NC Living Magazine - Early Spring 2023

perfectly paired | with Wanderview Hospitality + Highlands Wine Shoppe design trends | from Atelier Maison the regional tee-off | Masters-Inspired Getaways

SILVER CREEK REA L ESTATE GROUP

EARLY SPRING 2023

“...the Silver Creek team took the reigns and navigated us through the intricacies of our unique purchasing experience.

Without them, we would have been lost and could have potentially lost the deal. We are grateful for the support and, ultimately, the beautiful home we secured.”

Introducing the latest issue of NC Living , where we celebrate the beauty and opportunities of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. Each season here is a testament to nature’s enduring power and the chance to start anew. As the community comes alive with the arrival of spring, we relish the chance to reconnect with friends, enjoy outdoor activities, and bask in the stunning beauty of the mountains.

At Silver Creek Real Estate Group, we are proud to be part of this vibrant and thriving community. In 2022, we were recognized as the top-performing brokerage on the Plateau, with the highest number of transactions closed and highest sales volume. This achievement would not have been possible without our loyal clients and hardworking brokers, and we are grateful for their trust and support.

As the market continues to evolve, we recognize the importance of marketing in today’s landscape. That’s why we are continuously expanding our marketing team and platforms, while others may be cutting back. We believe in providing our clients with the best possible services and results, and a strong marketing strategy is a crucial part of that.

If you’re looking to buy or sell a property on the Plateau, you’ve come to the right place. Our team of experts is here to guide you through every step of the process, from preparing your home for potential buyers to exploring the many communities and clubs to find the perfect fit. We understand the unique qualities of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau real estate market, and we are dedicated to helping you achieve your real estate goals.

JOCHEN LUCKE President and Owner of Silver Creek Real Estate Group

LARGE LEOPARD DAPPLED VASE FROM TRUFFLE TABLESCAPES; $28.86. TRUFFLETABLESCAPES.CO.UK

All real estate advertised herein is subject to the federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination." scan to Sub S cribe

REAL ESTATE

ELEVATED LUXURY

Page 24

EXCLUSIVE OFFERINGS

Page 32

RECENT SALES

Page 76

OUR TEAM

Page 78

CLEARED FOR LAUNCH

Page 106

EXCLUSIVE LAND OFFERINGS

Page 109

TOP: LES BATEAUX BELMOND’S COQUELICOT BARGE FROM BELMOND. BELMOND.COM

RIGHT: BOGNER X ANAVON ANNIVERSARY SKI SET FROM BOGNER. BOGNER.COM

OPPOSITE: A SILVER CREEK REAL ESTATE GROUP EXCLUSIVE OFFERING IN MOUNTAINTOP

LIFESTYLE

UPCOMING EVENTS

Page 10

GET OUT

Page 12

PERFECTLY PAIRED

Page 18

PLANTING IDEAS

ALL ABOARD 55

TOP DOG

Page 60

2023 DESIGN TRENDS WITH ATELIER MAISON

Page 66

GOT GRIT WITH JULIA TATUM BANNER

Page 70

THE REGIONAL TEE-OFF

Page 94

FIRST SERVINGS

Page 100

BEAR SHADOW

Page 102

THE RAVEL & THE REST

Page 128

LES BATEAUX BELMOND

Page 132

nclivingmag

nclivingmagazine

Photos by Emily Followill

upcoming event S

ARTIST TALK WITH CASEY ENGEL

MARCH 23RD at 4 PM

THE BASCOM: A CENTER FOR THE VISUAL ARTS

Join The Bascom for an artist talk with Casey Engel, an interdisciplinary artist primarily working in textiles, printmaking and ceramics. This event is free and open to the public For more information, visit TheBascom.org

13TH ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

APRIL

8TH from 11 AM 12 PM

THE VILLAGE GREEN

Bring your kids (age 11 and younger) and their baskets to the Village Green for its 13th annual community Easter Egg Hunt. The Literary Council of Cashiers and the Albert Carlton Library will be handing out books, and the Easter Bunny will be making a visit, so make sure to bring your camera to capture the memories! This is a free community event. For more information, visit VillageGreenCashiersNC.com

LOCALLY GROWN ON THE GREEN RETURNS

APRIL 19TH from 2 5 PM

THE VILLAGE GREEN

Locally Grown on the Green Market is back beginning on April 19th. This producer-only market features local growers and producers offering everything from farm-fresh meats and produce to honey, flowers, jams, fresh eggs and more. Always fresh, and always local, every Wednesday ‘til October. For more information, visit VillageGreenCashiersNC.com

BEAUTY & THE SUBLIME WORKSHOP: A PHOTOGRAPHY AWE WALK ON THE BARTRAM TRAIL

APRIL 22ND at 4 PM

THE BASCOM: A CENTER FOR THE VISUAL ARTS

Put on your hiking boots and grab your camera to join The Bascom’s 3-hour photography workshop on the Bartram Trail. This workshop is open to photographers of all levels and costs $25 per person. For more information and to register, visit TheBascom.org

SPRING EXHIBITION RECEPTION

APRIL 27TH at 5 PM

THE BASCOM: A CENTER FOR THE VISUAL ARTS

Join The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts for a free public reception celebrating their spring exhibitions: Green Energy Park: Building Art & Community with Renewable Energy | Photography Residency Exhibition, Sean Patrick Hill. For more information and to register, visit TheBascom.org

3RD ANNUAL BEAR SHADOW MUSIC FESTIVAL

APRIL 28TH 30TH VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Grab your tickets for the 3rd annual Bear Shadow Music Festival and celebrate spring with a weekend of music, mountains and revelry hosted by Highlands Festivals. Single day tickets and 3-day passes can be purchased on their website Bearshadownc.com , or you can flip to page 102 of NC Living for more information and the full line-up of performances.

ST IVES OAK WIDE PLANK FROM THE WOOD FLOORING CO.; $68.96 PER M2. THEWOODFLOORINGCO.COM

Among the vast snow-capped peaks and sprawling valleys of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, sits perhaps one of the most exquisite five-star hotels and ski resorts in the country – Amangani. Perched atop the East Gros Ventre Butte overlooking the captivating Tetons and Snake River Valley, this Aman Resorts hotel was the first of their collection to be built in the United States and is one of three in the entire country. Amangani’s sister hotel, Amangiri, rests in the heart of the Utah desert and their newest addition, Aman New York in Manhattan’s midtown.

The hotel was designed by world-renowned hotel architect Ed Tuttle, whose approach to

the décor to the first-class amenities, it is obvious that the stunning architecture was designed to compliment the captivating surroundings. With 40 luxurious suites, a holistic spa, an outstanding restaurant specializing in globally and regionally curated flavors, and excursions designed to inspire the adventurer in all of us, Amangani is the perfect place to soak in all that the pioneer country has to offer.

ACCOMMODATIONS

nature and design has become a signature of several Aman hotels, including the original Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand. Amangani offers polished accommodations, extraordinary culinary experiences, and unrivaled customizable excursions, all set in the spellbinding old American West.

As its name suggests, Amangani ( aman, Sanskrit for “peaceful” and gani , Shoshone for “home”) is a harmonious retreat that celebrates its magnificent natural setting. With its redwood and sandstone architecture, Amangani blends seamlessly into its landscape. Though opulence is woven into every detail of this hotel, from

When selecting the perfect suite at Amangani, it’s hard to go wrong. Each accommodation reflects the immense natural beauty surrounding the hotel. The suites are accented with wood and stone finishes and adorned with large picture windows that fill the space with warm natural light and picturesque views of the mountains and forests. Each space is luxuriously sophisticated, from the natural materials that deepen the connection to the landscape to the décor of woven cowhide chairs and faux-wolf throws that speak to the western soul. Suites offer private patios and balconies overlooking the expansive terrain, spacious bathrooms with bathtubs and twin vanities, sumptuous king-sized beds with highquality linens, and living areas with metal, gas-lit fireplaces. Relaxing and stylish, Amangani Suites offer everything you need for tranquility during your stay.

Should you desire slightly more space for yourself or your family, Amangani Homes provide the perfect place for a retreat with your loved ones.

The Amangani Homes collection offer four bedrooms total, both homes outfitted with three king bedrooms while the fourth bedrooms differ with one housing four twin beds while the other features two sets of bunk beds. The homes are a great choice for those traveling with children, or those just looking for extra privacy to enjoy the serenity of Jackson Hole. Each bedroom features a spacious bathroom, and the entertaining space is abundant with large living rooms, a dining room, and a kitchen. With their own workout studios and deep-soaking bathtubs, a stay at an Amangani Home is like a wellness retreat for the mind, body, and soul.

DINING

Imagine burrata with fresh tomatoes, walnuts, blueberry, and huckleberry vinaigrette. Now picture a juicy Wagyu ribeye with gouda polenta, celeriac purée, shimeji, and green peppercorn jus. How about a plate of elk chili nachos piled high with cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, fresh guacamole, and sour cream? Do we have your attention yet?

At Amangani’s The Grill, overlooking the vast Snake River Valley and the dusted peaks of the Tetons, Executive Chef Manuel Fernandez serves up delicious pairings of global culinary flavors with exquisite regional ingredients like caribou sausage, bison steaks, Idaho potatoes, and Utah honeycomb. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, The Grill always offers a selection of local, sustainable ranch meats, fresh fish, and seasonal farm-to-table produce. Meals can also be served anywhere you desire - fireside in your private suite, by the pool, or in the open air of the sun deck.

Looking to grab an afternoon cocktail and watch the sun sink into the mountains? Head to Grand Terrace Bar from 3 pm to 8 pm to soak up the last sunshine while you enjoy canapés and sip on hand-crafted cocktails, local beers, and the finest wines.

Stop by the Zinc Bar after a day of skiing to enjoy panoramic views of the Wyoming snowfields. Rugged sandstone columns and redwood paneling add to this bar’s stylish yet intimate and welcoming ambiance. Zinc Bar is known for its seasonal craft cocktails like the huckleberry martini and the spicy hibiscus margarita. In addition to their artisanal cocktails, you can also savor the flavors of local beer and spirits distilled in the area.

WELLNESS

Amangani’s pristine facilities offer rejuvenating treatments and holistic programs designed to wind you down after an invigorating day of skiing or prepare you for a full day of wildlife adventure. The Wellness Centre features four redwood-paneled treatment rooms, movement and fitness studios, two eucalyptus steam rooms, men’s, and women’s private changing areas, a heated, outdoor 35-meter pool, and a hot tub with panoramic mountain views. To regenerate and recuperate after your excursions, consider Amangani’s “Nourishing Journey.” This three-hour treatment begins with a massage ritual that draws in the Ayurvedic practice of Marma Points Therapy. Once you have reached your deepest level of relaxation, the treatment continues with a body polish and jade powder wrap, followed by a moisturizing facial, crafted to soothe and brighten the skin.

One of their signature winter rituals, the Après Ski Dream, is the perfect treatment for unwinding from a day of physical exertion. This treatment begins with a traditional sage smudge ritual, peppermint foot scrub, and warm-wax dip that hydrates tired skin. Afterward, you will enjoy a neck and shoulder massage with hot basalt stone and amethyst, ending with a purifying scalp massage.

In addition to its signature treatments, the spa offers a wide selection of facial treatments, holistic massages, and integrative medicine and meditation practices. Should you seek ultimate privacy, the Wellness Centre also allows you to indulge in treatments in the comfort of your suite or on your private balcony. Home treatments are also available for homeowners or villa rentals.

EXPERIENCES

Located close to some of North America’s best ski and

snowboarding slopes and two national parks, Jackson Hole is an adventurer’s paradise yearround. However, at Amangani, the adventures continue beyond the base of the mountain. With activities available no matter the season, the hotel’s concierge is dedicated to crafting the perfect itinerary of excursions for you to enjoy.

In the magical winter of Jackson Hole, you and your family can partake in anything from dog sledding, sleigh rides, and snowmobiling expeditions to ice skating, snowshoeing, and wildlife viewing, all with the most professional outfitters in the area. For those hitting the slopes, you will revel in the proximity to premier ski resorts like the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in nearby Teton Village. Amangani’s ski lounge, located in Teton Village, is just steps from the Bridger Gondola and Aerial Tram and provides ski-in and ski-out access to Rendezvous and Après Vous Mountains. Amangani’s expert ski concierge at the lounge can fit you with a premium selection of skis and snowboards. Just a 15-minute drive from the hotel is Wyoming’s first ski area, the Snow King Resort, boasting North America’s steepest trail. Snow King offers a variety of activities for the whole family, including night skiing, snow tubing, the “Cowboy Coaster,” and a scenic gondola. Venture a little bit further, about 85 minutes, and you will reach the Grand Targhee Resort, which offers over 15 km of trails for Nordic skiing and fat biking, in addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding. Looking to avoid the crowds and get off the beaten path? Sign up for a thrilling day of heli-skiing, where

you can drop into otherwise inaccessible slopes. Off the mountain, you can indulge in winter fly fishing on the Snake River or ice fishing in the scenic Wind River Mountains.

With its location near two national parks – Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park – Amangani also provides a wealth of activities to enjoy in the summer. Jackson Hole’s rich ecosystem of expansive mountains, meadows, sage flats, river bottoms, national forests, and wildlife refuges provides endless opportunities for recreation and adventure. Take an Amangani Signature Wildlife Tour of the national parks and Jackson Hole valley, where you will learn firsthand about the environment and its inhabitants. During your safari, keep an eye out for moose, elk, bison, bald eagles, wolves, and bears.

Get out, explore the East Gros Ventre Butte, and discover the Tetons on a guided horseback adventure. Hike Grand Teton National Park or cycle through Jackson Hole on the area’s system of trails and terrain, suitable for any experience level. Your whole group will be elated with an afternoon at Via Ferrata where a guided tour of the

suspended bridges along granite walls leads you high above the valley floor to breathtaking views.

For those desiring a day on the water, Jackson Hole is home to premier trout fishing amongst its endless lakes, streams, and the majestic Snake River that winds through the peaks of the Teton Range. From fly fishing with professional guides to taking a leisurely float trip where you can spot bald eagles, pelicans, moose, deer, bison, beavers, and more, the Snake River will provide enjoyment for adventurers of all ages. Thrill seekers will quench their need for adrenaline on a whitewater rafting trip through the Snake River Canyon. For the more chill members of your group, try a boat trip on the serene Jenny Lake. Seeking a

more curated, moderatelyactive day? Have the Amangani concierges prepare a lakeside picnic whilst paddling around on the kayaks and canoes.

If you want to see the sheer expanse of Jackson Hole’s rugged terrain, there is no better way to go than with a bird’s eye view. Float above the valley in a hot air balloon that awards 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains, or soar in the sky with a scenic flight or helicopter ride where you can give your camera’s memory card a workout. For more of an adrenaline rush, consider tandem paragliding with a certified pilot, where you can gaze down upon the lush evergreen forests and wildflower-filled meadows.

Expand your knowledge of the region with a visit to one of the several museums, cultural centers, and activities in Jackson Hole dedicated to showcasing local arts, culture, and history. Peruse the permanent collection of art and the exhibitions at the National Museum of Wildlife Art or load up the kids and head down to the Jackson Hole Children’s Museum for interactive, hands-on exhibits and educational programs in the arts and sciences. Catch a show at the Jackson Hole Playhouse or put on your boots for the Jackson Hole Rodeo in the summertime.

However you choose to spend your stay at Amangani, it is sure to be a time that you and your family will relish for years to come. For more information on Amangani or to plan your next adventure in Jackson Hole, visit their website at Aman.com/Resorts/Amangani . Be sure to check out Aman Resorts’ other locations around the globe. A world of adventure and luxurious hospitality awaits!

PERFECTLY PAIRED

with Wanderview Hospitality and Highlands Wine Shoppe

Wine and cheese, a pairing as old and honored as time, and the perfect combination of rich, earthy, and wholesome flavors that will elevate any entertaining experience. There’s a reason so many people opt for charcuterie when hosting a gathering – not only are gourmet cheeses, cured meats, and their accoutrements mouth-wateringly delicious, but a well-made board offers something for everyone. On the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, we are lucky to have two fantastic sources for our entertaining needs – Wanderview Hospitality and the Highlands Wine Shoppe.

The brainchild of Cashiers-based travelers and international food enthusiasts Juqui Cheatham

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and her husband Matt Cheatham, Wanderview Hospitality offers exquisitely curated charcuterie boards and boxes, and grazing tables, cups and cones to the people and businesses of the Plateau. Juqui and Matt are also owners of the Wanderview Lodge, a lovely vacation rental located between Cashiers and Highlands. Loaded full of tasty goodness, each one of Wanderview Hospitality’s offerings is a delightful mix of sweet, salty and savory flavors, artfully presented in a way that will make anyone stop and stare.

Think intricately folded and cut cured meats, decadent gourmet cheeses of all shapes and sizes, fresh and dried fruits, seasonal vegetables, roasted nuts, salty and tangy olives, delicious dips, sweet, sticky honey, gourmet chocolate, and savory artisanal crackers. The list doesn’t end there, and Wanderview pays special attention to sourcing their produce both seasonally and locally whenever possible. The same goes for their cheeses. Western North Carolina is home to some magnificent cheese producers, and Wanderview always strives to include fresh cheeses from our local creameries. Did we mention the honey from Calm Creek Farm is local too?

