Style and Architectural Vision Booklet

Blowing Rock, NC

T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

A Sampling of SweetGrass Homes ...........................................................................1

Landscaping.................................................................................................................. 20

Introduction and Overview of Architectural Styles ............................................ 2

SweetGrass Architectural Styles ...................................................................................... 3

Old Blowing Rock Style Representative Images ............................................................ 4

Old Blowing Rock Style Key Elements ............................................................................ 6

American Shingle Style Representative Images ............................................................ 8

American Shingle Style Key Elements .......................................................................... 10

Mountain Rustic Style Representative Images ................................................................. 11

Mountain Rustic Style Key Elements ................................................................................. 12

Adirondack Accents Representative Images .................................................................. 14

General Requirements ................................................................................................ 15

A SweetGrass Color Collection ........................................................................................... 15

Site Planning ................................................................................................................................. 16

Materials & Grading .................................................................................................................... 17

Drainage, Storm Water and Erosion Control ...................................................................... 18

Garages ........................................................................................................................................... 19

Approved Plant List ................................................................................................................ 21

Prohibited Invasive Exotic Vegetation ............................................................................... 24

Prohibited Architectural Features and Details ................................................. 25

Project Team ................................................................................................................................. 26

The features and amenities described and depicted in these materials are based upon current development plans, which are subject to change without notice.

A Sampling of SweetGrass Homes

Custom Home

2,890 Square Feet

Brookside Cottage

2,121 Square Feet

Treemount Cottage

2,120 Square Feet

Caroline Cabin

2,493 Square Feet

Grand Lake Cabin

2,202 Square Feet

Rockbridge Cabin

1,724 Square Feet

1

The features and amenities described and depicted in these materials are based upon current development plans, which are subject to change without notice.

2

Introduction And Overview Of Architectural Styles

The homes at SweetGrass will have a consistency of character and quality, while allowing individual variety and styling preferences. This SweetGrass Style and Architectural Vision Booklet serves as a design framework to guide architectural decisions by owners who must obtain approval of their plans from the Reviewer prior to commencing construction.

SweetGrass homes will have the following things in common:

• All home styles found at SweetGrass are traditional. Builder homes lacking identifiable stylistic roots are prohibited.

• All homes styles will be reviewed by the Reviewer

for their compliance to this SweetGrass Style and Architectural Vision Booklet and the SweetGrass Design Guide.

Color:

Consistent Materials

Palette: Stone Foundations:

Traditional Painted Windows:

Wide Trim: Signature Roof

Materials:

Stone Veneered Chimneys:

Half-Round Gutters:

Garage Structures:

Landscaping:

SweetGrass homes are distinguished by the following features:

Pre-approved colors shall be chosen from the SweetGrass Color Collection (page 15). Other colors may be approved, if consistent with the color concepts of SweetGrass.

Cladding materials will continue horizontally in a consistent manner around all sides of the homes.

Homes shall have a raised masonry foundation appearance (21” minimum unless approved by Reviewer). Front-facing foundations shall be veneered with native stone (preferred), cultured stone or architecturally designed and landscaped to minimize an alternative veneer. All veneers and design alternatives are subject to approval by Reviewer. Side-facing foundations shall have a minimum of 60% stone (preferred), cultured stone or stucco. To soften the appearance of stucco, if used, then a minimum of 60% of the stucco surface must be obscured by landscape shrubs or trees (given an adequate size and growing period). Stone treatment on side and rear foundations walls shall complement and align with architectural elements on the wall area above, such as secondary volumes, piers, or columns. Refer to Prohibited Architectural Features and Details for additional foundation considerations, page 25.

Generally, windows shall be vertically proportioned in traditional single-hung, double-hung, or casement styles. Windows on side

and rear elevations shall be consistent with those on the front elevation. Grills shall be permanently attached to the outside of the glass. With single- and double-hung windows, use of non-divided lower sash is permitted; however, upper sash and/or transform lites shall have divided lites. Exterior components of all windows (frames, sashes, grills) shall be painted. Metal clad wood windows are permitted if such window manufacturers offer appropriate colors.

All windows and doors on all sides of the homes shall be trimmed with a 3 1/2” minimum-width trim.

75% of homes will be roofed with cedar shakes or pressure-treated pine shakes. For certain styles, an accent roof of standing seam metal or metallic shingles in metallic color finishes are permitted. Examples of permitted colors are aged copper, weathered gray, copper, and sliver galvalume. Note: 50-year, five-tab architectural or dimensional shingles may be used, subject to Reviewer and approval.

The principal chimney of the home shall be veneered in native stone (preferred) or veneers with mortar joints fl or “full” style. Thin cut stone may also be used on chimneys.

If gutters are used, they shall be half-round style in copper or metallic colors, or painted in dark brown. Downspouts shall be round type in above mentioned colors.

