Photography by Michael Patch
Hospitality happens at Smith Mountain Lake
Passionate about hospitality, Don and Cindy Barber envisioned a lake home where family and friends could gather to enjoy casual get-togethers or grand celebrations. They wanted plenty of space for parties, yet also desired cozy nooks where quiet conversations could take place. Functionality and convenience were as important as showcasing their splendid view of Smith Mountain Lake and their private beach area. So, they sat down with pencil and paper and drew the spectacular home of their dreams.
The dream team
“This is our third lake house in 33 years,” says Cindy, who operates an accounting and bookkeeping firm out of her home office. “We knew what we wanted and what we didn’t want. We worked with an architectural firm [Smith Slovik] from Charlotte to get final plans. They really captured our style! Then we did our own general contracting.”
According to Don, a pilot for UPS, they began building during a very difficult time when supply chain issues affected price and availability. “We had to order our windows and appliances a year in advance,” says Don. “But once we started, we kept going and just kept writing checks! We’re really pleased with how it all turned out.”
The Barbers wanted a home that their two adult children and their friends could enjoy. They used local vendors, including interior designers from Erika Vaden Fine Decorative Arts and Envisions Flooring and Interiors, to help with all the decisions, from types of materials to colors to furniture choices. “Some people shy away from using interior designers because they think they’re too expensive,” comments Cindy. “But that’s not really the case. A designer can help you get what you want at a really good price.”
Mishelle Brosinski, owner of Envisions, said “Cindy had a vision, and I enjoyed bringing the details together with her to make it happen. We had a few core materials selected to start, and built the flooring, tile and lighting off that to bring a cohesive feel. In design, my goal is finding your initial inspiration; it helps the process.”
Welcoming spaces
With the lot situated on the main channel, they sought to take full advantage of the lake scenery. “The ‘wow’ factor when you walk through the door was important to us,” says Don of the 10-foot front doors that open into a gorgeous living room with a wall of windows and glass doors. As guests enter the home, the lake view is spectacular and inviting. The main level is a warm mix of modern farmhouse. Facing an electric fireplace that is flanked with floating shelves, chairs swivel toward the lake view. The doors open to a covered porch with chairs and tables. The living room furniture was designed and manufactured in Roanoke by Txtur.
The main area continues into a dining area and then into a kitchen, creating an expansive area for larger gatherings, while a comfy sitting area is located on the far side of the room. “We wanted the kitchen to be super functional,” says Cindy. “We’ll have anywhere from 10-20 people overnight, so we needed a kitchen with conveniences.”
With space to serve large amounts of food, the kitchen has double islands built of black shiplap with black-and-white quartz countertops and gold pulls. One of the islands is equipped with coolers for easy access to drinks. The hood over the stove is also made of black shiplap. The main refrigerator is paneled to look like the white cabinets. Built by DeNeal’s Cabinets in Westlake, the cabinets are beautifully designed to make full use of the space.
A large pantry allows for great organization, while an additional refrigerator with a clear front stores wine.
A butler’s kitchen off the main kitchen includes another refrigerator and stove as well as additional cabinets for storage. “I wanted to have an area that I could prep the food, and then a place to return the dirty dishes, so my guests wouldn’t feel the need to clean up. And the living area would look nice.”
Off the butler’s kitchen is a mud room with gorgeous lockers that Don designed and built himself. The adjacent laundry room features an elevated washer/dryer combination and a “doggy” shower for the couple’s black Labrador, Marley.
Room to retreat
The main floor also features a primary bedroom. Floor-to-ceiling windows show off that gorgeous lake view. Black electric blinds can be closed for privacy in an instant with a remote. “One of my favorite features of the house is the master closet,” admits Cindy as she points to shelving for shoes and miscellaneous items. The size of a small bedroom, the closet has a built-in island with a quartz top. Drawers are on each side of the island for clothes and other items. Cindy also has an armoire for her jewelry and other accessories. A large bath completes the suite.
A separate entrance leads to Cindy’s home office for her accounting business. Nearby is a guest bedroom. Though it’s technically on the side of the house, the bedroom has a lovely view of the lake. Also, a bathroom and a bonus room are found in this area of the house.
Places to play
From the foyer in the main area of the house, stairs lead to a large game room on the floor below. The centerpiece of the room is the large double bar area. A 10-foot glass garage door opens to create welcoming indoor/outdoor space. Double sliding doors on each side of the game room continue that atmosphere of gravitating between the outdoor and indoor space. Five TVs strategically placed throughout the room and the outside area reflect the Barbers’ commitment to entertaining their guests.
“We love to entertain during football season,” says Cindy. “Everybody wants to see a different game, so with five TVs, we can make a lot of them happy.” For more entertainment, the game room also boasts a restored pinball machine, a 16-foot shuffle puck table and an industrial-style custom-built pool table.
The floor, made of acid-stained concrete, which is durable and easy to clean, creates an industrial look that pairs well with the fun environment. In addition to the lockers, Don also built bunk beds for maximum sleeping capacity in a room off the game room. Two queen-size beds are below and two extra-long twin beds are above. A built-in set of stairs is situated between the sets of bunk beds. A Jack-and-Jill bathroom is off the bunk bed room and leads to an additional bedroom. Also, a second primary bedroom suite with a gorgeous lake view adds more sleeping space.
Built for the lake
For easy lake access, an additional powder room is also downstairs. Guests can run from the lake, to the powder room and straight to another laundry room, which keeps the house clean and dry. A large closet holds towels and other lake needs.
Just outside is a sitting area that includes a wood-burning fireplace with a gas starter. Here, guests can relax after a long day of swimming, boating and wake surfing. Outdoor heaters keep the chill off during the cooler months. A large grill and kitchen area makes serving guests outside quite convenient.
Another favorite space for Cindy is the dock with a small shed, decorated in the style of an equestrian tack room. A circular staircase winds to a second level, where lounge chairs invite a relaxing afternoon of sunbathing.
A custom-designed weathervane sits on top of the dock roof: two beer steins meet in a cheerful “toast.” This is a fitting symbol for this fabulous home, designed to welcome family and guests for hospitality and enjoyment! ✦