No matter the size of the gathering you are hosting or the formality, Wanderview Hospitality

photography by izaak hol S apple

has a board, box, or grazing table that will fit the need. From boxes that feed up to five to large boards that feed up to 17, there are plenty of options to keep all your guests satisfied and inspired. The grazing cups and cones are perfect for grab-and-go occasions, and for larger parties and events, a grazing table is a way to go.

CLARENDELLE BORDEAUX ROSÉ

Bordeaux, France ($20.99): Delicate notes of rose water, watermelon and raspberry pastille and a bright acidity make this rosé perfect for Spring! Pair with chèvre (goat cheese) and fresh raspberries for lovely synergy.

BODEGA HIRUZTA TXAKOLINA ROSÉ

Spain ($22.99): Savory notes of red currant, pomegranate and bitter cherry are accompanied by a refreshing spritz in this off-the-beaten-path selection. Pair with silky slices of jamón Ibérico for maximum enjoyment!

DOMAINE DUPEUBLE BEAUJOLAIS ROSÉ

Burgundy, France ($18.99): Crafted from 70-year-old vines, this rosé of Gamay displays

rich notes of wild strawberry, red currant, and lavender with a mineral-tinged finish. Perfect for enjoying with a rich, savory paté or terrine Beaujolais.

REFERENCE POINT ROSÉ

Willamette Valley, Oregon ($19.99): This 100% Pinot Noir rosé is a shop favorite with bright, fruity notes of strawberry, rhubarb, and cherry. A delightful match for classics like peppercornstudded Genoa salami or prosciutto di Parma.

CHATEAU D’ESCLANS

ROCK ANGEL ROSÉ

Provence, France ($39.99): This sister wine to Whispering Angel has a bit more depth and complexity due to a delightful kiss of oak. Creamy notes of peach, citrus and vanilla pair perfectly with flavorful saucisson sec or rillettes.

Grazing tables are an incredible custom flat lay option that can be done on a counter or table, depending upon your space, and include a dramatic spread of all the same goods found in the boards and boxes with added flourishes that will have all your guests in awe.

In this beautiful board created by Wanderview Hospitality for NC Living Magazine , Juqui’s artisanal prowess and incredible charcuterie design skills are on full display. There is a delightful selection of local and seasonal cheeses, cured meats, fresh and dried fruits, Calm Creek Farm’s lavenderinfused honey, macaroons, marinated olives, a selection of roasted nuts and fruity FROG Jam from Farmer Don of Deal Produce in Franklin. From classics like Spanish manchego and triple cream Brie to fresh chèvre with honey and Liesel alpine tomme dusted with cocoa from Marshall, NC-based Spinning Spider Creamery, this board was packed full of flavor and the perfect bite of spring.

To place your order for a charcuterie board or box or to speak with Juqui about setting up an elegant grazing table for your next gathering or event, visit their website at Wanderviewhost.com . Not currently on the Plateau? You can also follow their Instagram @Wanderviewnc for charcuterie inspiration and announcements!

With Wanderview Hospitality providing the meats, cheeses, and everything in between, the natural next step is selecting the perfect bottle (or bottles) of luxurious wine, and the Highlands Wine Shoppe is your one shoppe stop. Under the ownership of Stephanie and Steve Miskew since 2022, the Highlands Wine Shoppe is a wonderland for oenophiles (otherwise known as wine connoisseurs), and Stephanie knows a thing or two about what their shoppe has to offer.

An award-winning Certified Sommelier with The Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) with The Society of Wine Educators, and a Wine Location Specialist for CIVC (Champagne) and IVDP (Port) with The Center for Wine Origins, along with a Wine and Spirit Education

Trust (WSET) Advanced Certificate; Stephanie lives and breathes all things wine and gourmet; just check out her blog, The Glamorous Gourmet, dedicated to food, wine, and travel. She is a Fox News Wine and Food contributor and host of the Wine Atelier Podcast, where she shares her insight and knowledge on wine and the industry along with other food and wine professionals.

Highlands Wine Shoppe carries a diverse selection of wine from around the world, offering everything from daily drinkables to hard-to-find collectibles that will impress even the most discerning palate. Visit the shop to experience new flavors through their Sommelier curated tasting machines that serve wine up by the glass! In addition to its diverse selection of wines, the Highlands Wine Shoppe hosts wine tastings with Master Sommeliers and other professionals within the industry, as well as exciting events such as Thirsty Thursday Tastings and Sinatra Sundays.

Keeping it light and bright for spring, NC Living asked Stephanie to share some of her favorite Rosé recommendations from Highlands Wine Shoppe for a fresh and fruity complement to your next charcuterie gathering.

“The perfect rosés for spring are bright and lively with flavors ranging from red berries and rose petals to cherry and blood orange” says Stephanie. “Made from a wide variety of grapes, rosés are always a fun way to explore the wine world. They’re also a natural match for charcuterie and cheese due to their complementary flavors and food-friendly acidity. And when planning any pairings, it’s always fun to follow the classic tenet, “if it grows together, it goes together.”

Visit the Highlands Wine Shoppe at 269 Oak Street to discover new and unique flavors, get fabulous recommendations, and pick up a few bottles of delicious Rosé to enhance your springtime hosting. You can also follow their Instagram @Highlandswine for updates on their wine tastings and events!

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Gardens offer a wonderful opportunity to commune with nature, and every culture has a different interpretation of what that should look like. The geometric formal gardens of France reflect a desire to bend nature to man’s will, while 18th-century English landscape architect Lancelot “Capability” Brown preferred naturalistic undulations of green. On the other hand, gardens in Japan and Iran are more mystical in thought, attuned to harmonize humans with nature in idealized settings. Here are some philosophies from these gardening styles worth emulating.

FRANCE

The French formal garden began at Versailles, when King Louis XIV’s architect designed one to embody his power over nature, and perhaps the country. Now, they are just immaculately kept outdoor wonders. Always with a sense of perfect order, every plant is flawlessly manicured and there is symmetry everywhere one looks. Sections of boxwoods and other shrubs are carved into geometric shapes with gravel paths winding through. These intricate plant patterns are meant to be viewed from the balcony of a grand château as well as from within the garden itself.

Lavender and other simple flowers may fill in the shapes or be placed in perfectly spaced planter boxes. Also in planters, topiary shrubs are carved into balls, triangles and swirls. Even the trees are kept under control, lining walkways and having their tops trimmed to the same height. Decorative stone benches and evenly placed statues, often mythological figures, stand guard over the

garden, while water features such as stone pools and fountains add mirrors for a royal gaze.

JAPAN

The Japanese garden draws from Buddhist, Taoist and Shinto philosophies, and everything in it is meant to symbolize nature. There are three important elements — rocks, water and plants — carefully placed to create a miniature natural landscape, often a reproduction of a real scene. The garden usually centers around a pond, representing a real or mythical lake. Islands or large stones placed in the center can have religious symbolism or may be a real place. A curved bridge leading to the island is a hallmark.

On land, small manmade hills or rocks stand in for mountains, sometimes complete with a mini waterfall. Sculpted Japanese maple, black pine, red pine, cherry trees and evergreen shrubs surround the pond and stone or gravel paths, layered for their subtle difference in color and texture. Grasses fill in the borders, while moss covers almost every ground surface. Winding paths circle the pond and create little vignettes at every turn, with stone lanterns placed in areas of particular importance, inviting peaceful contemplation of nature and life.

ENGLAND

The English country garden is charmingly ramshackle in appearance. Although it seems a bit haphazard, it is carefully planned to look natural with a very loose structure. Deep borders

overflowing with flowers surround a lawn or lawn paths, with plants spilling over the edges. Walkways are never straight, allowing one to dreamily meander through the garden. Stepping stones lead through thick stands of plants to a wooden or iron bench beneath the leaves. Small trees and shrubs are placed here and there, and a patch is often set aside to grow herbs and vegetables.

There is always a colorful mix of a wide variety of flowers that are planted and layered in thick clumps that seem as though they simply wanted to grow there. Roses are an absolute necessity, and hollyhocks, poppies and native grasses all lend to the diversity of plants that attract birds, bees and butterflies. Trailing plants such as clematis, honeysuckle and ivy are another must. Trellises, arches and stone walls are overgrown with vines, setting a romantic scene.

IRAN

The Persian garden of Iran is filled with both symbolism and impressive innovation. Dating back to the sixth century B.C., it embodies paradise on Earth. In fact, the English word for paradise is derived from the Persian word, “firdaus,” or “walled garden.” Usually rectangular in shape, the garden is surrounded by stone walls and is divided with straight stone paths or water channels into quadrants. A central courtyard or pavilion may contain a stone fountain or pond from which other canals branch into the four sections.

Each section represents something, although the meanings have changed throughout the years, from the four seasons to the Zoroastrian earth, heavens, water and plants to the Islamic interpretation of the elements of the world. Everything in the garden helps to beat the desert heat. The geometric water canals serve the dual purpose of irrigation for the plants and cooling the air. Tall cypress and palm trees are planted close together in rows along the walkways for shade, while peach and apricot trees offer a juicy, earthly treat.

Text reproduced with permission from Luxury Portfolio International and Luxury Portfolio magazine. © Luxury Portfolio International. All rights reserved.

ELEVATED LUXURY

AN INSIDE LOOK AT A SPRAWLING MOUNTAINTOP ESTATE

ROOM FOR ALL

Escape to this stunning mountain home located behind the gates of the esteemed and private Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club community. This luxurious and spacious five-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bathroom property puts entertainment and comfort at center stage.

The main level encompasses the kitchen, living area, dining area, laundry room, powder room, and primary bedroom. The open kitchen featuring a large island with Caesarstone and SubZero/Wolf appliances flows seamlessly into the living and dining rooms, allowing convenient access to the walk-in pantry and wet bar with a wine cooler.

From this central living space, you can easily step out to the side and back deck, where a stone fireplace and incredible views offer even more opportunities for indoor and outdoor gatherings. The primary bedroom is a splendid retreat for homeowners to enjoy their privacy in comfort. It features two closets and a spa-like en suite bathroom with a soaking tub, glass-enclosed shower, and his and hers vanities.

The upper level hosts an office and two bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom. Downstairs, a family room, kitchenette, two bedrooms with en suite baths, and a deck overlooking the golf course offer a delightful space for guests to relax and play.

A private walking path adjacent to the property lets you stroll to the golf course in just a few minutes. Other features of this home include an encapsulated crawl space and golf cart storage that connects to the attached two-car garage.

Mountaintop offers a Tom Fazio-designed golf course and countless water recreation opportunities, such as kayaking and canoeing at the private Lake Club on nearby Lake Glenville. For those seeking relaxation, a trip to Mountaintop’s world-class spa should do the trick. This immaculate home is well designed with quality and functionality in mind for those who enjoy entertaining guests and living in luxurious mountain comfort.

SILVER CREEK OFFICE LOCATIONS

CULLOWHEE FOREST

PILOT MOUNTAIN

BEAR LAKE RESERVE

WOLF KNOB ACRES

SIMS VALLEY

GLENSHORE

PILOTS KNOB

BIG RIDGE

WOUDES MOUNTAIN

STRAWBERRY HILL

GREY CLIFF

THE LAKE CLUB

SUMMER HILL

STONE BRIDGE

BRIGHT MOUNTAIN

SUMMER COVE

STILLPOINT

BUCK KNOB ISLAND

TATER KNOB

CHINQUAPIN

HIGH HEMLOCK

BRIDGE CREEK

HICKORY KNOLL

CROSS CREEK

TRILLIUM LINKS

MOUNTAINTOP STILLMONT & CONTINENTAL CLIFFS

GLENCOVE BY OLD EDWARDS

HIGHLANDS COVE

WILDCAT CLIFFS

COUNTRY CLUB

CASCADES AT CEDAR CREEK

PINNACLE RIDGE

LITTLE SHEEPCLIFF

CEDAR CREEK WOODS/ESTATES

BIG SHEEPCLIFF

PINCHOT

HIGHLANDS FALLS COUNTRY CLUB

SHERWOOD FOREST

MIRROR LAKE

HIGHLANDS COUNTRY CLUB

BRUSHY FACE

ZACHARY’S

PINE FOREST & SPRING FOREST

LONESOME

CHATTOOGA RIDGE

VALLEY

CEDAR HILL

GOLF CLUB ESTATES

STONEFLY

CHATTOOGA CLIFFS

PEREGRINE

HOLLY BERRY ESTATES

HIGH MEADOWS

CULLASAJA CLUB

TIMBER RIDGE

HIGH HAMPTON

CHATTOOGA CLUB

WHITESIDE FOREST

SAGEE WOODS

SATULAH VISTA

FOUND FOREST

WHITESIDE CLIFFS

LAUREL FALLS

GLENRIDGE

ZACHARY’S GAP ROUND HILL

HILL

BALD ROCK/THE DIVIDE

FALCON RIDGE HOLLY FOREST

CCSV DEER RUN

SASSAFRAS RIDGE

ARROWHEAD

FIVE STONE

PRESERVE AT ROCK CREEK

LAKE TOXAWAY COUNTRY CLUB

INDIAN LAKE ESTATES

BURLINGAME

WHISPER LAKE

TWIN FALLS

BEAR WALLOW SPRINGS

OVERLOOK AT SAPPHIRE

WADE HAMPTON

BY SILVER CREEK REAL ESTATE GROUP

STONEFLY

CASHIERS

Just minutes from the shopping and fine dining of downtown Cashiers, Blue Bear Camp is the ultimate Adirondack-style mountain lodge. This prime property borders the Nantahala National Forest, ensuring privacy and abundant wildlife. Another world awaits in the dream-like setting amid the wild Chattooga River, flowering landscaping, sparkling waterfall, and lush forest, all against the stunning backdrop of Whiteside Mountain and Devil’s Courthouse.

Elegance and sophistication prevail in this custom mountain home in Lonesome Valley. An outstanding example of Loudermilk Homes’ work, this exquisite home presents a rare opportunity for an exceptional, elevated mountain lifestyle. With 5-bedrooms, 5-baths, and 2-half-baths, privacy and comfort are assured for family and guests. Residents enjoy amenities such as extensive hiking trails, fly fishing streams and ponds, a recreational lake and boathouse, tennis courts, Fitness Barn, a pool, a disc golf course, and rock climbing.

LONESOME VALLEY SAPPHIRE

CEDAR HILL CASHIERS

Tucked away in the understated luxury community of Cedar Hill, this home is perfectly positioned to showcase striking views of the neighboring mountains, granite rock face, and lush forests. Enjoy elevated living with custom and thoughtful design that evokes feelings of opulence, comfort, and conviviality. True to Loudermilk Homes’ style, this property exhibits the builder’s renowned craftsmanship and signature integration of smart technology.

Captivating views and exquisite craftsmanship are just a few elements of this custom Loudermilk Homes creation that will elevate your Plateau lifestyle. Situated on over 22 acres, you will have nature at your fingertips as you gaze out of the floor-to-ceiling windows at long- and short-range views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and their exposed rock face. Cedar and stone accents give this modern rustic home a warm and inviting facade, while dormers and angled rooflines create a distinctive architectural style.

CEDAR HILL CASHIERS

LAKE TOXAWAY ESTATES

LAKE TOXAWAY

Luxury living at its finest at Wolkenkuckucksheim in Lake Toxaway, NC. This Al Platt-designed mountain home boasts stunning views of Lakes Toxaway, Hartwell, and Jocassee, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Craftsmanship is evident with cedar shake, Tennessee Fieldstone, and a Bulthaup-inspired kitchen. Other amenities include a whole-house audio system, Lutron lighting, radiant in-floor heating, an endless current pool, and a sauna. Unwind in the primary suite with dual walk-in closets and a soaking tub. Enjoy the covered porch with stone fireplace and Japanese Tea House with captivating views.

Custom home in Cedar Hill with stunning mountain views of Whiteside, Yellow, and Big Sheepcliff Mountains. Great room with vaulted ceilings, stone fireplace, and picturesque views. Chef’s kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances. Lavish primary suite with dual walk-in closets, morning kitchen, and spa-like bathroom. Upper level features three guest suites, lofted sitting area, and morning kitchen. Enjoy the outdoor stone patios and fireplaces with panoramic views. Close to Cashiers and Sapphire. A modern mountain oasis.

CEDAR HILL CASHIERS

SPRING FOREST

This is an excellent opportunity to own brand-new construction in the premier gated community of Spring Forest! Located just minutes from Cashiers and Sapphire, peaceful mountain living is within reach. Rise each day to warm natural light as you gaze at the pristine mountain views in this custom home designed with comfort in mind. A spacious and open floor plan, top-tier appliances, and a private circular drive are just a few aspects that will invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy life on the Plateau.

Immaculate estate in Trillium Links & Lake Club community. “Dreamcatcher” offers timeless elegance and grandeur with Blue Ridge Mountain views. Custom floating staircase and 13-foot ceilings create an open ambiance. Spacious living and dining areas flow onto a flagstone deck. Gourmet chef’s kitchen with premium appliances. Soundproofed second floor with 3 bedrooms and a wet bar. Third floor offers a 360-degree observation room. Owner’s suite with gas log fireplace, sitting room/office, and hot tub deck. Experience inspired living on the Plateau in this rare offering.

TRILLIUM LINKS CASHIERS

BALD ROCK SAPPHIRE

Rustic elegance takes center stage in this 6+ acre Sapphire Valley mountain retreat. Immediately upon entering the fully furnished three-bedroom, threeand-one-half-bath log home, you will be warmly welcomed by the exquisite details and outstanding craftsmanship displayed at each turn. Unwind from the afternoon in the sunroom, or camp out by the outdoor fire pit and take in the lush surrounding forest. A meticulously maintained barn and pristine pastures make this a fantastic property for animal lovers.

