietrich
“We’re optimists,” says the owner of a 120-acre property in Haywood County. When she and her husband purchased the former foreclosure more than a decade ago — most of it protected under a conservation easement with the North American Land Trust, and therefore undevelopable — they saw possibility where others might see limitation.
“There were only a few buildable sites on the property, but that was part of the appeal,” the wife notes. “We wanted to create something special that would be protected into perpetuity.”
For 13 years, the couple lived in an existing residence on the land, dreaming of their forever home. When the time came to build, they turned to Clark & Leatherwood, Inc.
Project manager Alex Davis says the homeowners were inspired by “the modern architecture, and to some extent the landscape, found in the Mountain West.” The goal, he explains, was to dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, creating “a sense where outside was brought in, and inside was taken out.”
Architect Shawn Leatherwood, owner of The Architectural Studio, echoes this vision.
“The owners were drawn to a modern, uncluttered look, but one grounded in the landscape,” he says. “Our challenge was to bring the outdoors in — not just the long-range views, but the intimate ones, too.”
To make this a reality, Susan Chancey, owner of Susan Chancey Interiors, worked closely with the build team. “The homeowners wanted a beautiful retreat with authenticity. That became our north star,” she says.
Aesthetically, the design leaned toward organic refinement: warm textures, honest materials, and a palette that echoes the surrounding mountains. That palette finds its purest expression in the great room, says Chancey.
“The great room might just be the heart of this home,” she says. “It captures that perfect balance between scale and intimacy — soaring light-filled ceilings layered with warm woods and subtle texture. It’s a room that feels expansive yet grounded, dramatic yet livable.”
That dialogue between contrast and cohesion continues in the kitchen, where quarter-sawn white oak cabinets in a midnight glaze meet blackened-steel cabinetry. Open backs reveal the stone backsplash beyond, highlighting the home’s layered materials and textures.
“We probably mixed more metal and wood in this house than any I’ve ever done,” says Lane Pressley, owner of Expressions Kitchen Studio. “Each space had its own character, but Susan Chancey tied it all together beautifully.”
Chancey also wove in deeply personal details. Off the dining area, for instance, a glass-enclosed wine room showcases the couple’s collection of 2006 vintage bottles — the year they were married — while a heart-shaped stone from Colorado is set into the outdoor fireplace masonry as a quiet tribute to their travels. Elsewhere, thoughtful touches like antique-mirror accents and locally crafted art speak to a design process rooted in collaboration and care.
“There was this feeling that everyone was building something bigger than a home — we were building a shared vision,” says the designer. “That harmony is what made the process unforgettable. It wasn’t just a project; it was a community of makers creating something lasting.”
That same spirit inspired the project’s name: Glass Half Full.
“There’s a lot of glass in the house,” the wife says with a laugh, “but the name also reflects how we try to approach life: always looking for the positive.”
Lofty Retreat
Upstairs, a secondary living space offers a more intimate perch — a cozy counterpoint to the airy great room below. Centered around a striking linear gas fireplace with decorative spheres and a faux plaster finish by artist Anna Kraus, the room blends comfort and craftsmanship. A Verellen sofa and leather coffee table pair with two swivel chairs upholstered in Belgian Berber linen, creating an inviting spot for conversation.
Polishing Off Dinner
Designed for lingering, the dining room centers around an Arhaus Almeria table of steel and Guanacaste wood. Verellen’s Perrin chairs, upholstered in a richly textured faux shearling, sit alongside an Amelie banquette in timeless tan leather. All furnishings were chosen by interior designer Susan Chancey. A stone fireplace adds tactile warmth, while soft light plays across the concrete floor, inviting meals that stretch long into the evening.
Equal parts beauty and utility, the pantry features custom cabinetry by Expressions Kitchen Studio. Antique mirror panels line the backsplash and upper cabinets, reflecting light and movement. “The pantry is probably one of my favorite spaces,” the wife says. “I’ve always wanted one because we love to cook.”
Material World
The kitchen is a study in contrast, where wood, steel, and stone play in quiet rhythm. Custom cabinets by Expressions Kitchen Studio pair quarter-sawn white oak in a midnight glaze with blackened-steel fronts that echo the home’s exposed beams. “Galactic White” quartzite from Mountain Marble wraps the backsplash and countertops, continuing the tactile dialogue, while a three-inch-thick walnut bar introduces warmth. Above, hand-rubbed antique-brass pendants by Visual Comfort cast a soft glow over a row of leather barstools.
Let it Linger
An unforgettable light fixture from Visual Comfort with gilded metal and swirled glass balls adds atmosphere to the primary closet boudoir, designed in collaboration with More Space Place. The room is an expert blend of easy access and extra storage; multiple smooth surfaces invite lingering contemplation. “We wanted it to be gorgeous and moody,” says Susan Chancey. A clever pass-through executed by cabinetry vendor Expressions Kitchen Studio means laundry can exit the closet into the mudroom with just a push, reveals Chancey.
Stillness in Grain
In the primary bedroom, the custom sycamore bed by Steve Blanton of Wooden Steel Craft was milled from a single Buncombe County log, its grain uninterrupted from headboard to foot. Walls in “Thunderous” by Sherwin-Williams envelop the space in shadowed calm, while Annie Selke bedding and a Jaipur hand-knotted rug lend softness underfoot. Above the bed hangs “As Sure as the Moon,” an original charcoal and soft pastel by Asheville artist Linsey Gray.
Rock of Ages
The lower living room segues into a ground-level fireplace in an outdoor space that the homeowners call their porte-cochère. The rockwork (Haywood Landscapes) is centered by a heart-shaped rock from the owner’s travels. The earthy palette is inspired by the natural surroundings, with a sophisticated blend of voluptuous textiles and steel framing.
Open to the Land
Set on 120 acres protected under a conservation easement, this Haywood County home feels both expansive and discreet — a modern silhouette tucked gently into the landscape. The exterior features nickel-gap knotty Western red cedar siding finished in a custom-blend stain, a material choice that echoes the surrounding forest and is designed to weather gracefully over time.
Resources:
Builder: Clark & Leatherwood, Inc. (Waynesville)
Interior Designer: Susan Chancey, Susan Chancey Interiors (Asheville)
Architect:The Architectural Studio (Waynesville)
Custom Woodwork: Wooden Steel Craft (Waynesville)
Cabinetry: Lane Pressley, Expressions Kitchen Studio (Asheville)
Countertops: Mountain Marble (Asheville)
Flooring: Gennett Lumber (Fletcher)
Tile: Southeastern Tile (Mills River)
Closet Design: More Space Place (Asheville)
Doors and Windows: Morrison Millwork (Fletcher), Sun Mountain Doors (Fletcher)
Furniture: Verellen (High Point)
Wine Cellar Shelving: Kessick Wine Cellars (Greenville, SC)
Landscaping: Haywood Landscapes Inc. (Waynesville)