For lots on which they are feasible, garages shall be fully detached or semi-detached in appearance. Single carriage-house-style doors are required. Garage doors can never directly face roadways.

Preservation of large caliper trees is critical. Landscape plantings should emphasize native plants, with non-native species used to add color and texture. The use of non-native invasive species is prohibited. See Landscaping (page 20).

3

SweetGrass Architectural . Styles

Old Blowing Rock Style:

This style is best characterized by its simple volumes and unique large-scale bark shingles (10” exposure) as the principal siding material on all sides of the home. The color of the siding is generally natural, however the windows and doors, and their associated trim, are often painted in an accent manner. Native stone foundations and chimneys are the final components of this style.

American Shingle Style:

This American classic style affords the homeowner at SweetGrass a somewhat more ornamented style than that of the Old Blowing Rock Style. The shingle siding is smaller and less rustic; trim profiles may be more sophisticated; window configurations may be more organic. However, through design restrictions on ornamentation and color, and requirements for stone foundations and chimneys, the style is made “mountain-appropriate” at SweetGrass. The American Shingle Style gives architects and designers considerable creative leeway at SweetGrass.

Mountain Rustic Style:

To evoke an authentic eastern mountain look and to visually “upgrade” the architecture, the log cabin architecture at SweetGrass is distinctive in three important ways: (1) log profiles are square cut in section (not round); (2) roofing should be cedar or pine shakes, or standing seam metal in metallic finishes (see Signature Roof Materials, page (2); and (3) all roof designs and window configurations that reference a western “ski chalet” look are prohibited. Overall the Mountain Rustic Style has an understated quality that blends softly into the hillsides and meadows.

Adirondack Influences:

Use of accent details from this rich architectural movement born from the camps and lodges of New York State is encouraged at SweetGrass. Such accents include round log columns and round roof brackets, natural twig and laurel branch railings, and battered and/or organic stonework. Carefully handled by the designer, these details can bring welcome texture and uniqueness to the three styles of homes at SweetGrass.

4

Old Blowing Rock Style - Representative Images

• Authentic mountain architecture

• Rugged bark shingles

• Native stone foundation and chimneys

• Rustic simplicity

These vintage cottages and homes typify the rustic charm of the Old Blowing Rock look. Note the bark shingles and rugged plank siding, and stone foundations and chimneys.

5

Old Blowing Rock Style - Representative Images: New Construction

• Authentic mountain architecture

• Rugged bark shingles

• Native stone foundation and chimneys

• Rustic simplicity

SweetGrass Lake House Architecture by TSW, Atlanta Architecture by Keith Summerour

Brookside Cottage Architecture by TSW, Atlanta Lake House Guest Cottages Architecture by TSW, Atlanta

6

Old Blowing Rock Style - Key Elements

Massing Characteristics: Smaller homes of the Old Blowing Rock Style have simple one-and-one-half story massing, best described as a cottage scale. See S-1.

Larger homes of this style have L-shaped and I-shaped footprints in two-story heights with other secondary appendages as single-story volumes. Widths of the major volumes are usually one-room widths. See S-2 and S-3.

Key Details: S-1

• S-4 illustrates the single most important detail of the Old Blowing Rock Style: native bark shingle siding with large (10” vertical) exposure. This shingle is left in its natural fi (no staining or painting).

• 20” minimum depth overhang at all rakes and eaves of primary volumes of the home.

• 12/12 roof pitch at all primary volumes typical (10/12 is minimum allowed).

• Porch is dominant feature, usually spanning between wings of the home or as a two-sided wrap-around porch. See S-2.

• Traditional windows with upper sashes having multiple lites.

S-2

This style epitomizes the visual themes of the high mountains of North Carolina – stone, bark, weathered wood. As such, this style has established itself as the authentic mountain architecture of the Blowing Rock area.

At SweetGrass, Old Blowing Rock Style is held in high esteem: it is the primary style of the community. Its understated rustic simplicity, and its ability to blend with the mountain setting while simultaneously presenting attractive, crafted homes, makes it unique.

S-4

S-3

7

Old Blowing Rock Style - Key Elements

Key Details: • Non-glazed, non-foundation wall areas must be a

minimum of 70% bark shingles. Shingles are square cut, with natural bark finish. Minimum exposed vertical height of shingle is 10”.

• Window and door trim shall be 3 1/2” minimum width and painted.

• In addition to shingles, board and batten, board on board, buttboard horizontal, and rustic wide plank lap siding with feathered cornered treatment are permitted cladding materials for accent elements such as gable ends and box window volumes.

• Native or cultured stone (foundations, foundation piers, chimneys, 3-sided additive volumes).

• Front-facing foundations shall be fully veneered in stone; side foundation shall have a minimum of 60% stone veneer and shall relate to building features above.