Welcome to the prestigious Chattooga Club, an exclusive community of luxury living in the picturesque mountains. This elegant family home offers four spacious bedrooms and three-and-a-half luxurious bathrooms, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Enjoy the well-appointed kitchen, spacious living areas, and cozy bedrooms. Take advantage of world-class amenities, including canoes and electric boats on the stunning Lake Chattooga, a picnic area with breathtaking views of Whiteside Mountain and the Chattooga River.

CHATTOOGA CLUB

CASHIERS

BIG RIDGE GLENVILLE

Experience the ultimate mountain retreat on 90+ pristine acres of breathtaking, unrestricted land just 8 miles from Cashiers Crossroads. At a high elevation of 3,700 feet, immerse yourself in stunning long-range views and an abundance of wildlife. The land is perfect for outdoor adventurers, with hiking, UTV/ATV trails, a pond, and a small log cabin with electricity and spring-fed water. The charming cabin could be used as a guest house while you build your dream mountain home. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to create a private family estate on this magnificent property.

Perched in the hills on 3.75 acres in Cedar Creek Woods, this stunning mountain home is waiting to be your new haven from the city. Offering long-range scenic views of Bald Rock Mountain and its lush forests, you will be charmed each morning by the soft light and low-lying clouds of sunrise in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The home’s spacious and open floor plan allows for uninterrupted enjoyment and accessibility of the main-level living spaces. A large stone fireplace takes center stage in the great room, which also features cathedral ceilings and access to the expansive back deck.

CEDAR CREEK WOODS CASHIERS

SNOWBIRD CULLOWHEE

Escape to mountaintop living at the exclusive 74-acre Snowbird estate, boasting a nearly 4,700-foot elevation for breathtaking 360-degree views and total privacy. A charming Tim Greene-designed lodge is furnished for immediate enjoyment, while walking trails and a flat mountaintop make for an ideal off-the-grid escape. Embrace the opportunity to relax and live the ultimate mountain dream!

CEDAR CREEK WOODS

OFFERED FOR $1,850,000

Absolutely stunning at every turn, it is evident that each detail of this immaculate home has been thought out with comfort in mind. Displaying unparalleled craftsmanship, the inviting open-floor layout welcomes you to relax and unwind amongst the bright natural light, shiplap finishing, and reclaimed heart pine hardwood floors. This home features three incredible stone fireplaces by which to warm yourself during the cool nights.

MLS# 100447

STONEFLY

OFFERED FOR $1,750,000

This 4,000-square-foot home is located only minutes from the dining and shopping of Cashiers and boasts four bedrooms and four full baths, and one half-bath. Located in a very private gated community, the large and level lot offers a stream and pond which can be admired from the large deck and covered porch. Enjoy sitting by the pond and radiating fire pit as you listen to the sounds of nature.

MLS# 98941

CEDAR CREST

OFFERED FOR $1,700,000

Impeccable taste and thoughtful design are on display with this new construction property in the notable community of Cedar Crest. Make the final design selections prior to breaking ground. This is the perfect solution for those seeking a new, luxurious mountain home without being enveloped in a tedious construction and design process. The developer has created a truly elegant home, accentuating the newly combined double lot that spans 1.15 acres.

MLS# 100495

CEDAR CREEK WOODS

OFFERED FOR $1,595,000

Experience luxury mountain living in this stunning home bordering Horsepasture River. Featuring a gourmet kitchen, great room with stone fireplace, and primary suite with a spacious en suite bath, this home is perfect for hosting family and friends. Enjoy the tranquil sounds of the river from the covered porch or open deck with a fireplace. With additional guest suites, a lower-level family room, and a loft, this home provides ample space for privacy and relaxation.

MLS# 101346

BALD ROCK

OFFERED FOR $1,500,000

Situated on the edge of Camp Merrie-Woode’s magical forest, this enchanting cabin offers the utmost privacy, with no other home to interrupt the surrounding vistas. Upon entering the carved doors, ascend to the upper level to see cathedral ceilings and a twostory fireplace. An open floor plan encompasses the dining room, living room, and kitchen. Provisions for an elevator have been incorporated to make this home more accessible if desired.

MLS# 98714

THE DIVIDE

OFFERED FOR $1,425,000

Tucked away in The Divide neighborhood, this beautiful, well-maintained home offers plenty of privacy. Architectural details like rich wood floors, warm wood walls, a stone fireplace in the living room, and lots of glass for natural light exude the relaxed mountain lifestyle. A wonderful place to enjoy wine and appetizers as the cool evening approaches, the rear deck overlooks the lushly wooded property and a firepit, with the sound of tranquil running water from the nearby stream.

MLS# 101149

TRILLIUM LINKS

OFFERED FOR $1,249,000

Enter the pinnacle of rustic modern luxury with this fourbedroom, four-bath home situated within the picturesque Trillium Links & Lake Club. This charming home sits on a gentle hillside providing an excellent combination of yearround mountain, lake, and woodland views. The openconcept floor plan allows for seamless enjoyment of the kitchen, dining room, and indoor/outdoor living spaces, making it ideal for entertaining friends and family.

MLS# 101271

GLENRIDGE

OFFERED FOR $1,039,000

At an elevation of 4,200 feet, this property allows you to enjoy cool mountain weather year-round. The main level includes a room for the office and the primary bedroom with its en suite bath, where you can relax in the large Bain Ultra air tub. The living area has a large stone fireplace that is both gas and wood-burning.

MLS# 98846

HOLLY FOREST

OFFERED FOR $995,000

Warm wood throughout this Holly Forest home creates an ambiance of comfort and relaxation in which you can enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the forest that surrounds you. The home’s southern exposure allows ample natural light and three back decks provide the perfect place for afternoons of savoring the sunshine. Just a short drive from Cashiers and the amenities of Sapphire Valley, memories in the mountains are waiting to be made.

MLS# 100981

HOLLY FOREST

OFFERED FOR $980,000

Indulge in luxury and serenity in this custom-built mountain retreat. With stunning views of Chimney Top and Rock Mountains, the home’s high elevation and natural light create a bright and tranquil ambiance. Entertain with ease in the open floor plan, including a living room with a vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace. This home is being offered mostly furnished. Situated near amenities, enjoy outdoor recreation through the Sapphire Valley Master Association’s golf, tennis, pools, and trails.

MLS# 101492

CHINQUAPIN

OFFERED FOR $900,000

Located in Chinquapin’s Natures Walk, this three-bedroom mountain home offers both easy living and entertaining space. The airy floor plan includes a living room with a stone fireplace, separate dining, and a kitchen with stainless steel appliances. The upper level includes the living area, primary bedroom, and a large covered porch, while the lower level features a family room, wet bar, and two bedrooms. Enjoy access to clubhouse amenities and miles of trails. Offered furnished, move-in ready.

MLS# 101352

HOLLY FOREST

OFFERED FOR $895,000

BURLINGAME

OFFERED FOR $849,000

Enjoy luxury mountain living in this move-in ready Holly Forest cabin featuring a post and beam design with natural wood accents, stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and abundant windows. The open-living concept is ideal for entertaining, and the primary suite features a spacious bathroom. Two additional bedrooms, loft, and generous-sized kitchen make this cabin perfect for social gatherings. Create lasting mountain memories in this serene and peaceful retreat.

MLS# 100901

Build your dream home in Burlingame Golf and Country Club. This ready-to-be-built custom home has a large, private primary suite with an office or craft room and small, attached to sit and relax. Two en suite guest rooms on main level, split floor plan, large open family room with stone fireplace. Chef’s dream kitchen, large outdoor covered porch, great for entertaining. 2.5 car garage with ample storage. Finished living space over garage for overflow guests. Plans available to view.

MLS# 96489

Charming cottage in the heart of Sapphire Valley, just a short walk or golf cart ride from the Country Club. Recently renovated interior includes vaulted ceilings, stone fireplace, new flooring, and updated kitchen and master bath. Primary bedroom with fireplace on main level and two bedrooms upstairs. Back porch overlooks stream. Enjoy shopping, restaurants, and outdoor activities minutes away. Membership to Country Club by invitation only.

MLS# 101220

COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES

OFFERED FOR $840,000

This luxurious stand-alone home overlooks the first hole of Trillium Links & Lake Club’s golf course, and offers ample space to relax in the rustic charm of the mountain lifestyle. With cathedral ceilings, a wet bar, and outdoor space on both levels, this home is perfect for entertaining guests or spreading out with family. Upgraded with a new roof and commercial-grade gutters, this home is move-in ready and comes furnished. Vacation rentals are allowed.

MLS# 101176

TRILLIUM LINKS

OFFERED FOR $825,000

Spectacular sunrise and Hogback Mountain views abound in this newly constructed traditional home, offering a rare opportunity to own property behind the Country Club of Sapphire Valley gates. The new homeowner will have the option to complete and customize interior portions of this spacious multi-level home, presenting three bedrooms and three full baths. A newly constructed 2-car carport can be converted into a garage. This property has been virtually staged.

NEWLY

OFFERED FOR $775,000

HOLLY FOREST

OFFERED FOR $649,500

GLEN LAUREL

OFFERED FOR $570,000

Savor long-range views of Hogback Mountain from this charming lock-and-leave home in the Holly Forest neighborhood of Sapphire Valley. Situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains this comfortable retreat is ideal for those longing to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Conveniently located to the quaint towns of Highlands and Cashiers, and a short drive to the scenic Fairfield Lake, you can indulge in a plethora of outdoor adventures or culinary options.

MLS# 100890

Brand new three-bedroom home with deeded Lake Glenville access and community dock. Quiet neighborhood with paved roads and underground utilities. Walk to the community dock and enjoy the beauty of Lake Glenville. Convenient to Cashiers, Franklin, and Cullowhee. Be the first to enjoy cooking in your new kitchen and having a fire in the fireplace. The property has been virtually staged to assist with imagining your new mountain home. The public boat ramp is only a couple minutes away.

MLS# 100621

HOLLY FOREST

OFFERED FOR $525,000

Fully renovated, turn-key home in Sapphire Valley. Completely furnished with high-end furniture, custom cast iron fireplace, and three luxury beds. Updated plumbing and fixtures, custom kitchen cabinetry, and LED lighting. End-of-road privacy, back deck for entertaining, and fiber optic internet. Ownership includes access to golf, tennis, swimming, fitness center, and more via the Sapphire Valley Master Association. Ideal investment property with proven success for River+Tree Inn owners.

MLS# 101442

This charming, one-level home boasts a big Hogback Mountain view! The large sliding glass doors and windows provide lots of light. Soaring vaulted ceiling with wood beams and a stone floor-to-ceiling fireplace give a spacious feel. Freshly painted inside and out, with new flooring, remodeled kitchen, and commercial-grade dehumidifier in the fully encapsulated crawl space. Enjoy the spectacular panoramic view from the back deck. Fiber optic internet available soon. Virtually staged to assist with imagining your new home.

MLS# 100508

OFFERED FOR $499,000

This two-bed, two-bath mountain home features a wood-burning fireplace, a bonus room, a laundry room, and a living area. Enjoy a spacious, covered front porch with mountain views. This location is close to local restaurants, Lake Glenville, and the town of Cashiers. A metal roof was installed in 2019. The perfect mountain getaway for an affordable price.

MLS# 101198

GLENVILLE OFFERED FOR $337,000

Escape to nature in this charming two-bed, one-bath cabin nestled in the woods on an acre of land. Partially renovated with updated bathroom and new flooring and fixtures, it offers immense potential for expansion with a spacious attic. Enjoy complete privacy and the sounds of nature on the wrap-around deck, surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest. Conveniently located near hiking trails and the town of Cashiers with dining and shopping options.

MLS# 101438

CASHIERS OFFERED FOR $315,000

All Aboard

The Venice Simplon-OrientExpress passes through the Brenner pass, Austria.

Photo by David Noton.

LEAVE THE PRIVATE JET BEHIND AND HOP ON THE WORLD’S MOST LUXURIOUS TRAIN

Transportation has become simply that — a way to get from one point to another, an area of limbo between reality and holiday. But what if the vacation started in tandem with the journey?

Imagine staying at a five-star hotel with a Michelin-level culinary experience, all while en route to some of the most historically renowned destinations in Europe. This was, and continues to be, the foundational concept of Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train.

“Belmond has owned and operated the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express since 1982,” says Gary Franklin, vice president of trains and cruises at Belmond, London. “It is made up of 17 original art deco carriages hand selected by Belmond’s late founder, James B. Sherwood, and each carefully restored.”

“The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express brings to life the romance and nostalgia of the golden age of travel, inviting travelers to dress up and celebrate from the moment they step on board,” he says.

“Whether a relaxing breakfast in their private cabin while the European countryside passes by the window, cocktail hour and live music in the 3674 Bar Car, or multicourse dinners in one of three dining cars — the train is an elegant and comfortable space that travels with the guest from one destination to the next.”

Belmond is now part of France’s LVMH luxury empire, which includes brands such as Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton.

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Following the American Civil War, a prominent Belgian banking family sent its travelenthusiast son, Georges Nagelmackers, to the United States, where he discovered an affinity for trains — but not just any trains.

Enamored by American industrialist George Pullman and the Pullman sleeper car, Mr. Nagelmackers returned to Europe with an idea to bring luxurious hotel-like experiences aboard a train that would take passengers from Paris to Constantinople — present-day Istanbul.

In 1873, Mr. Nagelmackers formed the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, and by 1889 the Orient Express embarked on its first direct route from the Gare de l’Est in Paris to Constantinople, becoming Europe’s first transcontinental express line. And although railroads made their debut at the start of the 19th century, this was unlike anything Europeans had ever experienced. It launched a new age of travel — for those who could afford it.

The Orient Express was widely seen as the transport method of the elite, from presidents and aristocrats to notable artists and cultural pioneers. A single ticket on the original train would cost thousands in today’s dollars.

Now the train is predominantly recognized as the setting of Agatha Christie’s 1934 classic murder mystery, Murder on the Orient Express, but that is not to say it is something of the past.

While the original Orient Express completely ceased service in 1977, the concept and some physical elements lived on under different management.

At an auction that same year, businessman and founder of the Belmond hospitality group, James Sherwood, bought two carriages from Mr. Nagelmackers’ original service and spent

nearly five years developing a full sleeper train to take wealthy travelers from London to his hotel property in Venice.

In 1982, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express was born.

SUITE TALK

A full-service express train to this day, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers trips from March through November between London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Geneva, Verona, Venice, Florence, Rome, Prague, Vienna, Budapest and Istanbul.

Like it did between the 19th and 20th centuries, the train still appeals to the adventurous and affluent.

High price tags come with high expectations, and Belmond delivers.

Upon boarding the Venice Simplon-OrientExpress train, guests are transported into a grandiose world that could best be likened to that of Jay Gatsby.

From intricate detailing in each of the private cabins to handcrafted furniture found in the reception cars to 24-hour butler service, the train

simply oozes luxury — and that does not even include the landscape views from any perspective.

Belmond invites guests to retreat to its restored 1920s cabins, offering a choice for them to stay in a twin cabin or one of six grand suites, starting at roughly $3,000 and $14,500 per person per night, respectively.

The grand suites, aptly named Paris, Venice, Istanbul, Vienna, Prague and Budapest, boast a number of features and amenities, such as unlimited Champagne, private dining, spacious marble en-suite bathrooms and a lounge area.

MEALS ON WHEELS

A true testament to any luxury service, however, is the dining experience.

Earlier this year, Michelin-starred French chef Jean Imbert was appointed as the head chef of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, overseeing all culinary touch points, from menu curation to ambiance.

Mr. Imbert brings his vision to life through dynamic, seasonal menus that incorporate ingredients from local farmers, producers and artisans, as well as guest experiences at visited destinations throughout Europe.

The famed chef redesigned the physical identity of the train’s three 1920s restaurant cars — L’Oriental,

Etoile Du Nord and Côte d’Azur — adding new ambient lighting to elevate the atmosphere, French porcelain dinnerware and color schemes that reflect the history of each car.

Starting with breakfast, passengers may either enjoy a plentiful spread in their private rooms or venture to one of the restaurant cars for coffee, smoked salmon, eggs, truffles, caviar and, perhaps, a mimosa or two.

Lunch includes a three-course meal in a guest’s desired dining car with an onboard sommelier to pair each course with the appropriate wine.

By mid-afternoon, travelers may sit comfortably, taking in the scenic views while indulging in the train’s tea service, complete with small pastries and an extensive selection of tea offerings.

Guests may enjoy a sunset-drenched cabin aperitif before heading to their desired dining locations for the main event: dinner.

More than a meal, Chef Imbert’s carefully curated multi-course dinner serves as the centerpiece of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express experience.

AFTER DINNER, guests may revel with other travelers in Bar Car 3674, where bartenders mix fresh cocktails and the resident pianist fills the space with dulcet melodies and tunes.

If guests are not quite ready to turn in, the train service provides a “midnight brunch,” including lobster rolls, truffled club sandwiches and Champagne.

“Sophisticated dining is a key pillar of the journey and our guests build special memories around the food they eat,” says Pascal Deyrolle, general manager of the Venice SimplonOrient-Express.

“Jean Imbert is bringing a new level of culinary excellence, keeping the legend and mystery of the world’s most famous train alive,” he says.

