Home Sweet Mountain Home

You know the old saying, there's no place like home. Everybody tries to make home a special place where comfort dominates and ceremony ceases. We're no different because we built our mountain home to be first and foremost comfortable but we also built it to be functional, creative and efficient.

If you add up all the hours it took to build our cabin I suspect it totals about 1 full year. My wife would say 1 full year, 24/7. It did take some time but to be fair the cabin has some interesting elements that you just don't build overnight. So if you're thinking about building your own mountain cabin or buying one already built there's lots to consider.

Planning took a lot of time and energy because we spent several years gathering magazine articles about cabins, taking photos of specific elements of other cabins that we liked, buying lots of cabin books, researching building techniques, and drawing countless sketches of our future cabin. It was a lot of work but helped us focus and pin point our final plan.

The flow of the cabin works well for our lifestyle. You enter through our front door which actually most people would call the back door because it faces the mountain while most people think the view side of the cabin is the front...now I'm confused. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I'll add some pictures and keep the verbiage under a thousand words.

Barn wood wainscoting

When you enter you're greeted with the warmth of weathered wood and rustic charm. A lot of the elements in the cabin are from old material repurposed. We used 100 year old unstained barn wood as our wainscoting. The wood was harvested from a barn a couple of miles down the mountain so it's special because it has been a part of the area for many years and a landmark on our many visits to the property. Our floors were milled in Roaring River from North Carolina pine. Each floor board, in different widths, was installed using square antique nails. We inlayed a compass in the floor using holly and walnut as accent woods to show the placement of the cabin (southern exposure).




The fireplace is wood burning and took the most time to craft. Most of the stone is lightweight man-made stone with natural stone from the property mixed in for detail. The firebox uses a high efficiency slow burn system that helps heat the 1500 sf cabin. 







The kitchen is built for the gourmet chef. It has a very large island for food prep and storage, a gas stove with electric oven, wormy chestnut cabinet doors, including an old Hoosier kitchen cabinet, and a pantry that is secured by an old country store screen door. The ceiling is made of rusted tin from an old NC barn near Raleigh. The countertop was fashioned from oak taken from an old home in Boone then sealed and edged with walnut. Our copper farm sink makes for easy use.

Kitchen pantry screen door

The dining room is small and open but super functional. We enjoy our meals with a view of the mountains beyond. The table seats 6 and is made from a hemlock slab and old locust legs. Chairs were recycled and new leather cushions were attached.

The living room is cozy. The sofa and matching chair are craftsman style and came from my parents home. The fabric has a bit of a native indian design. The view from the living room looks out onto a spacious covered porch and over the mountains too.





We designed a guest room just off the entrance foyer as well as an adjacent guest bathroom with walnut countertop. A cedar tree and branch from Chapel Hill provide support for the vessel sink and base. The shower is tiled with travertine and enclosed in glass.

We included an 18' cedar tree in the living room to help support the upper loft floor and accent the stair system at the top. The stair steps are hand hewn pine slabs with pine posts. The railing is made up of rhododendron branches and twigs that add a warm rustic feel as you travel to the second floor. The wall leading upstairs displays our family photos that include several generations.

The loft was designed as a reading area and a home office. The desk is topped by more rusted tin that is used as a message/photo center. An old barndoor covers hidden storage above.

The master suite is located on the upper level as well. The bedroom is paneled in rough white washed pine to give the appearance of an old barn interior. Our large open closet is separated from the bedroom by a short free standing wall. This allows for good circulation and ease of access with no doors to get in the way.

Our master bathroom includes a clawfoot tub that we found near Boone. The cabinet is custom built with wormy chestnut wings on each end of a ceramic sink. Plenty of storage is available in the cabinet as well as a recycled bathroom wall cabinet.

All ceilings, except the kitchen and bathrooms, are made of tongue and groove pine. This pine came from a mill at Roaring River too. The wood was sealed and left its natural tones.

The cabin is heated by a geothermal heat system that uses the constant 55 degree temps of the sub-surface earth to provide 68+ degree comfortable heat. Our heating cost for last winter was $50 per month. The system provides air conditioning but we haven't used it because of our comfortable high altitude climate.

Our cabin has been cozy, functional and efficient and will serve us for years to come. There's nothing like it to enjoy the view, read a good book or sit in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine. 




To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. ~Anonymous

Why Ashe County?

North Carolina became our official home when we moved to Raleigh in 1973. Both my wife and I were born and reared in Florida but our life journey brought us to the Tarheel state because of employment. My wife as an educator and me as a personnel director for a large retail chain based in NC.

Early in our marriage we owned a cabin in the north Georgia woods that we visited many times while living in Raleigh. My wife's family spent summers in that area and we followed suite. At the time the trip was easily 9 hours one way and it didn't take long for us to realize that there's got to be a mountain location closer to home base that would give us more 'mountain time'. We eventually sold the cabin and started talking about NC and the beautiful mountains that were within 4 hours of our home.

