Waterfront Comfort on Chickamauga Lake

Just 15 minutes from downtown and almost everything in Chattanooga is this stunning waterfront property home, built by Linda Brock along with Dexter White of Dexter W. White Construction. Rich in character and flawlessly well appointed, the home offers old-world casual elegance. The artfully executed exterior features solid, real stone and brick and is accented by wood-shake dormers and crowned by the steep pitches of the roof-
line. Guests are warmly welcomed into the arched entryway of the covered stone front porch with an opening that provides a breathtaking preview of big water views ahead.

By Christina Cannon / Photography by Philip Slowiak

Builder: Dexter White, Dexter W. White Construction

Architect: Jon Greenfield, Greenfield Design, LLC

Landscape Design: Glen Craig, Craig Design Group, Inc.

The Hunt for Perfect Positioning

“The dock was in place a couple of years before the construction of the home, so we had time to perfectly position the home by flipping the plan, allowing us to capture water views from all rooms in our home with just a few exceptions,” explains White. “Our goal was to create a continuous view of water – from the pool to the lake – which required creative engineering in order to raise the grade to walk from the terrace level into the pool.” White, along with a landscape designer, achieved an impeccable design that provides a feeling of continuity from house to water. An expansive flagstone deck surrounds the pool and includes a covered outdoor kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, and an oversized outdoor stone shower. A lush grassy area nearby features a private putting green, vegetable garden, and flagstone walkway to the dock.

To see more from Dexter W. White Construction, visit dexterwhiteconstruction.com.

“A variety of wood grains, such as mahogany, alder, knotty alder, poplar, and knotty cherry, were blended, each with their unique characteristics, to add a refined warmth and a relaxed, casual character.” – Dexter White, Dexter W. White Construction

Interior doors, trim, and windows: East Chattanooga Lumber & Supply Co.

In the oversized family room, a feeling of coziness and intimacy emerges with a floor-to-ceiling stone full-masonry fireplace, flanked by stained alder wood window casements that draw the eye toward the coffered 12-foot ceiling above. “Somewhat unique about this home is that all the crowns, casings, and baseboards in the entire house are wood-stained, and the whole home has solid wood 8-foot doors,” says White. “An added level of labor and precision went into finishing all the trim, and the end result is unmatched.” Natural light brightens the entire house because every wall is filled with windows that embrace spectacular water views. Three full-size sofas provide an abundance of seating, two of which are mirrored and boast striped cream-colored soft fabric, and a leather couch rounds out the comfortable seating arrangement.

Another prime outdoor living area is the screened porch and grilling deck, accessible from the family room and kitchen. This space overlooks the water and the heated saltwater pool and spa, which feature a natural finish reminiscent of the riverbed. With a 12-foot tongue-and-groove ceiling, the screened porch has slate floors and expands the main-level living area to encompass the outdoors.

Furniture: Fowler Brothers Co. | Ironwork: Beaty Fabricating, Inc.

Open to the living room is the home’s kitchen. Knotty cherry cabinetry can be found along the perimeter, as well as on the island. Creamy marble countertops are complemented by the Calcutta marble backsplash that transitions from horizontal tiles to a picture-framed herringbone pattern just above the cook-top. A pot-filler faucet is a convenient feature, and the cook-top hood itself boasts ornate woodwork where expert craftsmanship is on full display. The detail is repeated in the trim on nearby textured glass-front upper cabinets. The kitchen is also served by a beverage station that includes a full suite of glassware and a wine cooler. The opposite side of the room features an eat-in space seating six, in addition to the island’s four place settings.

Kitchen backsplash and screened porch slate flooring: Stone Source, Inc.

“We removed all the heavy pendant lights of our original build over the island and replaced them with recessed LED can lights to lighten, open, and maintain uncluttered sightlines.” – Dexter White, Dexter W. White Construction

Passing through the living room grants access to another, more formal dining space. Here, a custom table with seating for 12 is encircled with antique black-rubbed Queen Anne chairs for more casual dining, the details of which work in unison with the room’s wainscoting and a china cabinet with cathedral-style doors to truly elevate the space.

Select furniture: Total Concepts Furniture

Not far from the kitchen and main living space is the master suite. Once again, elegant woodwork comes out to play in the posts of a raised bed frame. Picture windows with slender transoms capitalize on the scenery, which is further emphasized by the room’s French Canvas wall color and a blend of soft whites and muted blues found in various textiles and artwork. “Again, the positioning of the home on the lot allowed us to maximize the water views from most rooms in the home,” says White. “It was during construction that we found new sightlines and kept adding windows. Being able to visualize the end product when you’re in the raw building stage is what makes it all possible.”

While all of the comforts one could ever need are on the main floor of the home, the other stories are not to be overlooked. Traveling up a grand L-shaped staircase with a curved floor line, balustrade, and banister takes visitors to the top floor, which houses a media room. Playful buffalo-check couches are paired with three leather recliners. A large custom entertainment system, with state-of-the-art audio, and a beverage station make this room a movie-lover’s paradise. On the bottom floor of the home, visitors have plenty of space and comfort at their fingertips. A living area that features a similar stacked-stone fireplace to that of the family room offers up warmth that’s accentuated with the leather and wood accents that run throughout the rest of the home. Plenty of guest bedrooms also dot this lakeside abode and provide family and friends with a reprieve from the worries of the world.

Other Suppliers:

Appliances, plumbing, and select lighting fixtures: Ferguson

Brick: Acme Block & Brick, Inc.

Cabinetry: Norcia Fine Cabinetry

Carpet flooring: Choo Choo Carpets & Floor Coverings, Inc.

Décor and design: Jodi Brewer, JL Brewer Designs; Vicki Runge, Fowler Brothers Co.

Hardwood flooring: Five Star Hardwood

Kitchen countertops: Granite Warehouse

Select furniture: JL Brewer Designs; Matthews Furniture + Design

Select lighting fixtures: Matthews Furniture + Design; Nell’s Home, Gifts, & Interior Design

Stone: Stone Design House