• Porch columns on fronts and sides of homes shall be solid wood. Generally, beams at porches shall be solid cedar.

• Roofs should be cedar shakes or pressure-treated pine shingles.

• Lattice (1/2” minimum) may be used to screen open

12/12 roof pitch (10/12 minimum at primary volumes)

cedar shakes or pine shakes

large-scale bark shingles on walls

single width room massing

stone on principal chimneys

board on batten or board on board accents at gable tops

20" minimum roof overhang on primary volumes

crawl spaces; lattice affixed to painted stem walls not permitted.

native stone foundation

traditional windows with upper sashes having multiple lites

10" minimum width heavy timber columns at front and side porches in round or rectangular profiles

SweetGrass Custom Home – Representative Image

8

American Shingle Style - Representative Images

Architecture by TSW, Atlanta Architecture by Bobby McAlpine Architecture by TSW, Atlanta

Vintage Example Vintage Example

• Long Island and

Cape Cod influences

• Shingle exteriors

• Square or rectangular timber columns

• Multi-paned windows

• Dominant porches

9

American Shingle Style - Representative Images

Architecture by Bill Ingram Architecture by Mark Paullin

• Long Island and

Cape Cod influences

• Shingle exteriors

• Square or rectangular timber columns

• Multi-paned windows

• Dominant porches

10

American Shingle Style - Key Elements

Shingle Style was born between 1880 and 1900 in the fashionable summer destinations of Long Island and Cape Cod. Here, architects created stately yet casual homes that seemed to link naturally to the land. The organic shape of these homes complemented the rolling, rocky landscape on which they were sited. Their cascading roofscapes and rambling masses blended with the local natural land forms.

At SweetGrass, the rustic qualities of the style are emphasized. Columns shall generally be timbers in square or rectangular cross sections (round section classical columns are only allowed by review).

Massing Characteristics:

Sketches S-1 and S-2 illustrate front gable Shingle Style-inspired homes. These homes add multiple large secondary volumes to main volumes to create complex, organic roofscapes. Common Shingle Style characteris- tics include multiple mulled divided lite windows and round or oval ac- cent windows.

Sketch S-3 illustrates a fully shingled home executed in a classical, formal manner. This approach is inappropriate for SweetGrass.

Active roofscape with dominant form (asymmetrical front gable) and secondary forms; use of multiple mulled windows with upper sashes with multiple lites; shingles as primary “skin”; shingles turn corners; use of stone as horizontal base linking home to site.

S-1

Key Details:

• Asymmetrical roof massing with steeply pitched roof lines, often with long slopes. Hipped roof dormers are a hallmark feature.

• Narrow roof overhangs at rakes; deeper overhangs at eaves; eaves have flat soffits.

• Porch is dominant feature, sometimes recessed beneath main roof, with supports being shingled piers, stone piers and classical columns.

• Exterior material is predominantly shingles. Shingles act as “skin” and turn corners. A minimum of 55% of the home’s walls shall be shingles.

Materials:

• Non-glassed wall areas must be a minimum of 55% shingles. Shingles generally are to be square cut; only limited use of decorative shingles is permitted.

• In addition to shingles, board and batten, board on board, buttboard horizontal, and rustic wide plank lap siding with feathered cornered treatment are permitted cladding materials.

• Native stone (foundations, foundation piers, chimneys, 3-sided ad- ditive volumes).

• Roofs should be cedar shakes or pressure-treated pine shingles.

S-2

S-3

11

Mountain Rustic Style - Representative Images

• Early American inspiration

• Woodland hewn logs

• Multi-panelled windows

• Expressive natural stone

• Cedar-shake roofs

SweetGrass Rockbridge Cabin Architecture by TSW, Atlanta SweetGrass Grand Lake Cabin Architecture by TSW, Atlanta

Architecture by TSW, Atlanta

Square log detailing and traditional massing and windows are hallmarks of the Mountain Rustic Style.

SweetGrass Treemount Cottage Architecture by TSW, Atlanta

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Mountain Rustic Style - Key Elements

The Mountain Rustic Style homes at SweetGrass are inspired by early American cabins of the eastern United States. These log structures featured hewn logs rather than round logs and traditional multi-paneled windows.

At SweetGrass, homes built in this style will be larger than those early cabins and potentially have more complex massing. Yet the honest simplicity of those original woodland cabins is the principal hallmark of this style at SweetGrass.

Massing Characteristics: Smaller homes shall have generally simple massing (see S-1). Larger log homes are encouraged to have multiple cross-gable volumes (S-2) and additive wings or pavilions connected by glass breezeways (S-3).

Key Details: • Traditionally proportioned single or double-hung

windows and casement windows are permitted. Triangular shaped windows and trapezoidal windows are not permitted. All windows shall generally have multiple panes within each sash, although use of non-divided lower sash is permitted. Grilles must be permanently attached to the outside of the glass.

