Family partnerships result in a standout custom kitchen
By: Carolyn Kemmett
David Dietrich
When Jay and Sharon Linard went to transform the kitchen in their Lake James home, they didn’t have to do a deep dive for designers. Their own son Brad, owner of Atlanta-based Brad Linard Designs, is a gifted, sought-after creative with a celebrity-client roster to prove it. Brad worked in tandem with the custom-cabinetry firm Architectural Woodcraft, a highly respected presence in WNC since 1989.
About working with his parents, Brad notes, “I get them and they get me — naturally chips off the same block. Thus, we were able to bypass much of the discovery phase of the design process.
“It also helps that my folks trust me intrinsically — an aspect of our relationship that I value tremendously.”
Architectural Woodcraft is its own family affair. The father-daughter team comprises owner/founder Craig Weis and Operations Manager Karla Weis. Their high-wattage résumé leans more toward famous places than names — in addition to residential projects, the team has worked on the restoration of such historic architectural landmarks as Asheville’s Basilica of St. Lawrence and Bodie Island Lighthouse in Nags Head, administered by the National Park Service as part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Photo by David Dietrich
For the new build on Lake James, a jewel-toned recreational lake in the Blue Ridge foothills near Morganton, Brad implemented a design marked by the beautiful interplay between honey-toned wood and a subtly luxe quartzite-clad island surrounded by low-key seating for eating and entertaining. The simplicity both complements and enhances the kitchen’s knockout view.
Although Karla and Craig Weis had every reason to believe this project would proceed as smoothly as others, Mother Nature had other plans. In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene wreaked untold misery for residents in Western North Carolina, and especially in Buncombe County. Architectural Woodcraft’s shop was located near the main corridor of Asheville’s devastated River Arts District.
“Our studio was off Amboy Road,” explains Craig, “and though it was flood prone, we had no idea what was to come.” Karla adds that, in a valiant attempt to salvage what they could of their tools and materials, they placed them in a U-Haul on the property’s highest mound. However, “the flood destroyed everything,” she shares. “It took off our roof, and the U-Haul floated away. We found it later on the side of the river. Our studio was a total loss.”
This calamity profoundly impacted the Linard kitchen project’s progress, since half of the already fabricated — and highly detailed — custom cabinetry was lost and had to be rebuilt. Resolute, Karla and Craig eventually found a new space in Old Fort. Fortified by community support, including “grant money and a donation from the local Lowe’s,” says Karla, the Weises also invested their own money and sweat equity in retrofitting their new space. Additionally, sculptural woodworker and employee Rod Engleberg worked out of his home shop so the project could get back up to speed. (Craig and Karla were also able to rent the Swannanoa shop Union Woodworks on weekends.)
Despite the immense challenges, the fruits of their labor do not disappoint. “Craig, Karla, and the entire staff were a delight to work with,” says Jay Linard. “Our cabinetry is absolutely beautiful.” The kitchen blends Art Deco lines and sophistication with a futuristic simplicity that’s positively Jetsonian, thanks to the judicious use of stone with stainless steel.
The space’s recessed ceiling adds visual interest and is an ideal framework for the ultra-contemporary bronze hanging light fixture, custom made by Aurora Lampworks of Brooklyn (via Brad Linard). Streamlined cabinetry is faced with ripped, subtly striped white-oak strips that were precisely positioned to harmonize well when applied, and the walls feature tongue-in-groove paneling. In the pantry, upper cabinets are outfitted with matte-black, powder-coated aluminum demilune pulls and fulfilled by round pulls on the lower array. (All hardware on custom millwork was selected, per Brad, from Park Studio of Los Angeles.)
The amply proportioned island accommodates four diners comfortably and is made of creamy Taj Mahal quartzite (from Gorilla Stone of Charlotte), as is the dramatic oven hood. “Like many people now, the Linards incorporated lots of function into their island,” says Karla. It holds the dishwasher, faced with the same wood as the cabinetry, as well as a microwave drawer, specialty cabinets for mixers and other small appliances — “we love those,” says Jay — and plenty of storage.
For the pantry, though, the Linards went full-on nontraditional: Against painted cabinetry in Benjamin-Moore shades of “Bleeker Beige” and “Sailcloth,” the countertop and backsplash are matte stainless steel.
Sharon Linard praises the precision of the local firm’s craftsmanship. “The quality of their work is amazing. Specifically, [Architectural Woodcraft] recommended using quarter-sawn white oak, and did a spectacular job lining up the grain of the wood throughout the cabinetry.”
Brad also commends the “beautiful bespoke millwork” and adds, “The talents of the crew at Architectural Woodcraft capped the interiors of every room … I immediately felt at home working with Karla and Craig — we all speak the same language.”
Resources
Interior Design: Brad Linard Designs (Atlanta)
Custom Cabinetry: Architectural Woodcraft (Old Fort, NC); additional studio workspace provided by Union Woodworks (Swannanoa, NC)
Countertops: Gorilla Stone (Charlotte)