Learn about our 2025 homes!
Charmed Shore
Charmed Shore
Nestled along the shore of Lake Oconee, DreamBuilt’s newest creation for Jim and Angela Anderson masterfully blends whimsical imagination with sophisticated craftsmanship.
Architectural details captivate from the moment guests arrive on the reclaimed antique cobblestone driveway, laid in an intricate spiral pattern that hints at the thoughtful details awaiting within.
Inside, the home showcases other exceptional materials, including solid walnut beams sourced from an Amish company in Indiana. “They’re incredibly heavy... full solid walnut beams in the living room, and they’re beautiful,” says Jep Pound of DreamBuilt. “Each one had to be carried in by 14 guys.” These reclaimed elements, including live edge walnut wood from a West Texas mill, create rich textural depth throughout the interior.
The design philosophy was centered on creating distinctive spaces while maintaining a sense of togetherness for the family. “We wanted to create some destinations to escape and not have everything in one open area,” says Haley Patten of DreamBuilt, “but it was important to the owners that when the kids come to visit, everybody’s under one roof and having breakfast in the kitchen.”
DreamBuilt capitalized on “found spaces” throughout the home, utilizing roof line manipulation to accomplish this vision. Dual staircases lead to upper floors featuring train berth-style bunks, while a spiral staircase ascends to a charming crow’s nest study. The terrace level transforms into an entertainment sanctuary with stone-walled workout facilities and an impressive wine cellar.
The property’s crown jewel, the underground “Hobbit House,” began unexpectedly. “We started out thinking it was going to be a pool bathhouse, and then it evolved into this unique ‘Hobbit House,’” says Pound. The cozy retreat features a custom round door, hand-made stained glass windows, and layered arch reinforcement. “Huge emphasis was made on the landscaping to make it look like the ‘Hobbit House’ is really carved into the landscape and not applied after the fact,” says Pound. The landscape features hand-picked boulders along a creek and strategically planted weeping willows to complete the authentic Shire aesthetic.
Timeless Edge
Timeless Edge
For their newest home, Bob and Charity Hatfield of Hatfield Custom Homes, partnered with interior designer Ashley Martin to create spaces that honor traditional design principles while embracing modern sophistication. Together, they’ve built a testament to thoughtful design and timeless appeal.
“People are really gravitating toward a more timeless feel, and I love that they’re leaning into that,” says Martin. “Bob is great at creating rooms you can walk into five years from now, switch up a few things, and still feel completely current.”
Martin’s approach to the home was manifested through carefully curated color palettes, soft off-whites drenched in dramatic undertones, bold wallpapers, and an effortless mixture of textures that create depth and character throughout.
The Hatfield’s expertise in construction allowed for innovative approaches to traditional elements. The kitchen exemplifies how functionality combines with aesthetics through hidden doors and storage solutions that create an uncluttered environment. Cast stone elements around the hood echo the nearby great room, while quartzite countertops that look like soapstone offer durability with classic elegance.
Architectural details become the home’s signature. Arched doorways create visual interest, while oversized lighting fixtures against dramatic ceiling heights transform ordinary rooms into flexible spaces that are both intimate and spacious.
“Design is pushing back to a traditional, calming feel,” Martin notes, “but with an edgier, more nuanced aesthetic.” Moody design elements and strategically designed indoor-outdoor spaces elevate this family home into something truly special, functional spaces that feel sophisticated, proving that timeless design never goes out of style.
Luxury Oasis
Luxury Oasis
Perched majestically on the shoreline in The Homesteads at Reynolds Lake Oconee, this 18,000-square-foot architectural statement represents the pinnacle of modern luxury living.
The exterior showcases a stunning combination of limestone and brick, creating a distinctive silhouette that commands attention from the water. The outdoor spaces feature professionally designed putting and chipping greens, fire pit, and expansive pool that come together in an entertainer’s paradise.
Inside, architectural details take center stage. Builder, Kevin Aycock of Southern Luxury Homes and Designer, Summer Wood of Black Sheep Interiors worked with homeowners Alison and Ken Brown to tailor the home’s vision. Massive timber beams, stonework, and statement lighting anchor the great room, while a floating staircase with expansive windows creates a dramatic focal point. The kitchen boasts twin 12-foot islands underneath layered white oak coffered ceilings, adorned with eye-catching pendants.
“This house is truly transitional,” says Wood. “We’ve got floating stairs, stonework, and really interesting lighting that creates a unique aesthetic downstairs.” Upstairs has a more traditional feel, she says. “I always love to do one look upstairs and another downstairs.”
More innovative design elements include hand-painted wallpapers, floating stone-wrapped vanities, and a lacquered bar that promises to be the ultimate gathering space. The primary suite, with a black marble fireplace, speaks to a Parisian-inspired aesthetic, while an outdoor shower adds a lake living luxury.