• Roof designs and window configurations that reference to “western style cabins” or “ski chalet looks” are prohibited.

• Peeled round log and Adirondack twig log columns and beams are permitted as appropriate components at porches, decks and railings.

• Cabins shall be stained in a color from the SweetGrass Collection (Page 15). The typical yellow-orange log color found

traditional windows and doors with divided lites

expressive native stone piers at deck corners

stone on principal chimney

cedar shake roof

shed dormers with round log accents

square log profile with dovetail corners and chink-groove detailing

on most manufactured logs is strictly prohibited. S-1

S-2 S-3

13

S-6

S-4

S-5

S-7

Mountain Rustic Style - Key Elements

Materials:

• Square profile logs (S-4, S-5, S-6)

• Roofs of cedar shake or pressure-treated pine shake are preferred

• Native stone foundations are preferred (front elevation – 100%; side elevations – minimum 60%). The principal chimney of the home shall also be fully veneered in stone.

• Board and batten, board on board, buttboard horizontal, and rustic wide plank lap siding with feathered cornered treatment are permitted cladding materials on accent secondary volumes.

The round logs and overly scaled windows of this home (left) are not in keeping with the architecture of SweetGrass.

14

Adirondack Accents - Representative Images

• Native building materials

• Primitive, rustic appearance

• Granite fieldstone

• Fireplaces and chimneys are focal points

15

SweetGrass Color Collection

Base Paint Color Selections: Light / Medium Tones

BM HC-37 – Mystic Gold

BM HC-95 – Sag Harbor Gray

BM HC-94 – Old Salem Gray

SW 6163 – Harmonic Tan

SW 2842 – Roycroft Suede

SW 2821 – Downing Stone

Dark Tones

BM AC-3 – Texas Leather

BM HC-166 – Kendall Charcoal

SW 7027 – Well-Bred Brown

SW 2815 – Renwick Olive

SW 6172 – Hardware

SW 7060 – Attitude Gray

Base Semi-Transparent Stain Selections: Light / Medium Tones

SW 3512 – Cider Mill

SW 3522 – Banyan Brown

SW 3518 – Hawthorne

Dark Tones

SW 3541 – Harbor Mist

SW 3532 – Hill Country

SW 3542 – Charwood

Painted Trim Color Selections: Light / Medium Tones

SW 0011 – Crewel Tan

SW 2833 – Roycroft Vellum

SW 7035 – Aesthetic White

SW 6121 – Whole Wheat

SW 7043 – Worldly Gray

Dark Tones

SW 7060 – Attitude Gray

SW 6076 – Turkish Coffee

SW 7041 – Van Dyke Brown

SW 2820 – Downing Earth

BM HC-50 – Georgian Brick

Painted Sash / Accent Color Selections: BM HC-126 – Avon Green

BM E-86 – Charcoal Slate

SW 2837 – Aurora Brown

SW 7020 – Black Fox

SW 2842 – Roycroft Suede

SW 2803 – Rookwood Terra Cotta

SW 2814 – Antique Gold

SW 0038 – Liberty Pewter

General Requirements – Color Collection

The SweetGrass Color Collection emphasizes woodland and mountain inspired colors. These colors … browns, grays, tans and greens … are generally understated. Yet the Collection provides ample selection of accent colors to give each home the correct “color liveliness.”

The Collection is structured in three color categories:

• Base color - the home’s primary color. This is the color the siding or logs will be painted or stained.

• Trim color - the color for the home’s window and door trim,

and when appropriate, the roof trim components.

• Accent Color - to be used in limited ways. Appropriate accent components are window sashes, featured doors and shutters.

The Collection encourages color schemes respectful of the traditional cottages of the Blowing Rock area. Most of these homes feature unstained bark shingles with white trim. Painted traditional cottages tend to be medium to dark colors, also with strongly contrasting trim. The Collection also provides colors for more monochromatic approaches. Here, trim colors have less contrast. All color schemes must be approved by the Community Architect. Additional color will be considered upon review.

16

General Requirements – Site Planning

At SweetGrass, there is a strong desire to retain the natural beauty of the site by making modest and restrained site improvements. It is important that buildings be placed in a way that minimizes their presence from the street and from surrounding properties. The building should be designed to fit the site conditions rather than making massive changes in the site to fit the design. This is especially important on ridge lots where houses should not be viewed from below. Houses should be designed so that they are well rooted and anchored onto their site.

1. Houses must be designed to fi their sloping site rather than the site made to fi an inappropriate house.

2. Each site plan is subject to the discretion of the DRC on an individual basis with concerns of the homeowner,

the community and the natural surroundings in mind.