Text reproduced with permission from Luxury Portfolio International and Luxury Portfolio magazine. © Luxury Portfolio International. All rights reserved.

Photo by Matt Hind

Grand Suite Venice.

Photo by Martin Scott Powell

DESIGNERS LET THEIR PETS RULE THE ROOST — AND HOW

word S by mickey alam khan

A dog may be man’s best friend, but it takes an interior designer to put that into practice.

Noted design author Susanna Salk, along with photographer and founder of lifestyle blog Quintessence, Stacey Bewkes, embarked on a marvelous journey across the United States and England to unearth one simple truth: how do some of the world’s leading designers treat their canines?

CHARLEY CHAU DAY BED MATTRESS IN FAROE FABRIC - SIENNA COURTESY OF CHARLEY CHAU; $102.20. CHARLEYCHAU.COM

A DOG’S LIFE

The duo, who cohost the At Home With YouTube series, have produced two delightful volumes titled, At Home in the English Countryside: Designers and their Dogs (2020) and At Home with Dogs and their Designers: Sharing a Stylish Life (2017).

Published by Rizzoli New York, the coffee table books chronicle the indoor/outdoor lifestyles of 40 designers who lavish their pets with the best brands, apparel, accessories and attention that money can and cannot buy.

What stands out is the absolute devotion to their dogs’ welfare and happiness, be it through homecooked food, plush beds, high-quality leads, access to all areas of the country house or even the extravagance of a Louis Vuitton carrier bag.

And talk of a variety of breeds, both rescued and bred: Labrador Retrievers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Jack Russell terriers, lurchers, whippets, bulldogs and Havanese — the list goes on.

Among the U.S. designers visited were Robert Couturier, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Mary McDonald, Alex Papachristidis, Katie Ridder, Carolyn Roehm, Jonathan Adler and Bunny Williams.

In England, Ms. Salk and Ms. Bewkes called on Nina Campbell, Veere Greney, Kit Kemp, Bunny Guinness, Anouska Hempel, Bridget Elworthy, Henrietta Courtald and Christopher Howe, among a roster of the greats in U.K. design.

Outdoors, the sheer greenery and expanse, along with homely touches, characterized each designer’s individual approach to outdoor space and room décor. The dogs were along for the ride, family members to the core and companions without condition.

We sat down with Ms. Salk to discuss the unwavering devotion that designers have to their

dogs, and how that manifests in their home and garden design.

Designers have a special relationship with their pets. What exactly is the connection? Designers are all about home being a place of comfort, joy and unconditional love: who better to provide that than dogs?

In both your books — At Home in the English Countryside: Designers and their Dogs and At Home with Dogs and their Designers: Sharing a Stylish Life — it is obvious that the homes and their occupants reflect a life well lived. Yes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean “fancy” or surrounding oneself with precious and expensive things.

Rather, it is surrounding oneself with pieces that remind us of special times in our lives, memories of journeys spent with friends and family.

In each designer’s home, if you pick up a piece, no matter how small, I guarantee you there is a fun and meaningful story attached to it.

Did the interior designers you covered in both books and even on your At Home with YouTube show gravitate to a certain breed of dogs?

No! From French bulldogs to rescue dogs with mixed pedigrees, it’s all about finding the right personality of dog rather than the right breed.

Some designers had no-go areas for the dogs - no sofas or beds - while others embraced intimacy with nothing off limits at home. Did that change the relationship between pets and their parents?

It’s all about consistency. For the most part, most designers welcomed their dogs on every piece of furniture that humans were allowed on — even a chair that belonged to Marie Antoinette.

If there was an exception, the boundaries were established with loving firmness and most always established for the safety of the dog.

As expected, the furniture, fixtures, design, art and antiques were top notch. Did the occupants design for their pets, or did the pets have to fit in?

All designers will tell you that they always buy pieces they love and don’t worry about if they will find a home for it within their home. They don’t worry if it “goes” or if their dogs will have an issue with it. It’s this very attitude that allows such a freedom of co-existence.

I think, like children, dogs can sense when pieces are to be respected. And you should never love anything so much that your world falls apart if it gets dog pee on it.

Another thing that stood out is the ease of transition in the town-andcountry lifestyle, right?

Yes. Throw the dogs in the back of the car with a few antiques and head for the country. So many designers, especially the Brits, adored that time on Friday when heading to their country retreat means freedom for both human and dog.

Yes. Throw the dogs in the back of the car with a few antiques and head for the country. So many designers, especially the Brits, adored that time on Friday when heading to their country retreat means freedom for both human and dog.

Yes, because family is family and everyone in it deserves the best that family can provide. And why break the seamless aesthetic of their home with ugly dog beds and bowls?

Did you have two or three favorite tours of properties and their owners that stood out for you?

Well, the Land Gardeners’ home had me shaking with emotion hours after I left that place. The beauty and faded grandeur of it all was like being in an old movie. Plus, gorgeous dahlias everywhere. At one point, they left to dash to a meeting on organic soil. I mean, how can you not love that?

OPPOSITE PAGE: HOUSE OF HOMMÉS MY PET | RUG COURTESY OF HOUSE OF HOMMÉS; $625.20. HOMMES.STUDIO

Stacey Bewkes, your partner in your literary and YouTube ventures, took some outstanding photographs. Having done this so many times, was she surprised at all with the subjects of your most recent book that featured designers in England and their pets?

Our favorite part of shoots is the approach, usually on a long gravel driveway.

We always say the same thing in delighted unison when meeting the house for the first time: “Oh…my…God!”

Then, of course, you have to meet the designer and their dogs and instantly assess where the shots should be set up and how, so it doesn’t look too staged and shows off the dog and the interior to its deservedly best sense of self.

There is so much respect on our part towards both host and dog. I do that part while she starts to snap away behind me.

We communicate almost telepathically. It’s amazing. I am so, so lucky to have her eye and company by my side.

Talking about the English countryside, were there any differences in how designers in the United Kingdom differed from those in the United States in their approach to canine pets and, generally, interior design?

The U.K. was really where our whole concept of country life originated from and the English still do that so well. There is a sense of relaxed and easy living, no matter how grand the setting. Americans tend to be a little more formal.

What were the biggest challenges in authoring both books?

Getting dogs to sit and stay still and to “smile.”

What did you learn from both books that you did not already know?

If I could have an extra car just for transporting muddy dogs around after walks, I would do it.

You also covered noted U.S. society hostess C. Z. Guest many years ago in your book on the WASP lifestyle. Dogs were a key part of her lifestyle, and also of her cohort. There seems to be a certain genteelness about this whole thing...

I loved how CZ had huge grand breed dogs like a Great Dane and tiny rescue dogs.

I loved how she had a pack of them follow her throughout the house or when she rode outside. And how effortless and necessary she made it all seem. She reminded me of my grandmother: life isn’t life without dogs.

If you had to boil it down, what advice did the designers you have covered over the years offer to keep pets happy and their family joyous? Don’t worry about accidents or chew marks.

Set boundaries that make you both happy and then embrace all the love.

Text reproduced with permission from Luxury Portfolio International and Luxury Portfolio magazine. © Luxury Portfolio International. All rights reserved.

Western North Carolina-based interior designer Laura Sullivan has over 13 years of experience creating beautiful and intentional living spaces in her clients’ homes. Laura is the owner and operator of award-winning ID.ology Interiors & Design and co-owner of high-end home furnishing studio Atelier Maison & Co. alongside her husband Sean Sullivan, owner of awardwinning Living Stone Design + Build, a luxury green custom home builder. Partnering together on many projects, they create homes and spaces that are not only stunning but help their clients live healthier lives.

Central to ID.ology’s design practices are biophilic design, indoor air quality, and aging-in-place. Laura and her team specialize in creating healthy spaces designed for long-term enjoyment and accessibility that evoke a connection to nature and utilize natural, non-toxic furnishings, paints, stains, and other materials. Their services are curated and customized uniquely to you and your project – whether you are building from the ground up, embarking on a remodel, or simply want to refresh your décor and furniture.

NC Living caught up with Laura after her recent trip to the 2023 International Builders Show for her take on green living and what’s trending this year…

NCL: WHAT INSPIRED YOU AND SEAN TO OPEN ATELIER MAISON & CO.?

Laura: We opened Atelier Maison & Co. because we had been designing and building homes for our clients with a focus on health, energy efficiency, and good indoor air quality, but we also wanted to think about what we were putting in these homes. Ultimately, the homeowners breathe in everything that we use, so if we choose stains, paints, and finishes that are unhealthy and the home is airtight, those toxins get trapped inside. We decided to take this a step further with furnishings because, traditionally, many furnishings are made with a lot of chemicals like flame retardants and stain retardants – even the majority of the foams are made from chemicals. Through ID.ology, we were able to source several

lines that specialized in healthy and non-toxic furnishings, but we realized that it was too good to keep to ourselves. We really wanted to get the word out there and share not only these resources but the knowledge and importance of healthy home furnishings with the public and other industry partners like builders, realtors, and designers.

NCL: WHAT LED YOU TO PURSUE AGING-INPLACE AND BIOPHILIC DESIGN PRACTICES, AND HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE THESE INTO YOUR CLIENTS’ PROJECTS?

Laura: The indoor environment has an important impact on people’s overall health and wellness, which is often overlooked in designing and building homes. With aging-in-place, we want our clients to be able to live as comfortably in their homes for as long as possible. We focus on ensuring that hallways and doorways are wide enough, installing zero-threshold showers, lever handles on doors, and easy-to-open drawers in the kitchen and cabinetry, just to name a few. These touches not only make things easier to live with in general but especially as folks age; it’s easier for them to live in their homes without having to renovate or relocate to a more accessible place.

In terms of biophilic design, studies have shown that a connection with nature, whether it’s physical or visual, is proven to improve people’s

health and wellness – it can reduce blood pressure, anxiety, and tension, to name a few. Many health benefits can come from having a connection to nature. When we design and build, we aim for the home to have a lot of glass to allow for natural light and the ability to connect with nature from the inside. Where possible, we love adding a full wall of sliding glass doors to allow the outside to come in and vice versa. We incorporate a lot of stone, wood, and other natural materials in addition to natural, softer textures. These design practices can be done in any style of home, so they can be adapted to the preferences and needs of our clients.

NCL: WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW CLIENT COME TO YOU WHO DOESN’T NECESSARILY KNOW THEIR DESIGN AESTHETIC, WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF DISCOVERY IN HELPING THEM DEVELOP THOSE PREFERENCES?

Laura: With our clients, we always do what we call a design discovery. During this time, we have conversations about what they may or may not like regarding design and style. We will go through colors, textures, and patterns and show them images of rooms, spaces, and design styles to get a good grasp of what they are looking to accomplish. Once we have a thorough understanding of our client’s desires, we create a Design Concept Portfolio or presentation where we compile proposed and inspired images for style, fixtures, colors, countertop materials, etc., to make sure that we are always on the same page. It’s a very collaborative process.

NCL: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE RECENT DESIGN TRENDS?

Laura: I’ve been enjoying the Mountain Modern style, which is a fusion between rustic and contemporary. I think it will continue to be popular because it’s a good blend of natural rustic elements and products that bring about that connection to nature with an overall bright, modern/contemporary, and streamlined feel to the home.

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NCL: WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU USE MOST OFTEN IN YOUR CLIENT’S HOMES?

Laura: We love to use wood in our clients’ homes; however, to keep it fresh and updated regardless of the style, we also like to include contemporarycolored plasters. We love tile and tile fireplaces, in addition to stone. For countertops, our go-to is usually quartz because it’s healthy and durable, and it’s also stain and heat-resistant while giving great imagery that looks like natural stone. We will also use marble and granite for countertops depending on how much movement our clients want.

NCL: IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE SOME INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS TO WATCH FOR IN 2023?

Laura: We are seeing a lot more of a focus on home health and wellness spaces. After COVID, a lot of people are spending more time at home, and while they may be getting out and about more, there is a trend toward people really wanting to be home and enjoy what they have in their own spaces. We are seeing saunas becoming more prevalent and much more attainable for home use than they used to be. Personal meditation and yoga spaces are becoming more popular, as are home gyms. For several years there was a movement away from home gyms because many people had access to all of these other facilities that they could use, but now we are noticing more of a resurgence in people desiring these recreational spaces in their own homes. Additionally, we have seen scullery kitchens making a comeback as people want to entertain more at home, and they want their kitchens to serve as entertaining spaces rather than spaces where all the dirty work happens.

NCL: ARE YOU SEEING MORE OF A LEAN TOWARD MINIMALISM OR MAXIMALISM?

Laura: When it comes to the actual building, materials, and construction design, it leans more towards maximalism; however, when it comes to decorating, it’s the middle of the road. We don’t want

it to be too sparse because it can feel cold and uninviting, but we see more accessorizing and layering with fabrics, pillows, and softer pieces.

NCL: WHAT DECOR TRENDS AND FOCUS PIECES DO YOU THINK WILL BE POPULAR THIS YEAR?

Laura: We are still seeing golds and brasses, which have become popular recently. I was also just at the furniture market while in Las Vegas, and we noticed a lot more subdued rose tones, and gem tones like emerald greens and blues that are more subtle and not as sharp and bright. In terms of furniture and decor, we are seeing more fullness and curves in pieces. If it’s a piece that’s more streamlined and not curved, it usually has a textured fabric on it. Overall, there’s just a lot more softness in the pieces’ curves or textures.

NCL: WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF GRAY TONES USED IN HOMES IN RECENT YEARS. ARE WE MOVING AWAY FROM GRAY? IF SO, WHAT COLORS DO YOU THINK WILL BE TRENDING IN 2023?

Laura: Whites and grays were trending for a long time, but now we are seeing a revival of warmer, more nurturing, and rich colors like creams, taupe’s, tans, canvas colors, subdued terracotta, and browns, and I see this continuing over the next year or two years.

brass hardware is still having momenta

NCL: WALLPAPER HAS MADE A RECENT COMEBACK; WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

Laura: We love wallpaper. It allows you to add an extra layer of visual interest to a space rather than leaving the walls flat. We are even seeing it added to ceilings now, and over the past few years, ceilings have really been forgotten. Compared to what they used to be, wallpapers now are much more refined – there are so many more options when it comes to color and pattern, and many of them are much more contemporary than the traditional floral patterns that we used to see. People are more open to it because it can now be used in more modern spaces. We also see more mural wallpapers - where rather than a repeating pattern, you can have an abstract image or impressionist-style landscape incorporated into the entire wall. When done tastefully, it can be very intriguing.

NCL: YOU RECENTLY VISITED THE 2023 INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS SHOW IN LAS VEGAS. WERE THERE ANY NEW PRODUCTS OR TRENDS YOU SAW THERE THAT YOU WERE EXCITED ABOUT IN TERMS OF BUILDING OR DESIGN?

Laura: Definitely. We saw a vendor that was doing induction cooktop burners and gas burners that are built directly into the countertop, so the countertop essentially becomes your stovetop. It’s very seamless and makes for a clean surface. We saw some interesting wall panels with different appeals to them – like a stone or a wood slat look – and we saw more large slab tiles that give off the appearance of quartz, marble, and

porcelain. These tiles are about three feet wide by ten feet tall and can be used in showers for a more seamless and streamlined appearance. So rather than having all of the grout lines, you get that natural stone look with a cleaner finish.

While at the International Builders Show, we also got to tour the New American Home, which is a home built yearly for this show that showcases the latest in trending technologies, products, design trends, and more. One thing I noticed about the home was that many of the materials were toneon-tone – so there was not a lot of visual busyness, which was interesting.

To learn more about ID.ology Interiors & Design and Atelier Maison & Co., or to get in contact for your next design project, you can visit their websites at IdologyAsheville.com and AtelierMaisonco.com . You can also visit the Atelier Maison & Co. Studio in Cashiers or Asheville to browse their incredible selection of furnishings and decor and speak with one of their professional designers/consultants.

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A native of Oxford, Mississippi, where generational roots run deep, Julia understands the importance of hard work, home, and family. Her grandmother, Dorothy Lee Tatum, was a proud mother of six who believed in the importance of education, community, and her beloved Ole Miss. She enjoyed hosting guests at her celebrated National Historic Landmark antebellum estate, Ammadelle, designed by Calvert Vaux, who would later co-design New York City’s Central Park. Julia’s grandfather, John Franklin Tatum, was an entrepreneur who donated land to the city and then designed and built the city’s country club and golf course, which was later turned into the city park. He started the town’s first golf cart sales company, an insurance agency, and Mid-Town, Oxford’s first shopping center, which is family-owned and -operated to this day and houses some of the best restaurants in town. Growing up with a deep appreciation for family, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a strong sense of home, Julia knows how to help her clients find the perfect places to start their own traditions.

Staying close to home, Julia attended the University of Mississippi, graduating with a Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in graphic design in 2014. After college Julia took a job with a local design firm in Oxford, where she worked until a unique opportunity arose in 2016 - her cousin decided to sell Delta Grind, a stone-ground grits and cornmeal operation located in nearby Water Valley, Mississippi. Julia saw this as the perfect opportunity to get her hands dirty doing something that fueled her creative spirit. Years later, Julia has successfully grown the company, reshaped the business model, expanded with the construction of a new commercial facility, and now ships Delta Grind cornmeal, grits, polenta, and masa across the country. You can find Delta Grind products in restaurants from coast to coast and now up here on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. She and her grits have even been featured in magazines such as Garden & Gun and Southern Living . From March 17-19, Julia and Delta Grind are pairing up with Chef Jason at Old Edwards HalfMile Farm to host a Shrimp & Grits weekend.

photography by

izaak hol S apple

word S by delaney a S bury

Julia and her husband Mac review swatches on a project.

