The landscaping was designed to look natural, as if it had always been there
Clear Vision
W
With a vision of big water views and lush landscaping vistas from every window in the home, Rocky and Amelia Barnes hired architect Taylor Dawson, builder Leon Gould and landscaper Eric Brown to create a spectacular Lake Martin retreat. In 2017, after 21 years in their old lake cabin, they moved into their stunning home and began making new memories. “We told Taylor that we wanted to be able to see the lake when we walked in, no foyer, nothing blocking the view. He did that and more. We can see the lake through the house when we drive down the driveway. And sitting in the great room with all of the windows is like sitting on the porch,” Rocky Barnes said. The driveway and lake sides of the main part of the house are identical, with windows from the ground up to the 20-foot ceiling, allowing unobstructed views of the lake and backyard. The home is surrounded by flagstone walkways, boulders strategically placed into the landscaping and native plants that create a forested effect. An iron gate, with a pinecone and pine needle design by Gowen Iron, invites guests to follow the driveway through lush beds of lantana and butterfly bushes, ferns and perennials, as well as magnolias and other trees screening the property. Landscaped beds around the home are planted similarly. In the parking area at the front of the home, a high waterfall greets visitors with its beauty and the relaxing sound of water rushing over boulders. The waterfall pours into a pool
38 LAKE
that becomes a stream along the side of the home then empties into the lake. “I knew that Eric Brown had a great skillset with stone, and I trusted him. I wanted it to look natural, with native plants and a woodsy look, like it was here before the house. I have had people ask me if the stream is natural. That’s the look I wanted,” he said. Outdoor living spaces were a priority for the couple. The grilling porch just off the kitchen wraps around the corner of the house, providing two separate seating areas, as well as a dining area with a single pecky cypress plank table from Marshall Lumber Company and a base built by Gowen Iron. “We spend 90 percent of our awake time in the rocking chairs. The sound of the waterfall rushing over the rocks is really great,” he said. The large flagstone patio allows a perfect view of the lake and the dock. Stone pathways wind through the landscaped backyard. On a special trip to California wine country, the Barneses saw unique Adirondack chairs made from wine barrels. They were able to track down the builder and have six chairs built and shipped to Alabama – a perfect addition to the patio. Brown added boulders to the stone seawall, so they blend into the landscape. He also built the pebble beach where the stream spills into the lake, as well as a separate sand beach for swimming. The octagonal stone gazebo is just off the great
OCTOBER 2021