3. It is important to remove as few trees as possible, stepping a house or bending a driveway around mature trees rather than removing them. Clear cutting of a site is strictly prohibited. Please refer to the SGCA Charter and the SweetGrass Design Guide for requirements for tree removal.

4. Site plans should be designed with the intention to disturb as little of the property as possible.

Excessive grading for any purpose is not acceptable.

17

General Requirements – Materials and Grading

Materials:

Materials used around the exterior of any home at SweetGrass should respect the natural surroundings of the mountain environment by blending in with the native landscape. Elements that are placed in the landscape should remain in harmony with what is native to the Blowing Rock area.

1. Materials for walkways and patios include: flagstone, concrete pavers or pea gravel in earth tones.

Materials not allowed for walkways and patios: asphalt, concrete, stamped concrete or any other material in bright or white colors.

2. Finish materials for driveways include: concrete pavers, exposed aggregate concrete, asphalt

pavement, crushed pea gravel and stained concrete. No white or bright colors are permitted.

3. All walls must be built of stone that matches the colors of the surrounding native stone. Wall stonework shall appear organic in nature, in varying sizes. Key-stone type walls and rail road tie walls are prohibited.

4. Entry from the street should be understated. No tall piers or lampposts will be permitted.

Grading:

Site grading at SweetGrass should reflect natural forms that take shape gradually, giving the landscape a naturalized appearance. Each home site and driveway location should be chosen to minimize the need for cut and fill and create as little disturbance as possible. This allows for the topography to be integrated into the design of the architecture and vice-versa.

1. Driveways should follow the natural topography and shall be kept narrow with a maximum width

of 12 feet. Large formal auto courts are prohibited.

2. Every attempt must be made to minimize cut and fill necessary for the construction of a home.

3. Retaining walls may be used when necessary to reduce the amount of cut or fill. However, retaining walls must not be excessive in height or length and may require a vegetative buffer to soften the effect.

18

General Requirements – Drainage, Stormwater and Erosion Control

Drainage and Stormwater:

Most of SweetGrass Lake drains directly into Boone Fork Creek, which is one of the most strictly protected waterways in North Carolina. Protection of the creek is crucial and a condition of development at SweetGrass. The delicate balance of stream ecology can easily be upset by sediment, water-borne pollutants or just a small amount of oil from machinery. Therefore, it is pertinent that every effort be taken to care for Boone Fork Creek by way of keeping drainage and stormwater in check.

1. Drainage should not be directed at any built structure or onto a neighbor’s property in an

unnatural way.

2. Flow of stormwater should not increase from pre-development conditions.

3. Homeowners are encouraged to direct stormwater runoff into bio-swales and rain gardens to help clean and slowly release stormwater.

4. The use of rain barrels is encouraged to hold excess run-off from roofs and

for watering landscapes.

Erosion Control:

Erosion control is an important aspect of the building process; it contains disturbance to each lot and helps to preserve the natural systems already in place.

1. Silt fence is required on the downhill side of the entire disturbed site and/or in any

other circumstance as required by Watauga County.

2. No off-site erosion or sediment is permitted.

19

General Requirements – Garages

1. Garages must be built as accessory structures that are fully detached or semi-detached. See sketches S-1 and S-2.

2. All garages must have single garage doors. In order to keep the scale appropriate for

architectural styles found at SweetGrass, double wide garage doors are not permitted. Garage doors shall complement the style of house in color and materials.

3. Story-and-a-half garages, which allow for storage or living space above, will be allowed

provided the overall building has a scale lower than the peak of the main home.

4. Finish materials and all other accessory structures must be of equal quality as the main house and have the same level of detail. Eaves should generally be low so as to de-emphasize the garage structure.

5. With semi-detached garages, the face of the garage must be located behind the

mid point of the main house, unless topography dictates otherwise.

6. Garages may be attached to the main house with covered walkway, provided the walkways are integral in the design of the building.

7. Due to limitations, garages may not be feasible for cottage/cabin lots.

S-1

S-2

20

Landscaping

Landscaping is an important aspect of anchoring a home on a mountain site and integrating it with its mountain surroundings. It is particularly important at a development such as SweetGrass where buildings should have limited visibility from any other vantage within or surrounding the community. All landscaping shall preserve the subtlety of the SweetGrass community.

1. Only plants listed on the approved plant list shall be planted on the property. See list of approved plants.

2. The use of alternating groupings of plants with different characteristics is encouraged to provide variety and create a sense of visual

rhythm. Tiered or layered planting schemes are also encouraged, as opposed to plant groupings that are all of the same level.

3. Parking areas should be screened from the road with a landscape buffer.

4. The buffer should consist of shrubs and other plants arranged in groups or rows to provide a maximum screening effect. Shrubs should be evergreen and at least 4 feet tall when planted, projecting an average of 6+ feet normal mature growth.