After marrying her husband Mac, the couple planted their new roots in Lake Toxaway and embarked on their next adventure – Banner & Associates LLC, a construction and design firm handling residential and commercial projects, as well as project management, here in Western North Carolina. “For me, real estate was a natural next step,” Julia said. “With my knowledge and understanding of the construction and development process and my passion for working with people, combining the two felt right. I enjoy the connections you make working in real estate, and I always look forward to visiting the properties and learning the stories behind them.”

When choosing where to grow her real estate business, Julia says she had her sights set high on Silver Creek Real Estate Group. “I’ve always admired Silver Creek and wanted to work with a local firm that fosters the growth of its people,” Julia said. “Having a background in design, I was also drawn to Silver Creek’s marketing, not only for listed properties but for the brokers as well. I look up to Jochen [Lucke; Silver Creek Founder & President] as a leader and enjoy being part of a team that works so well together.”

Since moving to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, Julia and her husband have found that the friendly atmosphere, breathtaking mountain views, and unique communities make it easy to find a taste of home and help others find or create their perfect place on the Plateau too. Julia’s knowledge of buying and selling real estate and her unique understanding of the intricacies involved in home construction has proven invaluable for her clients. “Working with Mac on his projects, helping choose the perfect fixtures and finishes, and coming up with interior design solutions has opened up the way that I approach my clients’ buying and selling process,” Julia says. She has an excellent eye for what makes a house a home, and she can see past design and layout to troubleshoot simple changes that, with a bit of elbow grease, can make an immense difference in how a space feels. Better yet, she knows just the right people to carry those projects forward.

When Julia is not out finding homes for her clients and their families, you can find her reading, gardening, entertaining with friends, and exploring the local lakes and hiking trails of the Plateau with Mac, their two Great Danes, Grace and George, blue heeler, Gus, and their newest

addition, an English cream golden retriever puppy named Hank.

WHAT GOALS ARE YOU WORKING TOWARDS IN 2023?

This year I’m looking forward to growing my business with Silver Creek, forging relationships with new clients, and continuing to foster the relationships with my previous clients. I am also focusing heavily on health this year in all forms: business and personal. With Banner & Associates, we have already taken on multiple new construction homes starting this spring, and we are also ramping up to complete our own personal renovations.

WHAT QUALITIES DIFFERENTIATE YOU FROM OTHER AGENTS IN OUR MARKET?

Having a background in construction and working closely with Mac and our subcontractors allows me to look at properties and buildings differently. When I go to view a home, I can identify specific changes that could be made to give my clients what they want and need. Also, being a people person, I pay close attention to detail and find that having an easygoing nature helps on both sides of the buying and selling process, which can often be very stressful for clients. I always consider my clients my friends by the end of the process - I love keeping in touch with them and being an ally when they need anything in our area.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I’m a pretty open book, but there are a couple of things people may not know about me. I love to sew; anything from curtains and stockings to ornaments and fixing up upholstery. While I do not teach at this time, I went through yoga teacher training in 2020 and fell in love with hot yoga. I know all the lyrics to hit songs from the 90s, and I also really enjoy zoning in to do jigsaw puzzles, but only if they have 2,000 or more pieces.

WHEN YOU’RE NOT SELLING REAL ESTATE, HOW DO YOU ENJOY SPENDING YOUR TIME?

Anything that gets me outside, whether that’s hanging out by the water at the beach or lake or getting out and gardening in my yard. Landscaping design is something that I really enjoy, and it allows me to channel my creativity. I often scour the local nurseries for new plants for my yard, as well as those of my clients and I love helping them spruce up their landscaping. Whistlin’ Dixie, New Leaf, and Henderson’s are my favorites, to name a few. I also try to hike weekly with girlfriends and our dogs in the forest (usually on Friday mornings). Additionally, with my husband Mac working in construction, I often get to be a second set of eyes on his projects, and I enjoy helping him pick out final touches like finishes and fixtures, which has also given me quite a bit of interior design knowledge.

IF SOMEONE IS SPENDING ONLY A DAY ON THE PLATEAU, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE #1 THING THEY SHOULD DO?

Start by grabbing a coffee at Buck’s and get outside, whether that’s strolling through the Cashiers Farmers Market or taking a hike on one of our many local trails. Spend some time exploring the stores in Cashiers and Highlands and grab a bite for lunch to eat at Slabtown or Ugly Dog. Float the river or fly fish with Headwaters Outdoors in Rosman Jessica is a phenomenal guide. Stop in to see Lane at Vivace. Grab a drink and appetizers at the Highlander Mountain House. There are so many options when it comes to things to do up here; just take advantage of the opportunities!

IS THERE A NON-PROFIT IN THE AREA THAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT?

I’m an animal lover, so the Humane Society.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS ON THE PLATEAU?

Four65 Woodfire Bistro & Bar in Highlands because I love the ambiance, and their tapas are always delicious. Cornucopia in Cashiers is also great. Their open dining room is the perfect place to grab drinks or a bite to eat during the summer. Greystone Inn in Lake Toxaway is another one of my favorite restaurants. In the spring and summer, Mac and I eat lunch there almost every day to take a break from the nearby job sites in Lake Toxaway Estates. It’s fun because of the history surrounding the Inn, and it sits right on the water, so the view is amazing.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON ON THE PLATEAU?

I love early fall because of the crisp mornings. I’m a morning person, so one of my favorite things to do is to sit on the porch with my cup of coffee and watch the sunshine peek through the fall leaves.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING THEIR SEARCH FOR A HOME ON THE PLATEAU?

Come visit! So many communities offer different atmospheres and amenities, and the areas on the Plateau are diverse in their landscape and surrounding nature. To really get a feel for where you are purchasing your home, it’s important to get your feet on the ground and explore what the Plateau has to offer.

OUTSIDE OF THE PLATEAU, WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO TRAVEL?

Outside of the country, I love Europe. I’ve traveled all over Italy, which was one of the best experiences. I really enjoyed England and would love to explore more there; it’s where my father-inlaw is from and where Mac was born. Stateside, the 30A scenic highway down in the Florida panhandle is one of my favorites. I’ve been going there since I was a kid, and I know it like the back of my hand now. On my bucket list of places to visit are Australia and Thailand.

WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE THING YOU’VE LEARNED WHILE WORKING AS A BROKER?

Being open-minded with clear communication helps things move smoother, and that’s what I am here for, to make the entire process as smooth and seamless as possible. Buying and selling land and/or homes is a very personal transaction.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW REAL ESTATE AGENT?

The market is always going to ebb and flow, but it’s essential to stick with it and keep going even if real estate is something you are passionate about. Be friendly and open. Good relationships and clients will come. Be present, stay current, and stay positive!

828-556-7745

JULIA@NCLIVING.COM

776 HARE HOLLOW ROAD SELLER’S AGENT

648 SHEPHERDS GAP ROAD SELLER’S AGENT $699,900

44 NO END CIRCLE BUYER’S + SELLER’S AGENT $595,000

89 RAPTOR WAY BUYER’S + SELLER’S AGENT $1,300,000

45 CLIFF RIDGE SELLER’S AGENT $1,099,000

92 SUMMERFIELD LANE SELLER’S AGENT $519,000

JOCHEN LUCKE PRESIDENT/BROKER

828-226-1126

JLUCKE@NCLIVING.COM

JOCHENLUCKE.NCLIVING.COM

With a bold entrepreneurial spirit and a firm belief that real estate is in his blood, Jochen Lucke has spent over two decades building his reputation as a skilled Realtor, broker, contractor, and developer — first in Southeast Florida and now on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.

His love of the mountains, paired with his love of family and community, brought Jochen to Western North Carolina. The decision to leave the sweltering heat and stressful environment of Fort Lauderdale for the cool, clean air and laid-back atmosphere of Cashiers was an easy one. Since making the move, he has become deeply involved in the community. He is also a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO).

Jochen and his wife, Adrienne, are members of The Country Club of Sapphire Valley and The Chattooga Club. He is partnered with Haute Residence, an invitation-only luxury real estate portal. When he’s not hard at work at the Silver Creek Real Estate Group offices, Jochen can be found on the golf course or croquet lawn or dining in one of the area’s fine restaurants.

Jochen is devoted to the Silver Creek credo of “Building Relationships, Delivering Dreams.”

Whether you are looking for your vacation home, your primary residence, or your dream estate, Jochen and his team of brokers are committed to finding the ideal property to fit your vision. Jochen has a firm grasp of the local real estate market while always keeping an eye on national trends.

He has an innate understanding of the practice of purchasing and selling properties, both as a broker and a developer. He attributes much of his success to his tenacity and has negotiated

and closed many deals from which others might have walked away. Jochen truly enjoys real estate and development and finds great rewards in the accomplishment of finding the perfect home for his clients.

“Jochen is in a league all of his own! We have dealt with quite a few Brokers over the years — buying and selling. Some brokers become friends; some friends become brokers. But Jochen stands out in his amazing skills, talent, connections, and sheer power of personality. Attentive, discreet, highly sophisticated, incredibly intuitive, calm, cool, and collected. Jochen inspires confidence and delivers quick results. He doesn’t sweat the small stuff and makes sure you don’t either. He immediately inspires trust and confidence and then goes above your highest expectations. Peerless! Selling a home is never easy — especially in unexpected circumstances. Jochen not only sold our house within a week, he made the entire process — from listing to closing — totally smooth, easy, and, most importantly, stress-free. We couldn’t be more appreciative, grateful, and satisfied. End to end, it was a superb, painless experience. Jochen even helped and guided us in the purchase of our new home in another state, stepping in and filling in the gaps the local agents left. Truly above and beyond the call of duty!

Thank you, Jochen! You absolutely rock! YOU ARE THE KING OF ROCK! Thank you, Izaak, for the awesome photos and Delaney for the great write up. Most of all, thank you Jochen for your professionalism, friendship, and genuine care. We’ll recommend you wholeheartedly to anyone looking for a property in the glorious North Carolina Mountains.”

- DR LANI AND NORM KASS

DAN ALLEN

BROKER, CERTIFIED LUXURY HOME MARKETING SPECIALIST GUILD™

828-508-2107

DAN@NCLIVING.COM

DANALLEN.NCLIVING.COM

A member of the Silver Creek team since its beginnings, Dan has built a solid reputation as a skilled real estate professional and a consistent top producer. His dedication, knowledge of the area and market trends, and his strong work ethic make him the ideal broker choice for buyers and sellers alike to achieve their real estate goals. He possesses an innate understanding of what draws families to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau - just as he was after many summertime visits with family as a child.

In 1994, Dan was able to realize his lifelong dream when he set down roots on a mountaintop farm near Cashiers. Over the ensuing years he has been deeply involved in his community. As an advocate for animals and the environment, he previously served on the board of the Cashiers-

“...We appreciated that while he fervently represented us as sellers, he strove to complete the transaction while maintaining civility, graciousness, and integrity...Dan is one of those rare professionals who can focus on the big picture and the ultimate goal, but who also pays attention to the details that can easily turn into deal breakers or deal makers. We chose Dan to represent us because he had an in-depth knowledge of the local real estate market and was extremely professional, but what we learned about Dan throughout the process was that he was driven to do the best job he could for us and that we could trust him. His work ethic, motivation, and personal integrity shined through. We have bought and sold many homes, vacation homes, and rental properties over the years, and I think it is a rarity to walk away from a real estate transaction and believe your agent did the best they could for you. We truly believe this of Dan. And if I have not said enough about Dan, I’ll end with this final note: We will soon be helping my mother look for property in the area, and Dan is the first person we are going to call.”

- JULIA AND GERALD

Highlands Humane Society and the JacksonMacon Conservation Alliance, and has supported the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Nature Conservancy, as well as local first responder organizations and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Always seeking new ways to better himself in the industry he loves, Dan is a member of the North Carolina Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors and recently retired from serving on the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors. He brings nearly three decades of experience with local builders, designers, contractors, lawyers, fellow brokers, and business owners together for a seamless real estate experience. He brings a fresh approach and genuine enthusiasm about our area to each new client he serves. His positive, straight-shooting perspective, vast local knowledge, honesty, integrity, and authentic interest in his clients’ satisfaction make him an invaluable listing and buying partner.

When Dan is not helping other families realize their dreams of living in NC’s Blue Ridge Mountains, he spends much of his time with his own family, friends, and two rescue dogs, and can be found enjoying a relaxing day at the lake, hiking, or biking local trails, gardening, foraging, or cultivating his farm. Dan is a respected member of the Plateau community and a welcome member of the Silver Creek Real Estate Group team.

Hailing from Northwest Georgia, Parker is a third-generation Realtor who is passionate about creating bonds with his clients. He spent six years focusing on and helping to grow the booming residential market in New Orleans before relocating to Cashiers. Parker is extremely steadfast in assisting and representing both buyers and sellers with any of their real estate needs throughout the HighlandsCashiers Plateau.

As a Realtor in the North Carolina mountains, Parker is able to combine his passion for real estate with his love of the outdoors, fine dining, and community involvement. He is no stranger to the mountains, as he was a frequent visitor to Southern Appalachia throughout his childhood and lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a period of his adult life. Parker’s wife, Caroline, was both a camper and counselor at Camp Merrie-Woode in Sapphire for 13 summers. This, along with a family home for 10 years in Cashiers, is what led them to the Plateau for many extended trips and holidays. They married at High Hampton in May 2017 and decided to leave the Crescent City to make Cashiers their permanent home in 2019.

“I connected with Parker some months ago rather randomly through a request for information on your website. He called me immediately, and he began sending me information on properties in the Cashiers/ Highlands area. Our parameters changed several times over the course of these months, and Parker amiably revised his searches and kept the information coming, even though I have to admit our interest was really just curiosity in the beginning. But lo and behold a particular property piqued our serious attention a couple of weeks ago, and with Parker’s professional help we are now proud owners of a home in Cashiers. Parker has been extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and available, and I don’t know that we would have signed a purchase agreement on a home in North Carolina, sight unseen, without the trust and confidence we developed in Parker over the course of the last few months. The long-distance closing was seamless and worry-free. We look forward to spending a lot of time in the beautiful Cashiers area!”

- DEBORAH GIBBS

Parker and Caroline welcomed their first child in February 2021 and are looking forward to raising their family in the mountains.

Parker is committed to community involvement, from attending Church of the Good Shepherd to serving on his HOA board to volunteering at the Village Green and serving on the board of the Cashiers Historical Society. Outside of the office, you can also find him hiking the many mountains in our area, reading a book, or spending time enjoying this lovely place called home with Caroline, his son Michael “Reeves,” and their golden retrievers, Jane and Winnie.

CHRIS DUFFY BROKER

828-526-6763

DUFFY@NCLIVING.COM

CHRISDUFFY.NCLIVING.COM

Denizens and regular visitors of the HighlandsCashiers Plateau recognize Chris’ voice the second they speak with him. That’s not surprising, as Chris was the voice of the Plateau for a number of years as the morning show host on WHLC FM 104.5. Once you meet Chris, you’ll certainly never miss him again, as his 6’9 stature literally makes him stand above the crowd.

Chris was born in Germany and grew up in Washington, D.C. After studying at Georgia Tech and graduating from the University of Maryland, Chris moved to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where he lived for 22 years. In Canada, Chris worked as an on-air talent on numerous radio stations. He moved to Highlands in 2017 to take the job at WHLC. “I moved to the mountains to become the voice of Highlands, little did I know how

“We recently sold our vacation home using Chris Duffy as our agent. We live out of state and Chris handled everything, keeping us informed every step of the way. He was always available day or night and happy to answer any questions we had. We really appreciate his professionalism and attention to detail. We highly recommend Chris Duffy and Silver Creek.”

much the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau would speak to me.”

An avid cook, Chris attended Le Cordon Bleu, receiving a Certificat de Traiteur, and loves sampling all the culinary delights the HighlandsCashiers area has to offer. Chris quickly fell in love with the Plateau and decided he wanted to help other people enjoy our beautiful nature and live in our truly unique and amazing community. While he’s no longer on the air, Chris still gets behind the mic as the in-game P.A. announcer for Highlands High School Basketball.

- KIP AND KAREN

DEBBY

architects during the planning stages, and with builders on construction and interiors.

After living part-time in Highlands for more than 15 years, Debby permanently relocated to the area and began working as a real estate professional. She is based at Silver Creek’s office in downtown Highlands.

Debby holds a bachelor of science degree in interior design from the University of Tennessee as well as real estate licenses in North Carolina and Georgia. She has served as a volunteer for the Special Olympics and as treasurer for her homeowner association’s board of directors. She has also been active in various neighborhood associations, volunteering on the architectural control and landscape committees.

Debby Hall is used to finding and creating dream homes for clients.

For more than three decades, she has been a successful, Atlanta-based interior designer and entrepreneur, with clients across the Southeastern U.S. Debby’s work was featured for three consecutive years at both the Atlanta Symphony Showhouse and Christmas at Callanwolde events.