The home is a testament to bespoke design with specialized spaces that elevate everyday living. Hidden doors reveal unexpected spaces in the foyer and the home’s haven for home entertainment, which includes a dart hall wrapped in reclaimed wood, driving and golf simulators, a movie theater and a spa. The homeowner’s office was designed entirely around his green Porsche, with custom art, wall colors, and cabinetry chosen to complement the vehicle.
Extensive customization, complex craftsmanship, and attention to detail are what Aycock says set this home apart. “The finished product is stunning,” says Aycock. “It has just turned out to be spectacular.”
Modern Serenity
Modern Serenity
Through thoughtful design and meticulous attention to detail, Legacy Homes by Freedom and Black Sheep Interiors crafted a space that seamlessly blends contemporary comfort with modern sophistication, creating a spa like sanctuary for homeowners Yasmin and Erik Papenfuss.
“We wanted to create very subtle, luxurious details,” explains Luke Wood of Black Sheep Interiors. The home’s design philosophy centers on achieving a serene, spa like atmosphere while incorporating unique, custom elements that set it apart from traditional lake houses.
Utilizing bold wall coverings, deep wood tones and cohesive black accents, the home reveals art deco-inspired details throughout, like custom designed fireplace mantels with a stairstep design. “I created these mantels to be one of a kind,” Woods says. The interior fireplace features a black Venetian plaster with a white mantle, while the exterior fireplace mirrors this with white brick and a black mantel, a stunning yin-yang visual effect visible from the same room.
Luxurious materials elevate the design, with marble used throughout key spaces like the kitchen and wine cellar. The powder room showcases a show-stopping crystallo stone countertop backlit to create a diamond-like glow.
The designers took a holistic approach, involving the homeowners’ two teenage daughters in the process. Each bedroom tells a unique story, with custom fabrics and personal touches that make the spaces truly their own. “I wanted them to walk in and feel like it’s their space, not a hotel room,” says Wood.
From the meticulously designed pool area to the carefully curated interior spaces, this home represents a balance of modern design and personal comfort. A true contemporary hideaway that feels both luxurious and inviting.
“The homeowners told me every time they come here, all their stress just washes away,” says Wood. “That tells me we did our job.”
Pointe Haven
Pointe Haven
Surrounded by nature in Richland Pointe, the lakefront home of Jeanne and Alan Steiden shows how thoughtful design can create the perfect balance between elegance and livability. Frank Herdzina of H&H Quality Homes, together with interior designer Rachael Bell, designed the home to honor its surroundings while creating a warm and inviting space for family living.
The architecture harmonizes with its waterfront setting through expansive steel and glass windows that frame breathtaking lake views. Two primary bedroom suites anchor the main floor, while all living areas open toward the water, creating seamless indoor-outdoor flow.
“No matter the season, nature provides beauty for these spaces,” says Bell. Her design philosophy centered on this natural inspiration, incorporating organic textures and a palette of soft blues, greens, and warm wood tones that shift subtly throughout the year.
The open concept living spaces flow together, enhanced by distinctive architectural elements like boxed beams and wall planking that add texture to the aesthetic. A standout bourbon room celebrates the homeowners’ Kentucky heritage with rich, saturated tones and sophisticated detailing, and a charming bunk room with deep blue planking that provides a cozy retreat for visiting grandchildren.
“Spaces like this, richly steeped in family tradition, show the most heart in a home,” Bell says.
The collaboration between Bell and Herdzina made every detail align with the homeowners’ vision, creating a lakeside sanctuary that proves intentional design can produce spaces as beautiful as they are livable.
Panorama Perfection
Panorama Perfection
The home of Pat and Mary McClain, an architectural masterpiece crafted by DreamBuilt and interior designer Tim Green, while not on the tour, will play host to the Top Sponsor Reception to kick off the Lake Oconee Showcase of Homes.
Dramatic archways on the front porch establish the home’s signature aesthetic, carrying through to the great room’s back windows that frame spectacular lake views. “The arches are a nice way to soften the transition between spaces without fully separating them from one another, still allowing an open concept flow,” says Jep Pound of DreamBuilt.
Beveled corners on a cased opening give the kitchen its own defined space while remaining open to the great room and keeping room.
An arched hallway leads to the guest wing, originally conceived as a separate two-bedroom cottage but masterfully integrated into the main structure. It reveals dramatic ceiling heights bathed in warm woods, anchored by a floating staircase leading to the guest rooms above.
“We tried to be really intentional about proportions because it’s so tall, a full two stories,” says Haley Patten of DreamBuilt, “but the scale of everything is appropriate for the space and we were able to soften the room so it didn’t feel too contemporary.”
Green approached the interior design of the home with the same attention to balance and scale by bringing in larger pieces that, as he says, “play to the scale of the rooms,” along with organic accessories to enhance the homeowners’ vibrant art collection that includes custom paintings and bold glass sculptures.
“I feel like every house has a soul and you have to figure out what that is and then work towards it,” says Green. “This house has a lot of organic elements with all the wood and limestone, and it’s very family-oriented, so it has to be livable, but still maintain that luxury.”