A S S E E N I N

Worlds away – in under an hour

Greenville lawyers bring ‘English Country with an edge’ to Lake KeoweeWritten by Leigh Savage Photosgraphy by Rachael Boling

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Aside from giving the exterior a good

scrubbing and replacing the porch’s red chipped tile with flagstone, one

of the few changes the Harlans made was

removing the two large shrubs obscuring the

original windows.

WARM WELCOME The front door greets visitors with an an-tique wrought iron door salvaged from a

building in Argentina, where Kathryn Wil-liams lived as a child. She loves that it’s

asymmetrical and that the glass behind the wrought iron opens to bring in breezes.

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When Tom Ervin and Kathryn Williams bought a lot at the Cliffs at Keowee Springs in 2008, the busy Greenville lawyers wanted a

serene lakeside home that took them worlds away from work – but wasn’t worlds away.

“They wanted a place to forget the to-do list while enjoying a sunset cruise, but where, if needed, they could spend a Friday working just as efficiently as they do at their office. And to top it all off, they wanted a home that was designed to USGBC LEED for Home standards, so the architectural and interior design had to meet rigorous criteria for efficiency and sustainability.

It was a tall order, but after working with architects at Johnston Design Group, interior designers at Linda McDougald Design, landscape designers J. Dabney Peeples Design and Seamon Whiteside, and builder Jeff Tutman – and incorporating their own personalities, hobbies and interests – they got everything they wanted and more.

“The home is inspired by the English Country tradition with an emphasis on the use of natural, authentic materials and architectural antiques – it is all about connection to nature,” notes Scott Johnston of Johnston Design Group. “We further tie in sustainability elements through the broad reliance on renewable energy and rain water collection. The home seamlessly incorporates geothermal, solar thermal and solar photovoltaic technologies, which reduces the energy demand of the home by half, and we collect rain water for irrigation of the extensive gardens.”

The three-level home features the lakeside views Kathryn loves as well as the view of the mountains Tom wanted. The large windows and neutral color palette allow the stunning scenery to remain the focus in as many rooms as possible. “We wanted to allow the Lake Keowee views to become part of the interior,” Williams says.

Williams is a woman who knows what she wants. During an almost 30-year legal career, she has tenaciously represented injured workers, among other clients, and has been named in Best Lawyers in America by her peers. She was also the first – and still the only – woman elected president of the S.C. Trial Lawyers’ Association.

INSIDE AND OUTIn a nod to Old English Country architecture, the home uses the same materials on the exterior and interior. For example, the limestone and iron accents outside are repeated inside on the stairs, which features iron rails and limestone treads.

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Tom Ervin has practiced law since 1977, and at age 32, he was the youngest circuit judge ever elected to the S.C. Judiciary. Kathryn tried her very first jury trial in front of him as a rookie lawyer. They met again 17 years later at a judicial reception, “and we’ve been together ever since,” Williams says. When they married in 2003, Ervin retired from the bench and joined her law practice.

Their busy schedules inspired them to find a second home that was close to home. “We built it as a getaway, but we knew if we had a place too far from home, we wouldn’t use it,” Williams says. “This is just 30 miles from Greenville and we’re in a different world.”

This innovative couple wasn’t interested in the typical lake house look, instead creating a style Williams calls “English Country with an edge.” The materials – limestone, slate, iron – are traditional English Country, but the interiors are a comfortable mix of new and old, and full of clean, simple lines.

The entrance to the home evokes the English Country feel, with an arched doorway and three rectangular openings that bring in natural light. The wrought iron door is an antique salvaged from Argentina, which holds special meaning for Williams since she spent her early childhood living there.

The door is just a hint of the ironwork that punctuates the home. “I just think there is nothing any prettier than ironwork,” Williams says. “It’s pretty without being fussy or too feminine, because I’m not about frills and ruffles.”

The entryway and dining area feature vaulted brick ceilings and dramatic beams that were faux finished to achieve an aged appearance. “The stairway of our home, located in the entry, is itself a stunning work of art. Patterned after the design of the antique balcony found for the master bedroom, the railings are custom-crafted from iron and the treads are limestone,” notes Williams. The dining room opens to the main living area, where a 19th century iron door from Italy – this one hung over the coursed limestone fireplace – offers a focal point in the neutral-toned room.

“It takes some courage to do a no-color house, but we’ve just loved it,” Williams adds.

A refurbished satin ebony 1913 Steinway piano holds court in one corner, and while Williams enjoys playing, “my husband says we should sue my piano teacher for malpractice,” she says with a laugh. She frequently asks

NATURALLY NEUTRAL(Opposite) The antique Italian door over the fireplace showcases Williams’ love of ironwork, and adds visual interest to the monochromatic color scheme. Arched doorways and expansive windows make the lakeside scenery the main attraction, while the refurbished 1913 Steinway piano adds beauty and entertainment at parties.