Silver Creek Real Estate Group’s motto, “Building Relationships, Delivering Dreams,” aligns with Debby’s philosophy. Through years of experience, she gained the ability to listen closely and understand clients’ wants and needs, and then match them to a home that fits. Debby often scouted potential homes with her clients in Atlanta, Highlands, on Lake Keowee, and on Daufuskie Island. Her keen eye and expertise in space planning and design led to her decision to shift to the real estate profession, which allows her to help sellers position their home for the highest sale and walk buyers through spaces and point out opportunities that most do not see. Debby envisions the simple changes that can convert a house into the dream home her clients are seeking. Whether for a high-end custom or speculative home, she also collaborated with

When she’s not working, Debby enjoys gardening and other creative outlets. She cherishes time with her son and family in Knoxville, Tennessee as well as with friends—whether two-legged or four. She can be seen with her rescue dog, Gracie, walking the trails and around town. A lifelong lover of architecture and homes, she also enjoys cooking in her “laboratory,” using her friends as guinea pigs for her creations. She even cooks meals for Gracie.

“My husband and I had been looking for a home in NC for quite some time. We reached out to Debby Hall as she was a listing agent on a home that interested us. We liked her so much that we decided to use her as we continued our search for the perfect one. She worked with us through thick and thin, all while catering to our specific interests. She recommended a home that was not on our radar and we fell in love with it. She catered to what we wanted but also encouraged us to explore something we hadn’t considered before.

Now that she had found us the perfect home, we stumbled upon a few roadblocks after inspection. Debby and the Silver Creek team took the reigns and navigated us through the intricacies of our unique purchasing experience. Without them, we would have been lost and could have potentially lost the deal. We are grateful for the support and, ultimately, the beautiful home we secured.”

- LISHA AND SHAWN DESANTIS

RICK JACKSON BROKER

404-275-7617

RICK@NCLIVING.COM

RICKJACKSON.NCLIVING.COM

The Lake Toxaway, Cashiers, and Sapphire Valley areas have always been a huge draw for Rick and his family. Since the mid-90s, Rick and his family knew that one day they would like to own a second home where they could escape the heat and bustle of Atlanta. In 2008, they purchased a home on Lake Glenville where Rick, his wife, and three children — along with countless friends — have enjoyed the cool summers, beautiful fall colors, and the occasional snow during the holidays.

“We had an excellent experience working with Rick to find a house on Lake Glenville and highly recommend working with him. He was a great partner from the start to finish, helped educate us as buyers, and was as invested as we were in getting to the right outcome. He is highly responsive, very knowledgeable, and has built great relationships locally that helped accelerate the process several times. We had a great experience and would work with him again in a heartbeat!”

- JEFF H.

Rick obtained his Georgia real estate license in 1998. He worked at a commercial real estate firm, specializing in residential development land in both suburban and in-town land tracts. In 2002, Rick started purchasing his own investment property in the Atlanta area. His interests in real estate lead him into the Cashiers and Sapphire

Valley market, and he obtained his North Carolina Real Estate License in 2014.

When Rick is not busy selling real estate, he can be found outdoors playing golf, boating on Lake Glenville, or enjoying a motorcycle ride. He remains an active member at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, where he has taught Sunday School to four-yearolds for the last 21 years. He enjoys his commitments to his communities and has participated on several boards both in Atlanta and in NC.

Philanthropic support is very important to Rick and his wife Lisa. Areas of specific interest include the University of Tennessee baseball program, the Auburn University baseball program, Camp Merrie-Woode, Friends of Lake Glenville, Cashiers-Glenville Volunteer Fire Department, Annandale Village of Suwanee, GA, the Chautauqua Institution in NY, and First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta.

Raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her five siblings, Bambi spent her childhood years as an outdoor, sports, and animal enthusiast. Creating family memories at their lake home in the Poconos left an indelible impression on Bambi. Fulfilling a lifelong dream of returning to the mountains, destiny led Bambi and her husband Jeff to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau where they own a contemporary home in Sapphire.

Complementing her nurturing personality, Bambi pursued a nursing degree at Villanova University. Upon accomplishing extensive clinical and nursing management expertise in the Tri-State area, Bambi was recruited to the pharmaceutical industry. She relocated her family to Sarasota, Florida, where she excelled as an executive sales consultant with both Merck and Novartis. Inspired by several family members in real estate, Bambi obtained and has held her Florida license with one of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World since 2007. Drawing from over a decade of experience in real estate, coupled with longstanding pharmaceutical sales, Bambi has built a reputation for her enthusiasm, integrity, and caring nature which is an asset for matching clients’ desires. It’s no surprise that she promptly became a reputable owner and property manager of luxury rentals in Sarasota.

Bambi is a dedicated community member who fosters philanthropic endeavors. She established a 501(c)3 scholarship and mentoring program for high school students in Florida. Her genuine love for children and young adults continues to shine on the Plateau, where she serves on the Board of Directors with The Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau and volunteers with Girls on the Run of WNC. Bambi also serves the community through

BAMBI FAMOUS KAINE

BROKER, CERTIFIED LUXURY HOME MARKETING SPECIALIST GUILD™

828-200-4040

BAMBI@NCLIVING.COM

BAMBIKAINE.NCLIVING.COM

her position on the membership committee at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley.

Having lived in Pennsylvania, Florida, and now North Carolina, Bambi understands the experience of buying and selling homes and the benefits of mountain living. So, when not fulfilling the dreams of her clients, she may be visiting her son, Dane, and his new wife, Pamela, or spending time with Jeff and their friends at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley.

“We had been searching for a summer home in the Cashiers/Highlands area for three years. During our search, we found only one home that met most of our needs and requirements. Unfortunately, the negotiations on that home proved to be unsuccessful. That was a huge disappointment for us. We considered giving up our search in Cashiers and Highlands and focusing elsewhere in N.C. or possibly in the New England area, but fortuitously, we met Bambi. We renewed our search but saw nothing else that appealed to us. Then, Bambi suggested that perhaps she could develop a plan of action to acquire for us the home that we’d failed to purchase previously. We thought it would be a futile effort, but we agreed to let her try.   Bambi was relentless. She led us through difficult negotiations with flawless strategy, tactics, and execution. To say that she worked “day and night” (emailing as early as 6 a.m. or as late as 11 p.m.), on weekdays and weekends is no exaggeration. When presented with issues that seemed insurmountable, she came up with options and solutions.

In short, we would not have been successful in purchasing our home without Bambi’s persistence, determination, wisdom, and good judgment. She is simply amazing!”

- BILL AND DEBORAH

KEVIN KOACH BROKER

828-556-9545

KEVIN@NCLIVING.COM

KEVINKOACH.NCLIVING.COM

Born and raised in Sarasota, Florida, Kevin was fortunate enough that his family had escaped the heat and humidity of Southwest Florida summers and vacationed in the cool mountain air of Western North Carolina. Spending time in the HighlandsCashiers area since he was a young boy led to a genuine appreciation for

“I feel very fortunate that the day I called Silver Creek Realty (which was from a Google search) Kevin was the one who picked up the phone. I explained our situation, we owned a blank parcel of land we were ready to sell and Kevin said, “I can help with that.”

Kevin was very polite, patient, professional, and always got right back to us whenever we had questions. He was also very creative in his approach to our listing, adding drone video footage. Kevin has extensive knowledge of the values of property in the area and guided us in appropriate pricing. Even though we were a small sale, Kevin did not treat us as such. He made the process pleasant. We highly recommend working with him. Thank you Kevin for guiding us on this path. We truly appreciate you!”

the miles of hiking trails, pristine lakes, majestic waterfalls, and awe-inspiring vistas, all of which add to the allure of the Plateau landscape.

After graduating from Clemson University, Kevin headed out West for the open plains of North Dakota where he spent the next six and a half years developing and managing multiple companies engaged in the oil and gas industry in North Dakota. It was there in North Dakota that Kevin was introduced by mutual friends to his wife Lindsey, and they were married in June 2019 in Charleston, SC. After enduring numerous long and frigid winters, the allure of his boyhood summer home proved too strong and they moved permanently to the HighlandsCashiers area a few months later.

When not advocating for the Plateau lifestyle with his clients, Kevin is an avid outdoorsman and can be found hiking with his beautiful wife, playing a round of golf or tennis, and enjoying phenomenal food at one of the area’s local restaurants. Kevin is also a member of the Trillium Links & Lake Club and enjoys playing with the Men’s Tennis group and has recently begun dabbling in the increasingly popular sport of croquet. Kevin’s wife, Lindsey, recently completed her Doctorate of Nursing Practice and serves the community as a Family Nurse Practitioner – DNP, APRN, FNP-C.

- K & D SMITH, MARTINEZ, GA

Eddy McDonald’s lifelong passion and talent for golf led him to a career as a PGA professional. After relocating from Destin, FL, for a position at Highlands Falls Country Club in 1995, Eddy fell in love with the HighlandsCashiers Plateau and knew he’d found home.

Looking to follow his interest in development, Eddy embarked on his real estate career at Highlands Cove (now Old Edwards Club at Highlands Cove), where he spent 13 years helping it to grow from its first home into the community it is today. Eddy’s knowledge of the area and passion for building relationships with his buyers and sellers have been major factors in his success. He believes in going above and beyond to assist his real estate clients, providing them with a superior level of service and the resources to make informed decisions.

Eddy enjoys spending time with his young daughter, Sara. They can be found on the golf course, on hiking trails, or simply out exploring the natural beauty of the Highlands-Cashiers area.

“We recently sold our summer home in the Cullasaja Club in Highlands and our Realtor was Eddy. We first met Eddy because we decided we would rent it out when the family wasn’t using it, but as summers got busier and our children got older we realized it was time to sell. We were so impressed with him as a rental agent that there was no question when it was time to list. He was very efficient, always looked after our rental as if it were his own and kept us notified of any concerns since we live full-time in Florida. As a Realtor for over 20 years dealing mostly in high-end and waterfront properties, I knew what I would want and expect in a Realtor. Eddy surpassed those expectations and gave us the experience of selling our house that all sellers should have. If we ever buy again in the Highlands-cashiers area, he will be our first call!”

- ANNIKA AND JASON GRANDE

JODI MOORE BROKER

828-482-2525

JODI@NCLIVING.COM

JODIMOORE.NCLIVING.COM

“We have been exploring various areas to buy a mountain home in North Carolina for the past two years. Several friends suggested we look into the Cashiers/Highlands area.

This spring we contacted Jodi Moore after seeing her name on several listings in the area. We had several conversations about what we were looking for, then scheduled a day together. Jodi had done an extensive search and set up several home tours. She took us to different communities and we found her to be very informative about the area. We are from out of state and found her knowledge and experience invaluable. We spent three days with Jodi and we found a beautiful home in the Sapphire/Burlingame community. Jodi provided us with details of the community and arranged a tour of the country club. We worked together to put an offer together and after some back and forth, our offer was accepted.

Jodi made all the arrangements for all the home inspections and referred us to other tradesmen and other professionals in the area to help us complete the transaction.

We recently closed on our mountain home and are very excited to move in!!!

It has been many years since we purchased a home. The most important aspects that Jodi delivered on include: regular communication, responsiveness, knowledge of the area, and a strong network of colleagues.

With this said, we strongly recommend Jodi Moore to all prospective homebuyers in the Sapphire area.”

- CHRIS MEYER

Jodi Moore began her real estate career in Palm Beach County, FL in 1999 with Prudential Florida WCI Realty, where she was an award-winning residential agent beginning with her first year. Prior to working in real estate, she was the vice president of sales and marketing for a consumer product company for nine years, during which time the company’s sales grew by nearly 400% and was acquired in a highly successful buyout.

She and her family became full-time residents of Cashiers, NC, in 2008 after visiting the area and falling in love with the mountain lifestyle. Jodi’s strengths lie in her sales and marketing skills and the ability to work with a diverse group of people, as well as in her passion for real estate. Her many years of sales, marketing, and intuitive personal relations have helped bring buyers and sellers together successfully time and time again.

CASSIE NEAL BROKER

828-226-0383

CASSIE@NCLIVING.COM

CASSIENEAL.NCLIVING.COM

served as a director on the MLS Board and the Technology Committee. Her National Association of Realtors Short-Sales and Foreclosure Resource Certification has proven to be beneficial in the many short-sale, foreclosure, and REO transactions she has closed over the years.

When Cassie isn't working with clients, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Cassie, Jeremy, and their two children, Cadence and Jalen, can often be found hiking around Lake Fairfield with their fur babies Buddy, a black lab & Turbo, a terrier/ Yorkie mix. The family kitties, Myla, Kuna, and Blackjack, stay behind and hold down the fort while they are away.

Cassie also enjoys gardening, camping, bowling, traveling, concerts, and of course, shopping! Her down-to-earth personality, perseverance, and willingness to go the extra mile make her a great addition to Silver Creek Real Estate Group.

Born and raised in a military family, Cassie Neal has lived in many beautiful places over the years - from Florida to Alaska - but Western North Carolina is her favorite place to be.

Cassie has been part of the local real estate business for over 21 years, starting her career at Village Realty in 2000. She has extensive knowledge of marketing, technology, and the greater Sapphire and Cashiers market and has earned a reputation among agents as someone who is hardworking and extremely competent. Her sense of responsibility to her clients and attention to detail make her an asset to anyone looking to buy or sell property in the area.

Cassie is an active member of the HighlandsCashiers Board of Realtors and has previously

“Cassie Neal was very helpful when I bought my home in 2014. She was very patient as I looked at 20 homes before finding a suitable home to purchase. When my daughter had a baby in 2019, I decided to sell my home at 151 Rhododendron Court in Sapphire, NC so I could spend summers in New Jersey to watch my grandson grow up. Cassie was terrific in explaining her successful plan to sell my home. My home went on the market in May and went under contract at a fair price in early August 2020. I was very pleased with how Cassie handled the entire process from May to the final settlement in early October. I highly recommend the professional conscientious services provided by Cassie.”

- DARRYL MANN

“Mike and I had been looking for a second home for many years, never finding the right location or Realtor. We had never heard of Cashiers or the plateau but made a brief stop to see the waterfalls. We had the pleasure of meeting Katie at that time, who has partnered with us from that point - knowing nothing about the area to 5 years later, living here full time. Katie took the time to get to know us and help us get to know the Cashiers area. We had not planned to build, but after understanding existing options, Katie helped us make comfortable with the decision to buy land and start from scratch. Because she is so honest and direct, choosing the right lot, finding a builder and agreeing on the design went fairly smoothly. Because she has significant experience, Katie was able to walk us thru the various issues with relative ease. And now, thanks to Katie, we are home, in a community that we love. We could not recommend Katie more highly and look forward to hearing about her continued success.”

- ELLEN TUCKER

Raised in Dublin, GA, Katie Adams Nicholson graduated from college and moved to Atlanta in 2000. During her seven years at a real estate investment and management company there, she worked in the acquisitions department, seeking retail and commercial facilities in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Atlanta.

After hearing about the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau for years while living in Atlanta, she took a leap of faith and moved in 2008 to work on a mixed-use project in downtown Cashiers. Although the project never came to fruition, Katie had fallen in love with the area and never left.  Katie met her husband, a local general contractor who was born and raised in the area, in 2009. She spent the next 10 years working at the Chinquapin management office and was hands-on with the development and growth of the community, becoming a topselling agent with a focus on land and new home build packages. With a passion for the outdoors and the mountain lifestyle, Katie loves helping clients find their perfect fit.  Katie attributes her success to working closely with clients throughout the entire process, from learning about the area to finding their ultimate home, as well as handling the sale or construction of it.

Katie spends her free time hiking with friends and her dog, Bella.

LINDA PRIDGEN BROKER

828-507-3206

LINDA@NCLIVING.COM

LINDAPRIDGEN.NCLIVING.COM

“Linda Pridgen and the Silver Creek Team found our dream home in our dream location within nine months of our first visit to Cashiers. She is the consummate professional before, during and after the sale. All aspects of our buying experience were superb. I have already recommended Linda to family and friends.”

- SCOTT BESSENT

Linda managed The Chattooga Club for two decades and was also the on-site real estate broker, focusing on The Chattooga Club and Wade Hampton Golf Club. Her extensive knowledge of luxury properties in both of these communities, as well as High Hampton, make her a natural fit for Silver Creek Real Estate Group.

Linda enjoys reading and playing tennis and croquet. She is a Board member of the Friends of the Library, on the Vestry Board of The Church of the Good Shepherd, and participates in many charity events in the community.

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Linda Pridgen and her family enjoyed cool summers in the Cashiers area. After graduating from college and spending 15 years as a schoolteacher, she decided to live on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau full-time.

CHUCK SELF

BROKER, CERTIFIED LUXURY

HOME MARKETING SPECIALIST GUILD™

828-734-7302

CHUCK@NCLIVING.COM

CHUCKSELF.NCLIVING.COM

In search of mild temperatures and a place to unwind, Chuck Self made his first visit to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau more than 20 years ago on a summer getaway with his family. During that short visit, Chuck realized that Western North Carolina was where he wanted to be. The desire for the mountain lifestyle

entertainment industry, experiencing multiple relocations and finishing as vice president of sales for Raycom Sports in Charlotte and Warner Brothers Television in Atlanta, before parlaying his corporate experience and skills into real estate more than a decade ago. A University of Missouri alumnus, Chuck is perennially one of the top real estate brokers on the Plateau.

When he’s not helping clients, Chuck enjoys hiking, golfing, fitness activities, cooking, reading, and boating on Lake Glenville. He is an active contributor to the Cashiers community, having previously served in board positions with the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina, and the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors.

led him to search for property in the area for several years until he found the perfect piece of land on which to build a dream home.

Intended to be a second residence until Chuck’s retirement, the home soon took precedence; the lure of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains inspired him to say “goodbye” to the intense pace, traffic, and heat of Atlanta when construction was completed. And so, the simplicity and splendor of full-time mountain living began.