A number of years, two children and life zoomed past at mach speed until in 2001 we got serious about starting a search for our next mountain home. I remember clearly that our focus was on a location that would eventually become our permanent residence. Our short list included:

• Close so we could enjoy it over time
• Long range mountain views / altitude
• Close to cultural amenities
• Buildable land
• Easy drive to town
• Affordable
• 10 acres
• Good investment in the event we ever wanted to sell
• Permanent residence potential

We dissected the NC mountains by geographic area. We included the mountain range west of Hickory and on to the borders of Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina. We simply discounted actual border states because at this juncture we were head over tarheels with NC and wanted to make this our forever home. We narrowed our focus to the counties of Buncombe, Haywood, Swain, Jackson, McDowell, Mitchell, Avery, Watauga and of course Ashe. Those counties that didn't make the list were cut for reasons that now escape me but those that rose to the top met many of our bullet points for a second home property.

Several times a year we'd make the trek to another target area on our list and check out properties of interest. Most met some of our criteria but not all our criteria. I can remember Buncombe County was of particular interest because we like Asheville and surrounding areas but as we researched the area closer it didn't meet our 'affordable' requirement. While some did hit our financial mark they lacked in other points that were too hard for us to overcome.

Each trip 'educated' us more on specific areas. As time went on we gradually narrowed our search to a couple of prime locations. Jackson and Ashe counties were among our favorites but Ashe stood out. Thinking back, we really didn't look closely at Ashe County until late in our search because of our large target area. I remember driving back to Raleigh from another area of interest and, having some extra time, driving through Ashe County just to take a look-see. That drive through set the stage for our next and last scouting trip to the mountains.

A few months passed and we were on the road again but this time specifically to visit Ashe County. A friend's brother that had a second home there offered to give us the cook's tour. Those 3 hours, spent with him, was the best time of our entire NC mountain search. We saw the county from top to bottom while looking at subdivisions, raw land, cabins, and towns within the county. I remember on our trip home that the vote was unanimous for Ashe County.

Our original plan was to build on 10 acres sometime in the future as we got closer to retirement (now that's another blog topic...retirement). I spent most of my working career as a photographer but came from a building family. Ultimately I received my general contractor's license in 2000 with the primary goal of building our mountain home. 

During the building process

One Ashe County subdivision did catch our attention...Big Tree. It met all of our criteria except one. It was not affordable for the 10 acres we wanted. This was 2006 and the real estate market was on the up side all across the spectrum. Land was expensive, cabins were expensive, even our Raleigh home had appreciated beyond our wildest expectations. We gave Big Tree some serious thought and compared it to all of what we found in 9 counties and decided that this was the place for us. In 2007 we purchased 2 acres on Big Tree and started the next phase of our planning...the cabin we were going to build.

View from our cabin

As you remember, the bottom fell out of the real estate market in 2008 and of course we bought at the height...story of our lives. Even with the inflated pre-2008 prices our decision was one of the best we could have ever made. The property is within 6 miles of West Jefferson, NC. It would be a good investment should the market return and we ever had to sell. It is within an easy drive to Boone where Appalachian State University resides. The land is at 4,300 foot elevation so our view is very long range. The pitch of the property is gentle making it an ideal location to build. It wasn't 10 acres but all our other criteria outweighed this one negative.

We had a fantastic architect from Hillsborough help us with our plan. Harvey Architecture incorporated all of our design requests into a functional and very workable plan. We chose to build our cabin using structural insulated panels from a North Carolina company called Eco-Panels. The build was a very smooth and efficient processes. Everything fell into place on time and on budget. The result has continued to serve us well for comfort, functionality and energy efficiency.

Since we moved to Ashe County full time in 2012 our life has been a great adventure. We've found the people to be generous, giving, super helpful, honest and loving. The town of West Jefferson offers up most of our material needs and to supplement we plan an occasional trip to either Winston-Salem or Charlotte and the internet to fill any small gaps. The weather so far has given us an opportunity to enjoy 4 seasons and find each to be more exciting than the last. There's lots to see and do in and around Ashe County ( Ashe Co. Chamber of Commerce ) ( The Coolest County ) and much to discover. Our search has ended and our journey has begun.

Love to have you join us in our mountain paradise...why not Ashe County!

If at first you don't succeed, skydivings not for you. - S. Johns

Winter Wonderland

We used to live in Raleigh and I remember everybody dreading the onset of winter. Call me crazy but I liked winter back then but now that I live in the mountains...I love winter. Don't get me wrong I like spring, summer and fall too but there's just something neat about winter.

View from our home office

There's a lot special about winter in our mountains. The winter air brings a cleansing that makes you feel really alive. It's that refreshing non-polluted breathe of fresh air that I like best. Not only that but the clear air sure makes long range views something else. Come to think about it we have fresh air the year 'round and great views too.