5. Excessive use of yard art or large pieces of yard art are prohibited. Yard art of any kind is prohibited if it is

visible from the street.

Landscaping Zones:

Each lot is comprised of two different landscape zones that determine the planting and maintenance of each. This allows for homes to not be seen from the road or from the valley below, but also to be maintained up close to provide intimate entertaining and family space.

1. The Garden Zone accommodates a higher use area directly around the home. It allows for manicured native

plantings as well as an area for patios, walkways, small lawns, and other designed landscape features.

2. The Conservation Zone should conserve the natural character of the site by protecting and enhancing the health of existing native plant communities. Work in this area should only consist of removing exotic and invasive plants and care and replacement of existing natives. It should have an undisturbed woodland character.

21

Approved Plant List

LARGE TREES SMALL / FLOWERING TREES DECIDUOUS SHRUBS

Botanical Name Acer rubrum

Common Name Red Maple

Botanical Name Aesculus octandra

Common Name Yellow Buckeye

Botanical Name Aesculus parvifl a

Common Name Bottlebrush Buckeye

Acer saccharum Sugar Maple Aesculus pavia Red Buckeye Aronia arbutifolia Red Chokecherry Betula nigra River Birch Amelanchier spp. Serviceberry Aronia melanocarpa Black Chokecherry Betula lenta Sweet Birch Carpinus caroliniana Ironwood Aronia prunifolia Purplefruit Chokecherry Cladrastis kentukea (lutea) American Yellowwood Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud Calycanthus fl Sweetshrub Fagus grandifolia American Beech Chionanthus virginicus Fringetree Cephalanthus occidentalis Buttonbush Gleditsia triacanthos Thornless Honeylocust Halesia carolina Carolina Silverbell Clethra acuminate Cinnamon Clethra Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip Poplar Hamemleis viriginiana Witch Hazel Clethra alnifolia Summersweet Clethra Liquidambar styracifl American Sweetgum Magnolia acuminata Cucumber Magnolia Cornus amomum Silky Dogwood Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay Magnolia Corylus americana American Filbert Platanus occidentalis Sycamore Malus angustifolia Apple Corylus cornuta Beaked Filbert Quercus alba White Oak Malus cornonaria Crabapple Fothergilla gardenii Dwarf Fothergilla Quercus bicolor Swamp White Oak Ostrya virginiana Hornbeam Fothergilla major Large Fothergilla Quercus coccinea Scarlet Oak Oxydendron arboreum Sourwood Hamamelis virginiana Witch Hazel Quercus falcata Southern Red Oak Quercus prinoides Dwarf Chinkapin Hydrangea arborescens Smooth Hydrangea Quercus phellos Willow Oak Sassafras albidum Sassafras Hydrangea quercifolia Oak-leaf Hydrangea Quercus prinus Chestnut Oak Sorbus americana Mountain Ash Ilex decidua Possumhaw Quercus rubra Northern Red Oak Viburnum prunifolium Blackhaw Viburnum Ilex verticillata Winterberry Quercus shumardii Shumard Oak Itea virginica Virginia Sweetspire Salix nigra Black Willow Sassafras albidum Sassafras Ulmus americana American Elm

EVERGREEN TREES Botanical Name Common Name Ilex opaca American Holly Juniperus virginiana Eastern Red Cedar Magnolia grandifl a Southern Magnolia Pinus strobus Eastern White Pine Pinus virginiana Virginia Pine Tsuga canadensis Canadian Hemlock

EVERGREEN SHRUBS Botanical Name Common Name Alnus serrulata Common Alder Ilex glabra Inkberry Holly Juniperus communis Common Juniper Kalmia latifolia Mountain Laurel Leucothoe fontanesiana Doghobble Myrica cerifera Wax Myrtle Rhododendron carolinianum Carolina Rhododendron Rhododendron catawbiense Catawba Rhododendron Rhododendron maximum Rosebay Rhododendron Taxus canadensis Canada Yew

Lindera benzoin Spicebush Physiocarpus opulifolius Nine-bark Rhododendron arborescens Sweet Azalea

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Approved Plant List Continued

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS continued VINES GRASSES & SEDGES

Botanical Name Rhododendron calendulaceum

Common Name Flame Azalea

Botanical Name Bignonia capreolata

Common Name Crossvine

Botanical Name Andropogon spp.

