The Sattler’s Watts Bar hideaway is a custom-crafted masterpiece that’s served as the central gathering point for their whole family since its construction in 2008. The lodge-like aesthetic is endlessly impressive, as every room showcases personalized touches and gorgeous lake views.
“I love how you’re always discovering something new that you hadn’t noticed before. It’s very unique!”
Jim and Lynda Sattler stumbled across a property nearly 10 years ago that they knew would be the perfect location for their vacation and retirement home. It’s tucked far off the road and juts out into a mini peninsula, surrounded on three sides by Watts Bar Lake. It served as the perfect compromise on location – “Jim has always wanted to live on the lake. His parents lived on the lake and that’s how he grew up, so he loves it. But I have always wanted to live in Colorado, in a lodge or mountain style home. So we decided to build a lodge on a lake to keep us both happy!” Lynda laughs.
From the moment you enter the property, you’re greeted with unique, custom architecture. The entrance gate is a beautiful composition of stripped tree branches, and the long drive up to the house is surrounded with interpretive stone sculptures, that the Sattlers’ son, Gary, has a talent for creating. “One looks like a bucking bull, another looks like the Loch Ness Monster swimming through the yard,” Lynda explains, “He really does a great job finding the stones!”
The vaulted portico at the home’s entrance immediately evokes Lynda’s preferred lodge-like aesthetic. And as you enter, the open floor plan is soaked in natural sunlight from the great room’s towering wall of windows, framed by custom-carved, cherry crown molding. “We really wanted the natural color of all the different woods to shine through, so we didn’t even stain the molding, we just waxed it,” Gary explains of the rustically finished trim work throughout the home.
With sumptuous leather seating and a custom-built cowhide ottoman, the great room is anchored by a ceiling-high, stacked stone fireplace and a hearty, rustic mantle. The deep reds and browns throughout the main floor lend a sense of warmth to the light-toned German spruce walls. The two-tiered candle chandelier hanging from the beamed cathedral ceiling is custom ironwork. It was made to match other ironwork throughout the home, including an entryway table and the ornate railing around the second floor landing, which is visible from below.
The open main floor continues through to a large dining area and kitchen as well. The dining set and generous, wooden kitchen island were specifications by Lynda. “I wanted enough seating in this area that the entire family could fit here,” she says. The rough-finished, extra long table and chairs were specially made by a nearby craftsman. In the kitchen, a special carving was done on-site, during the home’s construction – “We asked for a favorite bible verse to be carved above the hood of the stove,” Lynda explains. In fact, the house has numerous carvings throughout. Nature scenes, animals, plants, and other designs were laid into the woodwork of multiple doors, corbels, and casings. “I love how you’re always discovering something new that you hadn’t noticed before,” Jim smiles, “It’s very unique!”
In the open main floor, another level of mind-blowing detail is showcased. In keeping with the same all-natural, old-world-style of craftsmanship, the floors are quite the accomplishment. Hundred-year-old hemlock flooring was taken from a warehouse in New Jersey and hand-processed, plank by plank, to be installed throughout the Sattler’s home. Each plank was individually fitted like a giant puzzle, hand-sanded and finished, and eventually pegged – not nailed – with hand-carved wooden pegs. The result is a masterpiece, running through every room. The slightly uneven planks vary in hue and texture, and glow with the patina of over a century’s worth of life.
To the very back corner of the main floor is the master suite. The room has a welcoming atmosphere thanks to warm tones from the spruce plank walls with peeps of red showing through, rich colored rugs, and plush red seating in front of its enormous, windowed wall. The view of the patio’s stone fire pit and lake extend the coziness. The custom-carved, regal bed frame boasts the Sattler’s monogram.
The adjoining master bath feels like a luxurious retreat. With dogwood flower carvings in the cabinets, a continued red color scheme, and a stone walk-in shower, the room is reminiscent of a mountain cabin spa.
In a house made for family gatherings, every layout decision was thoughtfully made. Upstairs there are three more guest rooms, including what the Sattler’s have affectionately dubbed the “King’s Suite.” Extra sleeping areas and pull out loveseats add up to a home that sleeps up to 21 guests. “We love to celebrate the Fourth of July here, we host a lot of football games in the fall, we’ve had Thanksgiving, lots of birthdays, a couple of weddings, charity events, and community church services here,” Lynda laughs, “We love having people visit!”
With a sectioned stone patio out back, a stocked screened-in porch, putting green, boat dock, separate swimming pier, and side grilling porch – Jim and Lynda’s home-away-from-home rivals the finest resorts. It is the ideal place for friends and family to come together.
