Throughout the years, the homes that have been built here in the Highlands-Cashiers area have been as varied as the families that have come here. From the simple to the elegant, there are homes of every description tucked away down country lanes. Just likes homes in the big cities of Atlanta or Miami, homes here in our area have become more spacious as the demands of the populous have increased.

This month’s featured home is magnificent to look at a dream home that anyone would be glad to call home. Named “Rockcliff” by its builder, it has been two years in the building. Blending rustic style with the elegance of an urban mansion, this “smart house” includes the technology that you have seen mainly in the movies. Remember the Jetsons of cartoon fame and how their house could do just about anything? Well, that’s how it is at Rockcliff. Computers control the lighting, the multiple sound systems, the heating and cooling, etc.

Smart and beautiful-what a combination! Imagine 200 year old beams from a Canadian church, more than 300 tons of dry stack stone, a mantle out of a European Castle, “judge’s paneling” in the library, flooring inlaid with walnut and cherry banding and you will begin to understand the look of this home. Careful attention has been paid to every detail. Bookcases and cabinetry abound, just waiting for your collections. Niches have been designed in several rooms to house those flat panel screens or your favorite work of art.

Walking into the spacious kitchen would inspire any gourmet cook, with custom cabinets of natural wormy maple, cabinet space galore with space enough for everything you have accumulated over the years. From the granite topped, central island it’s just a few steps to anything you need. Pick your favorite wine from the wine chiller as you prepare dinner. Just off the kitchen is a large inud/ laundry room with ample cabinets, a place for muddy boots and dirty clothes; a great place to drop all those bags of groceries after a day of errands.

The center of the home is the large vaulted cypress ceiling living room with two sets of French doors on either side of the massive stone fireplace opening to a spacious deck with its own stone tire- place and a long distance view of the “whale side of Whiteside Mountain.” As you relax on the deck the sounds of your own private stream meandering through the lush greenery of your masterfully landscaped yard, lull you into a relaxed state. Your tensions subside and your are soon dreaming of that next golf game, fly fishing expedition or that next day trip.

After the adventures of the day you escape to the Master Suite with its “his and hers” baths with travertine shower, oversized cedar closets with built in shelving and dresser, and your bedroom suite with plenty of windows to allow in the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Not feeling especially social? Select something from your own private mini-bar and just sit back and relax.

Got several guests that need an area of their own? Put them in the glass elevator and send them down to the media room with its natural hickory flooring and another massive stack stone fireplace, wet bar with ice maker and wine storage. The cypress ceiling and 200-year-old beams combine with the two sets of French doors to give the room a cozy, comfortable decor. Escape to another expansive deck or complete your workout in the adjacent exercise room with its own laundry, television cabinet and wet bar. Your guests can enjoy the “terra cotta suite including their own sitting room, a second master bedroom with private deck and two full baths, one featuring a large shower with five shower heads.

On those cold winter days, it is just a short walk on this level to the two-car garage or the workshop. Your coil-lined driveway with heating elements that turn on automatically when the temperature drops to 36 degrees when snowing or 32 degrees when raining insures that there is no ice to hamper your escape into town for entertainment. Down the steps from this level, you have a spacious in-law/staff suite complete with two decks overlooking your beautifully landscaped yard with its meandering stream. With a full kitchen, bedroom, and bath, this area would also be a great recreation area for children and grandchildren. Imagine the fun you could have here with your own billiard room.

Can your family never agree on the type of music to listen to? Never fear, “smart house is here”; dad in one room listening to the Braves games; mom and the garden club meeting on the deck with soft music in the background; Jim, teenage son enjoying MTV while daughter, Joan and her friends are listening to Dr. Laura. No, not a dream; reality using your “sound system to die for.” You’ve planned a party and the guests will he here any minute. Go into “entertainment mode” and push one button and the lights in the house are set for entertaining; after the guests have left and you have retired to the master suite; push one button and the interior lights turn off, while the exterior security lights come on at the preset security setting. When you are traveling and want to check on your house, Rockcliff can be accessed via Internet from anywhere in the world. Check on the lighting, and water heaters; look around the house via CCTV or simply write the house cleaner a check: simple as “1,2,3.”

A house like Rockcliff did not happen overnight and not without a lot of coordination between the many talented people. Sanders Dupree, designer, coupled with Sergei Klachkou, builder; and many talented artisans to make this dream house a reality. Ben Welch and his cabinet crew of Franklin are responsible for all cabinets, vanities, master closet, judge’s paneling, and the installation of the antiques beams, mantles, etc. The dry stack stone fireplaces, walkways and retaining walls plus the tile work throughout the baths and the mudroom are the mas terful work of Adelaide Mendoza and his crew. The detail interior trim and the beautiful wood staircases were crafted by Lucas Pitman, and Ben & Gene Ivy of Ivy Ridge Builders of Glenville. You won’t believe the artful beauty of the rustic locust stair rails artfully designed and installed by Belva and Larry Childers and their son Rob. Rob and his custom mantles were featured in the April 2005 issue of the Laurel. The flooring with its beautiful inlay is the art of Dale Tyler and his flooring crew. Juan Olvera completed the painting while granite counter tops were crafted and installed by Beaux Pettys and his crew of Inman Park Granite of Atlanta. This magnificent home is supported by 12” concrete walls designed and installed by Cannon Concrete of Highlands.

Think this house is just too magnificent to be real? You are welcome to see the home and even take a tour. It is located at 193 Highlands Point just 2 miles down the Dillard Road from Main Street. Visit www.highlandspoint.com or call Pam Taylor at Country Club Properties to make an appointment (828) 526-2520.

Laurel, August 2005