Common Name Broom Sedge

Rhododendron nudifl Pinxterbloom Azalea Campsis radicans Trumpet Vine Bouteloua curtipendula Side oats grama Rhododendron roseum Roseshell Azalea Clematis virginiana Virgins Bower Carex spp. Sedges Rhododendron vaseyi Pinkshell Azalea Lonicera sempervirens Trumpet Honeysuckle Chasmanthium latifolium River Oats Rhododendron viscosum Swamp Azalea Parthenoccissus quinquefolia Virginia Creeper Deschampsia fl xuosa Wavy hairgrass Rhus aromatica Fragrant Sumac Vitis spp. Grapes Elymus spp. Elymus Rosa carolina Carolina Rose Eragrostis spp Lovegrass Rosa seligera Prairie Rose Sambucus canadensis Elderberry Vaccineum corymbosum Highbush Blueberry Viburnum acerifolium Mapleleaf Viburnum Viburnum alnifolium Hobblebush Viburnum Viburnum cassinoides Witherod Viburnum Viburnum dentatum Arrowood Viburnum Viburnum nudum Possumhaw Viburnum

EVERGREEN GROUND COVERS Botanical Name Common Name Galax urceolata Galax Hypericum spp. St. John’s Wort Pachysandra procumbens Allegheny Spurge Juniperus horizontalis Creeping Juniper

DECIDUOUS GROUND COVER Botanical Name Common Name Hypericum spp. St. Johns Wort Tiarella cordifolia Foamflower

FERNS Botanical Name Common Name Adiantum pedatum Northern Maidenhair Fern Athyrium fi - femina Lady Fern Dennstaedtia punctiloba Hay Scented Fern Dryopteris marginalis Leatherwood Fern Matteucia struthiopteris Ostrich Fern Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern Osmunda cinnamomea Cinnamon Fern Osmunda regalis Royal Fern Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas Fern Thelypteris novaboracensis New York Fern

Festuca ovina glauca Blue Fescue Juncus spp. Rush Muhlenbergia capillanis Sweetgrass Panicum virgatum Switchgrass Schyzachyrium scoparium Little Bluestem Scirpus spp. Bullrushes Sorghastrum nutans Indiangrass Sporobolus heterolepsis Prarie Dropseed

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Approved Plant List Continued

PERENNIALS Botanical Name

Common Name

PERENNIALS continued Botanical Name

Common Name

Arisamaea triphllym Asclepias spp. Aster spp. Baptisia australis Chrysanthemum spp. Coreopsis spp. Echinacea purpurea Eupatorium purpureum Gaillardia x grandifl a Galium odoratum Geranium maculatum Helianthus spp. Helleborus occidentalis Hemerocallis spp. Heuchera americana Iris spp. Liatris spp. Lobelia cardinalis Lobelia siphilitica Lupinus perennis Monarda fi tulosa Oenothera

Jack-in-the-Pulpit Milkweeds Asters Blue Wild Indigo Shasta Daisy Coreopsis Coneflower Joe-pye Weed Blanket fl wer Sweet Woodruff Bloody Cranesbill Sunflower Lenten Rose Daylily Heuchera Iris Gayfeather Cardinal Flower Great Blue Lobelia Lupine Wild Bergamot Evening Primrose

Penstemon digitalias Phlox spp. Polygonatum bifl Rudeckia fulgida Rudeckia laciniata Rudbeckia triloba Salvia spp. Sanguinaria canadensis Silene virginca Smilacina racemosa Solidago spp. Tradescanita ohiensis Trillium spp. Verbena spp. Vernonia noveboracensis

Beard Tongue Garden Phlox Solomon’s Seal Blackeyed Susan Green Coneflower Three-lobed Coneflower Sage Bloodroot Fire Pink False Solomon’s Seal Goldenrods Spiderwort Trilliums Verbena New York Ironweed

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Invasive Exotic Vegetation List - Do Not Use

INVASIVE TREES INVASIVE GRASSES/PERENNIALS INVASIVE VINES

Botanical Name Acer platanoides

Common Name Norway Maple

Botanical Name Arthraxon hispidus

Common Name Hairy jointgrass

Botanical Name Akebia quinata

Common Name Fiveleaf akebia

Ailanthus altissima Tree of Heaven Bambusa spp. Exotic bamboo Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Coralberry Albizia julibrissin Mimosa Centaurea biebersteinii Spotted knapweed Celastrus orbiculatus Asian bittersweet Broussonetia papyrifera Paper Mulberry Eichhornia crassipes Water-hyacinth Clematis ternifl a Leatherleaf Clematis Morus alba White Mulberry Hydrilla verticillata Hydrilla Coronilla varia Crown Vetch Paulownia tomentosa Princess Tree Iris psuedoacorus Pale-yellow iris Dioscorea oppositifolia Air-Potato Pyrus calleryana Bradford Pear Lespedeza bicolor Bicolor lespedeza Euonymus fortunei Winter Creeper Lespedeza cuneata Sericea lespedeza Glechoma hederacea Gill-over-the-Ground Lythrum salicaria Purple loosestrife Hedera helix English Ivy INVASIVE SHRUBS Botanical Name