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Chuck enjoyed a successful sales career in the television and

Currently, Chuck serves on the board of the Blue Ridge School Education Foundation. He is an active member of Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club and the club at Lonesome Valley.

He looks forward to mountain visits from his daughter in Atlanta and his son, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons in Nashville.

“Throughout the entire experience of selling our properties, Chuck provided excellent advice and was very thorough with his approach and methods. Always available to answer questions and offer guidance, Chuck’s interest in helping his clients is genuine and he does a great job managing the process, especially during the negotiation phases. Highly recommend!”

- CARL AND DAVID REDFIELD, NAPLES, FL

North Carolina native Ken Taft joined Silver Creek Real Estate Group in November 2021 as the first Broker-In-Charge of the company’s Highlands office. He brings to Silver Creek a solid background in real estate, corporate management, leadership, and quality customer service.

Before settling in Highlands, Ken lived most of his life in Charlotte, where he began his real estate career. After migrating to the HighlandsCashiers Plateau in 2013, he built upon his real estate success by growing his loyal client base, deepening his knowledge of the Plateau, serving in a leadership role at a firm, and helping expand its market reach.

KEN TAFT BROKER

828-200-1464

KEN@NCLIVING.COM

KENTAFT.NCLIVING.COM

Before real estate, Ken worked in the corporate sector, first with a frozen food distributor, eventually serving as General Manager of the Carolinas after 16 years. Next, he managed customer service and communications at American Studios, which was acquired by P.C.A. International, where Ken added warehousing, shipping and receiving, and facilities to his areas of responsibility. Ken is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a dual degree in business administration and management.

Ken’s service to the Plateau community is extensive. He is a past president of the Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors, and previously served on the Highlands Playhouse Board of Directors and the

- KEN TAFT

Highlands Food and Wine Committee. Currently, Ken serves on the board of the Sherwood Forest Homeowners Association.

When he’s not working, Ken spends time with his three champion Portuguese Water Dogs and a new puppy in training. He participates in water sports competitions with his dogs and is active in the Movers and Shakers Portuguese Water Dog Club and the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. He also enjoys hiking and biking on the Plateau.

“I am enjoying welcoming clients and visitors to Main Street Highlands and being a part of the incredible momentum of the Silver Creek team.”

Ray Trine’s passion for all things real estate blossomed early in his life. After graduating with an accounting degree from the University of North Florida in 1971, he immediately launched his real estate career. Initially employed by Florida National Bank’s holding company, he later became CFO of American Federal Savings and Loan, financing homes and commercial properties and working on building and development projects. He quickly learned that he belonged out in the field making things happen, rather than crunching numbers in an office.

By 1982, the Trine family included five children, five dogs, and four cats. His quest for a better quality of life brought him to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, where he immediately recognized what an idyllic existence it would provide. He packed up his entire menagerie and moved from an oceanfront home in Atlantic Beach, FL, to his newly acquired farm in Glenville, NC. His family continued to grow, expanding to include llamas, donkeys, cows, goats, sheep, turkeys, and chickens. Now with seven children and thirteen grandchildren, he knows he made the right choice!

Once ensconced in the mountains, Ray wasted no time earning his North Carolina Broker’s license. He went to work for one of the oldest real estate firms in the area, V.C. Smith Real Estate, which he bought outright two years later. He soon made his mark as the No. 1 real estate office in sales and listings in the Cashiers area for many years running. Ray proceeded to shape the area with his active involvement in the sale of land tracts, as well as the development of many residential

“My wife and I have moved many times in the last 30 years and dealt with a lot of agents. We have now dealt with Ray on many transactions and believe strongly that he is by far the best. His integrity, professionalism, and knowledge of the mountain market are unparalleled. We are glad we found him and more so appreciate his warm smile and good nature. He is the very best. If you are looking for a superior real estate agent in the mountains... he’s your guy.”

- WILLIAM MONIE

communities such as Bald Rock, Summer Hill, Glenshore, Trillium Links and Lake Club, Bear Lake Reserve, Bridge Creek, Glen Laurel, and Glen Pointe.

With such a large family, community involvement was also important to Ray. He has been president of the Blue Ridge School PTA, elected to the Jackson County School Board, and served on the Cashiers Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Lake Glenville, and many private community boards and architectural review committees.

Coupled with his dedicated community involvement, Ray’s background in accounting, property development, and real estate sales has provided him with priceless insights into this unique area. Ray is the quintessential guide to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, offering a personal experience, countless and fascinating local narratives, and seemingly limitless knowledge of mountain living. Ray is licensed in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Ray is a seasoned professional who brings enthusiasm, vision, and over 45 years of experience to the team at Silver Creek Real Estate Group.

THE REGIONAL TEE-OFF

MASTER YOUR GAME AT THESE THREE

Golfers enjoy a round at The Lodge at Sea Island. Courtesy of Sea Island.

LET’S PLAY A ROUND

COURTESY OF HOUSE OF HOMMÉS. HOMMES.STUDIO

PINEHURST RESORT (NORTH CAROLINA)

Founded in 1895 by Boston soda fountain magnate James Walker Tufts, the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina, was originally intended to become a health retreat. But now, over 100 years later, with nine world-class golf courses and having hosted more single golf championships than any other site in America, Pinehurst consistently ranks among the country’s top golf destinations. Pinehurst has drawn in many famous and historical figures, including the Rockefellers, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Bing Crosby, Will Rogers, and others. Back in the day, Amelia Earhart landed her plane at the resort’s airstrip, and sharpshooter Annie Oakley used to teach people to shoot there, so one could say history has certainly been made at Pinehurst.

In 1900, the Tufts family brought in Scottishborn Donald Ross to redesign its first course, No. 1, and to draw up plans for courses No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4. Ross has been credited with designing or redesigning more than 400 golf courses in North America. The Pinehurst Resort village grounds themselves were the design of Frederick Law Olmsted, one of the acclaimed landscape designers who created New York City’s Central Park. After receiving Olmstead’s plans for the village, Tufts workers imported 220,000 tree seedlings, shrubs, and flowers to adorn the property. Pinehurst Resort and the Village of Pinehurst were officially recognized as National Historic Landmarks in 1996.

Pinehurst’s most famous and architecturally renowned course, Pinehurst No. 2, is home to the North and South Open and Amateur Championship. Over the years, it has hosted the 1936 PGA Championship, the 1951 Ryder Cup Matches, the 1991-92 Tour Championships, the 1994 U.S. Senior Open, the 1962 and 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship, and 1999, 2005, and 2014 U.S. Open championships. Pinehurst is the only site to have held all five of the U.S. Golf Associations’ biggest tournaments, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Amateur, and the U.S. Women’s Amateur. In 2024, it will once again be host to the U.S. Open championships.

GOLF Magazine frequently ranks the Pinehurst Golf Academy as one of the country’s top 25 golf schools. The school is led by American Master Professional Eric Alpenfels, who is also recognized

by GOLF Magazine as one of the “Top 100 Teachers in America.” For those wanting to improve their golf game, the Academy offers weekend and weekday schools, including those dedicated to alumni, juniors, and parents/children.

With more than 480 rooms across three worldclass historic hotels, The Carolina, The Holly, and The Manor, as well as condominiums and villas, there is no shortage of places to choose from during your stay. In addition to nine 18-hole championship golf courses, Pinehurst Resort features a luxurious spa, a Tennis Magazine Top 50-ranked tennis facility with 24 tennis courts, two croquet lawns, a lawn bowling course, a Lake and Beach Club, a fitness center, and carriage rides and walking tours of the historic Pinehurst Village. To learn more about Pinehurst Resort and plan your stay, visit their website at Pinehurst.com

PALMETTO BLUFF (SOUTH CAROLINA)

Located in South Carolina between Hilton Head and Savannah, Palmetto Bluff – one of GOLF’s Top 100 Resorts — is a 20,000 acre, private residential club and resort community that offers endless recreational activities, exquisite dining, and a taste of the Lowcountry lifestyle. While the history of Palmetto Bluff dates back to the 1700s, it wasn’t until 2000 that a real estate developer purchased the land and began planning for the expansive development that we know today.

A signature design by legendary professional golfer Jack Nicklaus, the 18-hole May River Golf Course of the Palmetto Bluff Club was created in 2005 and is only accessible to members and resort guests. Among towering oak trees, inviting fairways, Lowcountry marshland, and the stunning banks of the May River, this 7,171-yard course is a test for golfers of any skill level. From the challenging holes to the eco-friendly Paspalum turf, every aspect of this course was meticulously planned; Nicklaus even chose the sand for the bunkers specifically from Ohio because the angular grain adheres better to the slopes. Coming soon to Palmetto Bluff is another unique opportunity for players – a reverse nine-hole course designed by renowned golf architects King-Collins which will allow for play from 1,000-3,000 yards, ensuring no boredom for repeat rounds.

The Palmetto Bluff Club also features a worldclass 4-acre short game improvement area, a

golf shop, grill, PGA-certified golf instructors, and a professional caddie program. Before hitting the course, you can hone your skills at the practice range with tee boxes at each end, target greens with bunkers, and a specially shaped fairway. Set yourself up with some lessons with one of the professional instructors and learn how to play like a pro.

Providing endless comforts during your stay, The Montage Palmetto Bluff, nestled along the May River, features over 70 rooms, as well as lodging options such as cottages, homes, and residences. If you are bringing the whole family, they will surely be delighted with the experiences Palmetto Bluff offers. From exploring the surrounding nature to getting out on the May River to fish, paddleboard, or kayak, this is a place where lasting memories are made. In addition to its world-class golf amenities, Palmetto Bluff Resort also features fitness and wellness facilities, horseback riding, shooting sports, racquet sports of all varieties, and several delicious dining options to choose from. To learn more about Palmetto Bluff and plan your visit, go to PalmettoBluff.com

SEA ISLAND RESORT (GEORGIA)

Since 1928, Sea Island has been welcoming its guests with gracious service and heartfelt hospitality. This exceptional resort is the only one in the world to have received four Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star honors for 14 consecutive years and is consistently ranked among the top golf resorts in the country. In addition to three 18-hole championship golf courses, Sea Island is home to the state-of-the-art 17,000-square-foot Sea Island Golf Performance Center and the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic.

Situated on the southeastern coast of Georgia with five miles of private beach, Sea Island is a paradise, especially for golfers. Their state-ofthe-art facility offers six hitting and instruction bays, a Zen Greenstage Putting Lab, 300 yards of teeing area, target greens, short-game areas, and an exclusive club-fitting service. With a team of exemplary instructors who welcome players of all levels, the Sea Island Performance Center takes a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the game – focusing on psychology, fitness, club fitting, and technology. Sea Island also has a robust caddie program offering both the opportunity to walk as they carry your bag or ride along in the golf cart. Their service and

knowledge of the course is an amenity all golfers at Sea Island should take advantage of.

Sea Island’s Seaside Course, redesigned from its original 1929 form by Tom Fazio, is an ocean-side links course with beautifully manicured fairways, sweeping dunes, and a dramatic layout. This course is consistently ranked among the top 100 courses in the country and, along with the Plantation Course, is the home of the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic, a FedEx Cup event hosted by golf professional Davis Love III. The Plantation Course, a redesign by Davis Love III and his brother Mark of Love Golf Design, takes you through majestic oak trees along the water’s edge, providing a great mix of short and long holes which provide an exciting visual challenge for players. Sea Islands’ third course – the Retreat Course – is also a redesign by Love and his brother, with attention paid to creating a dramatic yet playable and exciting golf experience.

A centerpiece of the Sea Island Golf Club is the Lodge at Sea Island, which is among a select group of annual recipients of the AAA FiveDiamond and Forbes Five-Star awards. The Lodge provides an intimate and inviting stay with 58 rooms for couples and golfers in a serene setting surrounded by the sandy beaches that join St. Simons Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Featuring a spa, two restaurants, a wine cellar, a golf pro shop, an ocean-front pool, and a veranda, The Lodge has all the comforts one could need to keep them entertained and well-fed off the greens. Outside of The Lodge, Sea Island offers a beach club, tennis center, yacht club, shooting school, bowling alley, and much more. For more information on the Sea Island Resort or to begin planning your stay, visit their website at SeaIsland.com

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UNPACK + IMBIBE + RESTORE + RECOVER

First Servings

NOTHING BEATS A SILVER SPOON AS A GIFT FOR NEWBORNS

For hundreds of years, consumers have sought a gift of silver for newborns.

From silver rattles to baby cups, the esteemed tradition began in the 18th century with spoons symbolizing well wishes and prosperity, to more recently indicating wealth. While the high-end gift-giving world has since evolved, several luxury brands still produce silver objects that are bought to continue signifying big life events.

“Spoons are often a gift to newborns across cultures, regardless of religion,” says Thomaï Serdari, director of the fashion and luxury MBA at the New York University Stern School of Business and author of Rethinking Luxury Fashion. “They are meant to represent love and the giver’s wishes for the newborn’s prosperity.”

“In modern times, silver spoons speak as much about the giver’s good intentions as about their status,” she says. “The more expensive the gift, the higher the status of the giver. In that sense, as with any other form of gift giving, silver spoons are status symbols that express the taste and affluence of the giver.”

STERLING ROOTS

Collecting silver spoons has been a tradition for centuries.

In the 15th century, people were expected to carry around their own spoons, if they could afford the cutlery. As years went by, silver became associated with wealth, even becoming part of a woman’s dowry.

“Historically, spoons made of metal were for those who had the means to acquire them and they were often assigned to each individual,” Ms. Serdari says. “Better than that, a spoon made of silver was definitely an expression of wealth.”

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By the 18th century, consumers started gifting silver spoons for special occasions, including births and marriages. Silver spoons have also had religious roots, tracing back to the Bible, and are still used as christening gifts in the present day.

“Other than the practicality of a useful object, a spoon has always been associated with sustenance,” Ms. Serdari says. “As such, it remains a positive symbol of healthful growth and of kindness, as it is often used to feed other people: either babies or the old and the sick.”

“There are plenty of references to spoons in biblical texts and they usually express the kindness through which people care for each other,” she says.

Americans continued collecting spoons in the late 1800s due to the European influence. The practice also gained

“The more luxury brands embrace a lifestyle strategy, the more of these utensils made of precious metals we will see in the market, even if only a small segment of American consumers is familiar with the symbolism of silver spoon gifting,” she says.

Other brands known for having longstanding silver spoon offerings include British royal silversmith Asprey and New York retailer Scully & Scully. Consumers can also find vintage silver spoons from luxury brands on secondhand online marketplaces such as eBay and 1stDibs.

For those who are looking to spruce up their silver spoons and conserve them as family heirlooms, there are myriad methods to maintaining the tools, from quick home remedies to professional buffing and restoration services. For those looking to sell their silver spoons, auction house Sotheby’s, dealer-favorite 1stDibs and other outlets currently accept Tiffany silver consignment.

THOSE WHO WORK at these brands recognize that the familial tradition of gifting silver spoons is alive and well.

popularity in India. Wealthy travelers would bring home souvenir spoons from Europe, often marked with the names of cities and landmarks that they had visited.

After the 19th century, silver spoons have remained a symbol of wealth. Marketplaces and antique outlets across the world currently hold silver spoons in their collections from specific brands to familial heirlooms.

SHOWING THEIR METTLE

From LVMH-owned jeweler Tiffany & Co. to Danish silversmith Georg Jensen, luxury brands have cultivated offerings of silver spoons as baby gifts.

“All luxury brands in the household sector have unique profiles of silver spoons that are identifiable and communicate the brand’s DNA,” Ms. Serdari says. “Great examples are Tiffany, Christofle, Georg Jensen, Hermès, Gucci, Prada, etc.”

“I get a lot of grandmothers in the store purchasing the spoon, the bowl and the cup, and they engrave them with the baby’s name or initials or birthday,” says Jared J. Nelson, silver sales manager at Georg Jensen in Copenhagen. “‘My favorite Spoon,’ designed by Vivianna Torun in 1989, is our most popular [in] baby and child spoons.”

“Every piece has a lip to it, so it basically feeds you itself and the silver pieces have an indent in the back so when you put food or liquid in the spoon, it takes the shape of a heart,” he says. “Most clients fall in love with this description and fall in love with the piece.”

BEAR SHADOW

For the third year in a row, Highlands Festivals Inc. and Eleven Events are ushering in springtime’s warmth and renewed spirit with music, mountains, and revelry at Bear Shadow Music Festival. From April 28th to April 30th, 2023, Bear Shadow “Base Camp” will be the center of the action for a weekend of jam-packed performances by this year’s headliners: Spoon, The Head And The Heart, and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. Joining them are Fruit Bats, Neal Francis, and Amythyst Kiah, with support from Lissie, Myron Elkins, and Woody Platt & Shannon Whitworth.

A dream brought to life during the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, the first Bear Shadow Festival in April of 2021 delivered a breath of fresh air and a phenomenal line-up of celebrated artists to the people of the Plateau. Held on the sprawling and historic Winfield Farm, just minutes from Highlands, North Carolina, this three-day outdoor event has become a highly anticipated annual tradition. Though Bear Shadow is known for having a line-up of some of the hottest names in the Americana space, festival-goers will enjoy everything from bluegrass and country to indie and rock 'n' roll.