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The Harlans’ kitchen is a study in high-end efficiency, with the best of the best in appliances, including Sub-Zero custom refrigeration flanking a window Mark insisted on preserving and a microwave oven built in to an island drawer. The kitchen is one of the few areas where structural changes were made; walls dividing the original dining room, breakfast room and galley kitchen were eliminated to reveal one long – and much more functional for today’s mode of living – space.

CLASSIC MEETS MODERNThe kitchen features sleek appliances and an expansive pewter-topped island, while an antique fireback from the 1700s serves as a backsplash. The range hood is made of zinc, and the spacious pantry lets the accom-plished cook keep things neat when entertaining.

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The Harlans’ kitchen is a study in high-end efficiency, with the best of the best in appliances, including Sub-Zero custom refrigeration flanking a window Mark insisted on preserving and a microwave oven built in to an island drawer. The kitchen is one of the few areas where structural changes were made; walls dividing the original dining room, breakfast room and galley kitchen were eliminated to reveal one long – and much more functional for today’s mode of living – space. SUMMER 2012 I 55

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her talented stepmother or a friend to play at parties. “My hobby is cooking, and I got the kitchen of my

dreams,” Williams says. She loves whipping up culinary creations on her beloved Lacanche range. Countertops of pewter and Carrara marble and a custom-designed zinc and steel range hood are sleek yet warm, while the gas and electric ovens, plus a warming cabinet, give Williams the functionality she prizes. A spacious pantry includes another refrigerator, sink and prep area, which allows her

SIMPLY ELEGANTThe kitchen continues the neutral color scheme found through the

home, with white cabinets and glossy tiles. The Lacanche range is a favorite “because it does what I tell it to do,” Kathryn says, and the gas and electric ovens plus a warming cabinet give her plenty of versatility.

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to keep her kitchen looking neat while entertaining. She calls her peaceful master suite “the prettiest bedroom

I’ve ever seen,” and credits Linda McDougald with designing an entire room around a French blue antique mirror the couple had previously purchased. Tom likes paneled walls, so McDougald designed panels painted with an aged finish and had the antique mirror integrated into the paneling. The antique French Empire chandelier builds on the peaceful feel of the room, while the balcony beckons with more antique Argentinean ironwork.

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One of the guest bedrooms, used by visiting friends or the couple’s grown children, features an antique Louis Philippe armoire with cabinetry built around it, adding both storage and visual interest. Antique botanical prints and artwork continue the neutral theme, and a copy of Glimpses, a book of poetry Tom published in college, is on display. Kathryn was impressed with Tom’s poetry when they began dating, “but like my piano playing, it’s gotten a little rusty,” she jokes.

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FRENCH FLAIRThe master suite was designed around an antique mirror in a soft shade of French blue. Faux-finished paneled walls, an Oushak rug and a glittering chandelier create interest in the serene setting. Argentinean ironwork adorns the balcony, and the stainless steel tub brings a sleek touch to the master bath.

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Tom loves college football, so a home theater with a big screen was a must. “He parks there from August until when the Super Bowl comes on,” Williams says. The media room, with a nod to refined Art Deco design, includes a huge screen and plenty of comfy seating – which caused the couple’s only design argument. Ever practical, Tom wanted armchairs with built-in cup holders, but Kathryn deemed them “tacky.” She agreed to the armchairs, but stood firm on nixing the cup holders in favor of sleek polished nickel tables.

PERSONAL GLIMPSESProminently showcased is Glimpses, a book of poetry Tom Ervin had

published while a college student. The guest room is dominated by an antique Louis Philippe armoire, which is surrounded by custom cabinetry. The home theater, a favorite spot for Tom during college

football season, has a refined Art Deco design.

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On the home’s top level is the dining porch, which, except for the limestone fireplace, is wrapped in windows, affording unbelievable views of the lake and mountains. With linen-slipcovered chairs, a table designed by McDougald and custom-made by Trey Sherman, and Apache bluestone floors, this is where the couple dines most often. An exterior spiral staircase allows quick access to the outdoors and the dock.

Out on their pontoon boat or curling up on the porch with their two miniature Schnauzers, Ervin and Williams

are reaping the rewards of their three-year adventure creating this nearby getaway. Williams – who has no desire to retire in the near future – loves her job, but also loves having a place to unwind. “When I walk in after a stressful week,” she says, “the house almost seems to wrap its arms around me and practically demands that I take a seat and soak in every moment.” ah

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DINING DIORAM Ervin and Williams enjoy many meals on the dining porch, which is surrounded by glass and affords 360-degree views of the lake and mountains. The exterior spiral staircase gives the dining porch direct access to the dock and the lake below.

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