People assume that just because you live in the mountains it snows all of the time; not true. I've never seen it snow in July (just kidding). But when it does snow it's really an exciting time. Mix one part snow with one part cool air and one part winter scenery and you've got the makings of a Norman Rockwell painting. There's nothing like taking a hike soon after a snowfall and looking back at the path, it's like you're the first person to ever set foot on this part of the planet.

Friends who don't live here talk about their idea of winter clothing when in the mountains. They think you have to bundle up from head to toe. Most days I get away with exactly what they wear on a winter day. Layering your clothing makes for a manageable system. Fleece jacket, long sleeve shirt, pants and hiking shoes is my normal December through February attire. Add long johns when Ray's Weather predicts 'very cold' and you're good to go. Actually I've only worn my long johns twice this season so far. Side note: after proof reading this paragraph I sound like a fashion critic... somebody save me!

I mentioned Ray's Weather our source for weather prognostication. I can't speak highly enough about Ray. He and his staff hit the weather prediction mark dead center 99% of the time. I check Ray's Weather everyday and use it to plan outdoor activities. If you're planning a visit to Ashe County then check it out first: Ray's Weather

Wildlife, in my eyes, seem to have it tough in cold weather but in reality I see them move about as though it's just another season. We keep bird feed out for the birds and they squirrels enjoy it. Our deer friends mill around munching on whatever they can find this time of year. Occasionally we throw out cut off greens from supper to supplement their diet and they seem to really like it. We've always put out a few fresh pumpkins for our fall decoration in anticipation of Thanksgiving. The pumpkins stay fresh through November but then they disappear about the time we're ready to discard them. One morning we witnessed two deer enjoying one of the pumpkins and within an hour it was totally gone...case solved.

Last year I had my skis tuned in anticipation of winter but finishing our house took precedence and they never touched powder. This year is going to be different. I'm planning a few trips to some of our nearby ski resorts. We're within a short drive to some really nice powder. Here's some links to whet your skiing appetite: Sugar Mountain Resort   Beech Mountain Resort   Appalachian Ski Mountain

On our walk

It's January and we're experiencing snowfall here on the mountain. I'm going to head out today and play in the snow...remember those days? I believe we hit a record here on Bald Mountain minus 17 degrees with minus 50 degree wind chill. Something about a Siberian front that hit the bulk of the nation. Normally it's very nice up here where the birds soar.

A picture is worth a thousand words...enjoy!








If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. - unknown

Calling North Carolina Home

I feel there's no place like North Carolina to call home; either as a permanent residence or as a second home away from home. The mountains are magical and offer a multitude of sights and sounds, and activities to soothe the soul. You don't have to go very far to enjoy fly fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hunting, antiquing, skiing, rock climbing or just sitting with a good book and taking in the fresh air.

Ashe County is blessed, in addition to its mountains, to have the historical New River running through it. The river offers great rafting, kayaking and tube floats either on your own or with the help of some skilled outfitters. Trout streams abound for the fly fisherman looking for rainbows, speckled or brown trout. For more information about the New River go to link: New River Notes

The county is home to a number of antique shops that offer grandma's treasures or hand made NC crafts. Take a stroll down Jefferson Avenue in West Jefferson and you'll enjoy all sorts of wonderful shops. You'll find restaurants, antiques, clothing, coffee, wine, cheese and a variety of specialty shops for your shopping pleasure.

Ashe County tree farmers grow premium quality Christmas trees. Many have made their way to the White House. The active cutting season is relatively short starting around mid-November and ending a week or so before Christmas. Our tree farmers stay busy year around tending the trees. A tree might take upwards of 8 years to reach maturity so there's a lot of behind the scenes activity every day to keep them groomed and healthy. Check out Ashe County Christmas Trees to learn more about it.

Your drive around the county will expose you to another product of Ashe County...cattle. Most of the cattle you'll see are beef cattle while some are dairy cattle. The only real difference I can see is the dairy farmer has to get up real early to milk the cows while the beef farmer gets a few more winks in the morning. Either way, these farmers contribute to the agriculture base of our county. Let's not forget to mention all of the farmers who grow vegetables that are 'oh soooo good'. You want organic, no problem, they offer that too. Get ready because the market opens in April 2014 which is another wonderful time to visit Ashe County. Go to  Ashe County Farmers' Market for more information of services and times of operation.




Lots of people find Ashe County to be ideal for their vacation home. Styles of homes range from very rustic log cabins to mountain mansions. No matter what your preference, Ashe County offers very attractive land and residential prices. The county has many excellent builders who can bring your dream to reality on your own piece of heaven. If you don't want to build that's OK because you'll find your dream mountain home ready to move in and start enjoying the 'good life'. Your search can start today by contacting High Country Realty of NC

Ashe County is accessible from all parts of the state and beyond so you have no excuse to take the short trip to Ashe County and discover for yourself all it has to offer. You'll start calling North Carolina home too!



Words of wisdom: It is easier to get forgiveness than to get permission. - unknown