One great shot is worth 1,000 official greetings. If this superbly situated home looks familiar, it’s because the indelible image of mountain majesty was picked as a “you are here” marker for visitors: the photo of the fire pit with surrounding blue peaks greets thousands of arriving passengers at the Asheville Airport.
Sited slightly below the covered porch to take advantage of the beyond-beautiful mountain panorama, the gathering place is circled by sunken wraparound seating crafted from native Tennessee fieldstone. The natural edges of this high-rustic “sofa” create the look of an ancient amphitheater.
The owners say they love being able to make s’mores from the rocky ledge of the fire pit, then relax back into the seating to take in the view and listen to music. The recessed aspect of the whole tableau creates a natural canvas for local bulbs and perennials, stagger-sowed to bloom all year long. Because the space has been created using all-natural materials, the visual interest never competes with the forest around it.
The look: Elevated Rusticity
The location: The Cliffs at Walnut Cove
The luxe factor: Recessed fire pit with stone seating
RESOURCES: Designer Pam McKay, Dianne Davant & Associates; Builder Glennwood Custom Builders; Architect Steve Werner, Shoreline Architecture; Landscape Architect Greg Cloos, Cloos Landscape Architecture