Common Name

Microstegium vimineum Miscanthus sinensis

Japanese stilt-grass Chinese silver grass

Lonicera japonica Ludwigia uruguayensis

Japanese Honeysuckle Creeping Waterprimrose

Berberis thunbergii Japanese Barberry Murdannia keisak Asian spiderwort Lygodium japonicum Japanese Climbing Fern Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian Olive Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrotfeather Pueraria montana Kudzu Elaeagnus umbellata Autumn Olive Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian watermilfoil Solanum viarum Tropical Soda Apple Euonymus alata Burning Bush Persicaria longiseta Oriental ladies-thumb Vinca major Bigleaf Periwinkle Ligustrum japonicum Japanese Privet Persicaria maculata Lady’s thumb Vinca minor Common Periwinkle Ligustrum sinense Chinese Privet Phragmites australis ssp. australis Common reed Vitex rotundifolia Beach Vitex Ligustrum vulgare Common Privet Phyllostachys spp. Exotic bamboo Wisteria fl Japanese Wisteria Lonicera ×bella Hybrid Bush Honeysuckle Polygonum cuspidatum Japanese knotweed Wisteria sinensis Chinese wisteria Lonicera fragrantissima Fragrant Honeysuckle Pseudosasa japonica Arrow bamboo Lonicera maackii Amur Bush Honeysuckle Salvinia molesta Aquarium water-moss Lonicera morrowii Morrow’s Bush Honeysuckle Sorghum halepense Johnson grass Lonicera standishii Standish’s Honeysuckle Veronica hederifolia Ivyleaf speedwell

Mahonia beali Oregon Grape Nandina domestica Nandina Poncirus trifoliata Hardy-Orange Rhodotypos scandens Makino Jetbead Rosa multifl a Multiflora Rose Rubus phoenicolasius Wineberry Spiraea japonica Japanese Spiraea

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Prohibited Architectural Features and Details

One of the most successful ways to guide the visual quality of a community is to clearly state what is not permitted. A focus on what not to do provides a guarantee that key design fundamentals will exist while allowing creativity in the design of the homes.

The following architectural features and details are prohibited in order to maintain the integrity of the community:

1. Builder-style multi-gabled front facades and lodge-style back facades. Home shall be traditionally inspired from the three styles defined by this Style Book.

2. Change of cladding materials at any outside corner. All four walls of the principal (largest) volume must be the same material.

3. Stucco or parged front foundation walls. Front foundation walls shall be veneered with 100% native stone. Side walls shall be no less than 60% stone and must relate to volume change in massing of home.

4. Poorly proportioned or overly scaled windows. All windows shall be traditionally sized and properly proportioned to the building style.

5. Two-car garage doors or “budget-priced” garage doors. Garage structures shall be semi-detached or fully detached. Designers shall make every effort to configure the garage on the site to conceal the garage doors from the roadways at SweetGrass.

6. Vertically exaggerated entry ways.

7. “One-dimensional” stone gabled accent volumes. Three-sided stone add-on volumes may be approved upon review.

8. Windows with “grilles-between-glass.”

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Harsh red brick. Stone-color brick on accent volumes of a house, may be presented to the Reviewer for consideration. Also, bricked wall areas may be washed with parge coat and fully painted in woodland-tone color.

Bird-box cornice returns. One-piece roof rake trim or gable trim.

Steeply pitched cornice "roofs" at pedimented gables.

Narrow door and window trim. PVC or synthetic railing system at front and sides of homes.

Incorrect shutter detailing. Camed glass style doors or windows.

Chimneys cladded with lap siding or exposed prefab flue. Property fences of any kind.

9. Vinyl or aluminum siding or soffits.

10. Synthetic stucco.

I

t probably won’t surprise you that I think the architectural elements of SweetGrass are almost as important as the natural ones. After all, my trade is architecture and I consider myself quite fortunate to have led the home design work for this wonderful little community.

Planning SweetGrass was a relatively simple process … once I understood how and where the community fit within its surroundings. I spent a number of days exploring the area, taking many photographs of existing homes and structures. I also researched the region’s architectural heritage, focusing on the materials and details that are unique to this beautiful place.

What I uncovered during this process inspired the design elements you’ll see in this guidebook. I’ve identified three distinct “styles” of architecture for homes at SweetGrass and have articulated a set of standards to ensure consistency, yet provide freedom and flexibility to owners and their builders. With these guidelines in place, owners can be assured that

every home to be built here will meet a certain threshold for quality –

which I know to be an important part of the buying decision.

In the end, the homes and architectural features I’ve designed were

indeed inspired by what I found here naturally – and, most especially,

by nature itself. There is nothing I want more than to help create a

community that fits perfectly within these majestic mountains, miles of

fertile land and clear, untouched lakes and streams. I do love my home in

Atlanta, but this is, without question, a paradise.

Tunnell Spangler Walsh, Atlanta

Have fun designing your slice.

Jerry Spangler Community Architect, SweetGrass