Lynn McKamey moved into her new home in Cummings Cove’s newest section, The Woodlands, on January 21, 2008. “I moved in on my birthday,” she says. “It took about 12 months to complete the construction, and I spent a lot of time here during that process. I would come during different times of the day to watch how the sun would rise or set. I could envision what it would look like when it was finished, so it was a pleasure to be here to watch it become a reality. Watching something that you picture in your mind actually turn out that way is very satisfying. I sell real estate and enjoy building houses, so I am likely to build another house after a while.”
The approach to the house is a scenic delight with Lookout Mountain in the distance, twin ponds in the foreground and patches of wooded areas intact. Located on a hill, bright pool umbrellas, roses, and other floral plantings create a colorful welcoming sight. “I was drawn here by the Black Creek Golf Course,” says McKamey. “I like to play golf, and I like the proximity to downtown without actually being there. It is only about seven minutes away. The view of the mountains and the ponds is really nice. At night, when there is a full moon, the light reflects on them, and in the mornings they reflect the reds of the sunrise. Though I am not on the golf course, it is to my left, and the mountains are on the other side, so the privacy is really nice. The mountains and wooded areas will be beautiful in the fall when the colors begin to change. There is a soft golden glow here in the afternoon with a wonderfully tranquil silence.”
The house was designed by Dan Sater and reflects Mediterranean influence. This house could be found in a Tuscan village as readily as in Chattanooga. “I have been to Italy several times and like the Mediterranean styles,” McKamey says. “You are surrounded with such beauty everywhere there that you are virtually inundated and overwhelmed by it. I would not call the house exactly masculine or feminine, but it has some heavier features. I saw a lot of homes in Naples, Florida, that were somewhat this style, and I liked them a lot. I knew that I wanted an open floor plan and a home that was good for entertaining with a spot like the entertainment bar. I wanted the master bedroom on one end of the house with other bedrooms on the opposite end. I wanted a separate dining room and living area, and a separate den and gathering space, but I wanted them to be usable, not off in an isolated corner. I wanted open space, and I hoped to make it look as though it had evolved. Working with my builder, Chuck Williams of C.T. Williams Contractors,
was such a pleasure as everything went along very smoothly and on schedule.”
Upon entering the front door, your focus is drawn through the living room to the pool and terrace. The terrace is accented by brilliant roses and other floral plantings. A baby grand piano, conversation area, and floor to ceiling doors and windows opening to the pool area serve as foreground to the expanse of mountains, ponds, and wooded areas beyond. “Originally there was a fireplace in the living room, but I changed the plan and moved it to the den,” McKamey explains. “The area that would have been behind the fireplace was transformed to make a cedar-lined closet that I have always wanted. In many homes living rooms are rarely used, and I did not want that. This living room is used a lot because of the open floor plan.”
The large table in the dining room was created by McKamey’s oldest son. “I just handed him a picture, and he created it for me,” she recalls. “The wood is alder, and he created it to look as though it is double layered. I wanted the table to be large enough for ten people so that our whole family could fit around it. My sons did a lot of the aesthetically pleasing, artsy finishing touches. My youngest son did my unique crown moldings, and they really add a lot to the style. I like the blend of painted and stained woods. It really meant a lot to me to have my sons involved and doing the artistic touches. They did all the ornate trim,” she says.
Exquisite colors in the tray ceilings in the dining room give a luminous luster to the room. “It is not faux; the ceiling is really Venetian plaster,” McKamey notes. “I did not know it would happen, but I wanted to use this golden color in the ceiling over the dining area,” she says, pointing to a glass mosaic light fixture. “It looks dark in the daylight, but at night it becomes this really pretty golden color with the light reflecting on it. We changed the plans for the tray ceilings a lot. I would hand the framers a picture and say, ‘This is the tray I want. Can we do it?’ Then we would stand in the center under the place where the light fixture needed to be. A lot of the time when a room is finished, arranging the furniture can be difficult. The light fixtures are off center, and you have to cheat to make it look as though they are centered over a table or rug. I am very pleased with the way they turned out.”
To the left of the entry is an office/library with ornate built-in bookshelves that were specially created by McKamey’s son to hold treasured family photos and items of special significance. “I wanted them not to look as though they were an afterthought, so my son designed the special effects with the curved top and pedestal accents,” says McKamey. Photographs of her family are proudly displayed. Beside the desk an unusual oil painting with koi and water lilies brings a three-dimensional splash of vibrant color and a sense of action to the room. Nearby, a bathroom off the hall features an onyx vanity top that is back-lighted to create a romantic golden glow. This bath with separate powder room is conveniently accessed from the pool area.
An eye-catching focal point from the front entry is the sunken entertainment bar area, softly lighted and mirrored to reflect glistening barware, unique lighting, and accessories. “I dropped the floor six inches so that it would be countertop level from the inside service area and table height to sit at the bar outside,” McKamey notes.
The master bedroom boasts a canopy bed that literally looks as though it was created just for this room. Framing the sides of the bed are wall sconces with pulley systems to raise and lower the lights. Charming draped window treatments with sparkling jeweled borders bring colors forward from the fabric of the bedspread, accent pillows, and upholstery in the sitting area.
The spacious master bath showcases a whirlpool tub. Soft-toned tile extends to an open space behind the tub where a shower is tucked between window walls and tiled backdrop. Between the window and a privacy wall, bright red begonias flourish, giving a colorful lift to the interior. “It is interesting at different times of the year,” McKamey notes. “We were having a little snow in January, and it was fun to shower with snow coming down nearby.”
The kitchen is very functional as well as beautiful with island work area, richly colored granite cabinet tops, and appliances with wooden facades to match the cabinetry. The pantry door was created by the cabinet maker to maintain continuity in the wood design. Custom accents such as rollout spice shelves make use of the smallest spaces. The kitchen is open to a sitting area with fireplace and an inviting conversation space. “This is the place where people tend to congregate,” McKamey explains. “The stone fireplace makes it warm, though it is open to the outdoors. The picture of the birds came from my townhouse in Florida. I always felt that it gave me a lift when I entered the room with its bright reds and lime green, so I decided this was the right place for it here,” she remarks. Softly lighted beams accent the ceiling over the conversation area, enhancing the sense of space and openness. A painted table provides a foreground for the alcove design which adds interest to the area.
To the right of the kitchen, a television viewing area draws you in with three flat screens on the walls. Doors open out to the terrace where a covered entertainment area boasts an outdoor kitchen and fireplace with cushioned lounges for relaxation. The stone and stucco colonnades of the covered terrace continue to reflect the Mediterranean influence. To the right of the outdoor kitchen, a waterfall and fish pond surrounded by plantings add tranquility to the setting. Japanese maples have been added for a splash of color. “There is usually a breeze here on the hillside,” McKamey says. This space is ideal for all-season entertaining as it has heaters in the ceiling.
This home is created for family, comfort, entertainment, and ease of care and maintenance. It is a romantic house that exudes warmth and glows with hospitality, a reflection of its owner.