A new build sparkles on the shores of Lake Norman.
After fourteen years of living in the same home on the shores of Lake Norman, Kaki Murphy andher husband, Joe, knew it was time to remodel.They also began thinking about theirimpending retirement and wondered if remodeling was really the best course of action. Maybe they should just start over?
“Our original home was built by Roger Hand of TitanCustom Builders, and we loved it,” says Murphy. “But it was in need of a major update, and with retirement staring us down, we thought that if we could find the perfect lot on the lake, we would consider building a new house instead.” The perfect lot looked a lot like 475 feet of shoreline, with deep water, shade trees, a covered dock, and, for good measure, a stone wall along the waterfront. Unfortunately, that home wasn’t for sale. Yet.
“Roger’s wife, Kristi, was our real estate agent, and when she found this property, she knew it was perfect for us—but it being occupied definitely presented a roadblock,” laughs Murphy. “Fortunately, she knew the homeowner attempted to sell it a few years prior, so she reached out to ask if he’d be willing to consider it again.” He was, and he accepted the Murphys’ offer.
Hand and his team were an obvious choice to build their home once again, but this time, the Murphys interviewed architects for the design. “JJ Barja is the only one who showed up at the property with a sketch pad and pencil,” recalls Murphy. “He just listened. And when I showed him my inspiration home on Instagram, we were delighted to find that he had designed it.” Murphy found her interior designer, Amy Lee of Artistic Interiors, while flipping through the pages of HD&D. “I remember our first meeting. I told her I wanted something simple but stunning. I showed her only a few photos and she immediately knew what we wanted,” says Murphy. It was a perfect confluence of events.
With all the pieces easily falling into place, the design journey on their final home began. “My clients knew this would be the last home they ever designed, so they wanted it to be classic and timeless,” says Lee. “Incorporating their style with mine is always the fun part—a challenging undertaking that also makes my job so rewarding.”
With that in mind, Lee set about creating a design that highlighted the natural surroundings, with big, open corner windows (a particular request from Murphy), soothing neutrals, and plenty of interest. “We are homebodies,” Murphy says. “I travel a lot, so staying home is a perfect weekend. We wanted a place that was relaxing and restorative.” Lee took cues from warm wood tones that contrasted with a creamy backdrop and added texture through unique details and brassy accents. Black details around the home offer a grounding effect and provide a timeless design.
Now, the home is a true retreat for the couple and their adult children and five grandkids. The kitchen suits them perfectly given their love of cooking, the outdoor living spaces are constantly drawing them outside, and the home creates a haven that enhances their everyday. “My favorite room in the home is my bedroom,” admits Murphy. “Waking up with corner windows and a panoramic view of the lake really sets your brain for the day. You just wake up in a relaxed state.”
Of course, it helps that everything came together so seamlessly.