A sister to the beloved Highlands Food & Wine Festival in the Fall, Bear Shadow’s roots grew from a deep love for and celebration of the beauty of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and the classic Americana sounds. Paying homage to our mountain home, the event was named after the incredible phenomena of the bear-like shadow that appears on Whiteside Mountain during the Fall months of October and November and in the Spring from February to early March.

photography courte S y of bear S hadow mu S ic fe S tival

Before the show starts, join in on one of Bear Shadows Daytime Events – walk and talk with conservation experts, warm your body up for some dancing with yoga in the park, or get out on the river for some fly fishing with artist and angler Woody Platt. Come showtime, park your chairs at the farm and kick back to soulful musical entertainment in the Blue Ridge Mountains. A variety of vendors will be serving delicious food and beverages and offering the perfect memorabilia to purchase.

Since 2016, Highlands Festivals, Inc. and ZeroHero, a full-service waste and recycling operation, have diverted over 15,000 pounds of waste from landfills through their recycling and composting efforts. Bear Shadow is proudly committed to growing this number and supporting any effort to maintain the natural beauty of our land. In 2021 and 2022, the festival donated $20,000 to local organizations such as the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and the Highlands Biological Station. This year, $25 of every ticket purchase will go towards Sky Valley-Scaly Mountain Volunteer Fire & Rescue, as well as The Resource Institute, an organization dedicated to protecting, restoring, and conserving America’s waterways.

This year, welcome the warm weather, sunshine, and blooming Spring with three days of energizing live music, great food and drinks, and exciting daily activities. Support our local businesses, revel in the sounds, and be a part of Bear Shadow Music Festival’s mission to uplift our local community and uphold the natural beauty of the HighlandsCashiers Plateau.

Lissie

5:30 – 6:30 pm

From Rock Island, Illinois, singer-songwriter Lissie has been in the industry for over a decade, recording and releasing five studio albums since 2009. Her music is a delightful crossover of rock and country with elements of Americana that have you yearning for a sunset drive down a backcountry road. Her latest album, Carving Canyons , is her first full-length album since the 2018 release of Castles, a UK Top 10 album.

Fruit Bats

7 – 8 pm

Leader and creative force behind Fruit Bats, Eric D. Johnson has been creating music for over two decades. A child of the ‘70s, much of the musical influence of the time can be heard in his tracks – serving up elemental sounds reminiscent of classic rock icons like The Grateful Dead, Neil Young, and The Kinks.

Spoon

8:30 – 10 pm

In 2022, Austin-based rock band Spoon released its tenth album, Lucifer on the Sofa , considered by many fans their purest rock 'n' roll album to date. Formed in late 1993 by lead singer and guitarist Britt Daniel and drummer Jim Eno, the band has cemented its name in the indie/alternative scene over the last two decades.

Myron Elkins

5:30 – 6:30 pm

Myron Elkins recently found his path in the music world. Originally set out to become a welder in his hometown of Otsego, Michigan, Elkins only realized his potential to shake up the music scene at the age of 17 when a relative signed him up for a battle of the bands competition. Now 21, Elkins is set to release his debut album, Factories, Farms & Amphetamines , a collection of stories from his upbringing and the challenges he faced at home and in life. A little bit of rock, a little country, a little blues, and a whole lot of soul, Elkins' captivating voice is only just beginning to be heard.

Neal Francis

7 – 8 pm

Piano prodigy Neal Francis from Chicago started playing when he was just four years old and has successfully crafted two studio albums. His latest album, In Plain Sight, was born from Francis’s time spent living in a purportedly “haunted” church in Chicago. Through his music, Francis enchants with a mixture of retro-inspired soul, R&B, and New Orleans rhythms while confronting his demons through the lens of introspection.

The Head And The Heart

8:30 – 10 pm

In 2009 Josiah Johnson (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Jonathan Russell (vocals, guitar, percussion) joined forces to form The Head And The Heart. Adding to the band’s classic indie folk sound are Charity Rose (violin, guitar, vocals), Chris Zasche (bass), Kenny Hensley (piano), and Tyler Williams (drums). Since 2009 the group has released five studio albums with Warner Records Inc. The Head And The Heart’s most recent studio album, Every Shade of Blue , was released on April 29th, 2022.

Woody Platt & Shannon Whitworth

12:30 – 1:30 pm

Artist and singer-songwriter Shannon Whitworth and her husband Woody Platt, both accomplished artists, have joined forces to bring Whitworth’s original songs to the stage. Whitworth toured and recorded with the iconic bluegrass band, The Biscuit Burners. Platt is the guitarist and lead vocalist of the Grammy award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers, with 13 studio albums under his belt.

Amythyst Kiah

2 – 3 pm

A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Amythyst Kiah has been recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the best up-and-coming Americana artists. The singer-songwriter has released two solo albums and one Ep, with her most recent, Wary + Strange ,

released in June 2021. Kiah’s vocals are deep and full of emotion, her music a mix of iconoclastic altrock and acoustic folk and blues roots, and her stories reflective of her experiences growing up, enduring childhood trauma, and living as a queer Black woman in the South.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

3:30 – 5 pm

While Jason Isbell spent many years as a solo artist, landing four solo Grammy Awards, his joining forces with a talented group of musicians from the Muscle Shoals of Alabama to form The 400 Unit led to the release of numerous studio albums and a 2017 Grammy Award for Best Americana Album. Their music is steeped in their northern Alabama roots and classic Americana folk sounds. The band’s name was inspired by the local nickname, “The 400 Unit,” referring to the psychiatric ward of Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, Alabama.

Summit & Sound

Friday, April 28th, 1 – 3 pm

Saturday, April 29th, 1 – 3 pm

Follow along a guided journey through Highlands forests and trails led by conservation experts. At the end of this afternoon hike, you will be treated to intimate performances by Bear Shadow artists. These are moderate to strenuous hikes, and patrons should prepare for a 1–2-mile hike. Dress for the weather; mother nature can be unpredictable!

Live Stream

Saturday, April 29th

Join musician and angler Woody Platt of the Steep Canyon Rangers for an exclusive half-day fly fishing experience on private waters, guided by Brookings Anglers.

Bearfoot in the Park

Saturday, April 29th, 9 – 10 am, Kelsey

Hutchinson Founders Park

Sunday, April 30th, 9 – 10 am, Kelsey

Hutchinson Founders Park

Get your sweat on before soaking in the sights and sounds of the festival! Sarah Frick, owner of The Works – Charleston’s Sweat Studio, will lead onehour flow sessions in downtown Highlands. These classes are complimentary; however, students must sign up on the Bear Shadow website to reserve their spots. Don’t wait too long; this will fill up fast!

Musician Clinics

TBA

Join some of your favorite Bear Shadow artists to learn tips, tricks, and riffs.

Three-day passes for Bear Shadow Base Camp are available for purchase online. VIP and General Admission pass options are available, as is the opportunity to purchase single-day tickets. Daytime Events are not included with either pass. Tickets must be purchased separately on the Bear Shadow website.

VIP passes provide access to all three days of Bear Shadow, including nine live musical performances, up-close, prime viewing areas, and the exclusive VIP bar with complimentary beer, wine, spirits, premium non-alcoholic beverages, and coffee. Enjoy the ease of access with a priority entrance lane, VIP bathrooms, and complimentary shuttles to and from downtown Highlands to Winfield Farm. Enjoy all the food, sponsors, craft vendors on site, and complimentary small plates by local and regional food partners.

A General Admission pass provides access to all three days, as well as all nine musical performances. Beer, wine, premium non-alcoholic beverages, and coffee are included as well as access to a variety of food, sponsors, and retail vendors. The General Admission pass includes the complimentary shuttle to and from Downtown Highlands to Winfield Farm.

To purchase passes and tickets for Bear Shadow Music Festival and its Daytime Events, or more information, visit BearShadowNC.com

As the market begins to heat up for the spring and summer seasons, now is the perfect time to check all those items off your to-do list to get your home ready for sale. You can take various small steps to ensure that your property is ready to take on the competition, many of which come at little to no cost. Investing some time and a little bit of money into things like cleaning, repairs, and staging could increase the likelihood of receiving offers quickly, and Silver Creek Real Estate Group is here with some tips and tricks to get your home the attention it deserves.

EXTERIOR ENHANCE YOUR CURB APPEAL

First impressions are crucial, a fact that rings true when discussing your home’s curb appeal. So, to help set the stage for potential buyers to place an offer, let’s put your best foot forward. You’ll want your yard to be neat and tidy. Mow the lawn, clean up the weeds, trim the bushes and shrubs, and throw on a fresh layer of mulch to give the exterior a bit of a facelift. Add a pop of color with some perennials in garden beds or flowerpots near the front entrance. Remove excess yard decorations and anything that shouldn’t be there. Even changing the color of the front door can add visual interest.

REPAIR & RESTORE

Make sure all exterior elements of your home are looking good. You’ll want to ensure that everything — weatherstripping, eaves, gutters, roofing — are up to par. Fencing should be free of damage, decks and patios should be in good condition, and any cracks or rotting should be remedied. If you have peeling paint or missing siding, you’ll want to get that fixed up too.

INTERIOR

DE-CLUTTER & DEPERSONALIZE

Amplify your space by removing any clutter that detracts from the integrity of the home. This includes cleaning out those storage rooms, emptying packed shelves and cabinets, recycling old newspapers and magazines (except for NC Living , of course), and throwing out those shampoo bottles that have been collecting on your shower shelf. Not only will this help when it finally comes time to move, but you will be amazed by how much bigger your space can feel when the clutter disappears. While it can be difficult for many of us to depersonalize our homes, removing all those family portraits, heirlooms, and trinkets from around the house will help potential buyers imagine themselves making memories there.

NEUTRALIZE & FRESHEN UP!

Though that bright red kitchen might scientifically make you hungrier, it could be a turnoff to potential buyers who can’t see past the bold color choice. Neutralizing your color palette allows those who enter your home to focus on the integrity of the home rather than the stylistic choices. You want your buyers to be able to imagine their style, décor, and furniture in a space — bright and bold colors could potentially distract them from this. A fresh coat of paint could make all the difference!

REPLACE LIGHTBULBS

Dust your lighting fixtures, replace any bulbs that have burnt out, and make sure they are all the same hue. Not only will those entering your home notice, but it will make your photos light and bright!

GET RID OF GRIME

Everyone takes note of a well-maintained home. Unclog those drains, descale those showerheads, and make sure that those often-overlooked areas receive a little extra TLC. It will not only make a difference to you when all the fixtures and finishes are sparkling and polished, but to your potential buyers too.

LET IN THE LIGHT

Natural light, we all love it. Let the light shine into your home by making sure all those windows are doing their job. Give them a good washing, open those blinds, and replace any dated or broken window treatments. Natural light will make your space feel larger and warmer.

RIGHT ANY WRONGS

Wear and tear are normal in any lived-in home, but some repairs may need to be made before you go to market. Do you have an outlet that refuses to work, or a shower with weak water pressure? How about a large stain on the carpet that you’ve been hiding under a chair or a dent in the wall? Now is the perfect time to make sure that everything is in working order before the upcoming inspection.

MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME!

You want to set the stage for your potential buyers to envision their perfect life in the home. This doesn’t have to cost a lot, but some simple flourishes could have a huge impact. Fluff up the bathrooms with fresh towels, toss a few decorative blankets and throw pillows on the living room couch, hang some artwork, or add a fresh vase of flowers to the kitchen counter. If you have any unused rooms, consider adding a few pieces of furniture to give them a purpose. That extra bedroom could be an office or art studio, and some simple staging will not only make the room feel larger but will help your potential buyers see its useful potential.

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EXCLUSIVE LAND OFFERINGS

BY SILVER CREEK REAL ESTATE GROUP

Fly Fishing in Lonesome Valley

BALD ROCK

Spectacular opportunity to build your mountain dream home on this gently sloping 10+ acre estate lot. This lot borders national forest and equestrian trails allowing easy access to trail ride, hike, or mountain bike. Ownership also comes with Sapphire Valley amenities.

10.05 ACRES | MLS# 100720

OFFERED FOR $399,000

This spacious lot has over 6 acres, allowing you to pick out the ideal homesite of your dreams. Potential of long-range views by clearing of some trees. This prime location also offers direct access to hiking trails that are within Panthertown Valley. Bald Rock gives you access to fast, high-speed internet with fiber optics.

6.41 ACRES | MLS# 98591

OFFERED FOR $300,000

BEAR LAKE RESERVE

Discover panoramic 180˚ views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and long-range views of Bear Lake with a clearing on this homesite at the end of a culde-sac in Bear Lake Reserve, a private and gated luxury mountain resort. Enjoy countless community amenities including golf, tennis, hiking and trails, outdoor pavilions, a lake club, and more.

1.44 ACRES | MLS# 98968

OFFERED FOR $70,000

BEAR PEN

This lot is conveniently located on the north side of Lake Glenville, a short 8-minute drive to the Pine Creek recreation area on Lake Glenville and an easy 20-25 minute drive to Cashiers, NC. This is your chance to

get in on the ground floor of the newly organized Bear Pen community with both electricity and water wells already established in the community.

1.66 ACRES | MLS# 101243

OFFERED FOR $25,000

BRIDGE CREEK

An easy building site, this flat, 2.4-acre lot boasts a long-range mountain view. This gated community offers a fishing/swimming pond, a fire pit, a chimney garden, and more. Bridge Creek features a community water system and underground power.

2.42 ACRES | MLS# 97610

OFFERED FOR $150,000

This gently sloping lot at the end of the road should offer good long-range mountain views to the northeast from your dream home. Enjoy cool temperatures at over 3,900’ in a setting that exemplifies the temperate rainforest flora and fauna of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.

1.75 ACRES | MLS# 101114

OFFERED FOR $65,000

Nearly level land creates an easy and picturesque building site to build your perfect home. This land adjoins the protected trout waters known as Norton

Creek, a wondrous sound to hear as you enjoy a cup of coffee. Bridge Creek features a community pond, less traveled roads for walking, a fire pit, a picnic area, and an outdoor chimney garden.

1.24 ACRES | MLS# 99163

OFFERED FOR $59,000

Located within the low-density community of Bridge Creek, this lot is situated at over 3,600 feet in elevation. An aggressively priced property to build your dream home with gently rolling land, recent septic approval, and significant potential for beautiful mountain views with the clearing of some trees. This land is also accompanied by a trickling stream that runs through a small portion of the lot.

0.76 ACRES | MLS# 99162

OFFERED FOR $19,900

BURLINGAME

The most spectacular property available in Burlingame! These two lots are being sold together, comprising over 5 buildable acres, right on Miller Falls, so that you can build a driveway through lot 4 to your new homesite on lot 5, right on top of this major waterfall.

5.47 ACRES | MLS# 96858

OFFERED FOR $660,000

Enjoy all that Burlingame has to offer with complete privacy on your 5+ acres on the designated “Wild and Scenic” Horsepasture River.

5.15 ACRES | MLS# 96872

OFFERED FOR $595,000

Build your mountain getaway on this almost flat, elevated lot in Burlingame. Great views of the golf course and mountains beyond. Quick golf cart drive to the club. Private building site, must see to appreciate.

0.58 ACRES | MLS# 100861

OFFERED FOR $89,000

CASHIERS

The historic Waddell/Hanks House estate sits in the heart of the highly desirable Highway 107 South corridor. The estate overlooks a gently meandering Fowler Creek and Wade Hampton Golf Club’s beautiful 7th and 8th holes. With few building restrictions, the estate property represents an exceptional opportunity to build a custom single-family compound, several estate homes, or a development with upscale cottages for seasonal or year-round residents. The 12.16-acre

property consists of contiguous parcels of 3.41 acres, 0.64 acres, and 8.11 acres.

12.16 ACRES | MLS# 100839

OFFERED FOR $3,700,000

CEDAR CREEK CLIFFS

Gorgeous mountain views from a 2.49-acre lot in Cedar Creek Cliffs. Cool weather at almost 4,400 feet in elevation. South-facing for sunshine, with easy access to community water system. Convenient to Lake Glenville, Happs Place restaurant with live music, and the Village of Cashiers for dining, shopping, and hiking. Lot has a level building site and easy view opening. Ideal for your mountain dream home.

2.49 ACRES | MLS# 101075

OFFERED FOR $37,500

CEDAR CREST

Stunning new construction property opportunity in Cedar Crest community. Choose a custom home with the developer, or bring your own builder. Sprawling 1.15-acre double lot for a luxurious mountain home. Elegant design with high ceilings, wood beams, and stone fireplaces. Flowing floor plan with private spaces on each floor. Enjoy indoor-outdoor living with screened porch and decks on both levels. Make your final selections now!

1.15 ACRES | MLS# 101487

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $125,000

CEDAR HILL

Become engulfed with luxurious mountain living that offers beautiful native flora, sizable lots, nature trails, and awe-inspiring views. This parcel offers immense privacy and scenic, long-range mountain views that outstretch into upstate South Carolina. Positioned 3500’ in elevation, allowing cool weather all summer long, enjoy the mesmerizing sounds of songbirds and a babbling brook that runs through the property.

24.34 ACRES | MLS# 101235

OFFERED FOR $799,000

Located within the upscale subdivision known as Cedar Hill, become enamored with luxurious mountain living that offers spacious lots, nature trails, and mesmerizing views. Situated over 3,500 feet in elevation that grants cool temperatures all

summer long. This idyllic parcel of land makes it easy to envision sitting on your newly constructed deck, sipping on your favorite drink, and soaking in the view.

22.97 ACRES | MLS # 101234

OFFERED FOR $750,000

Sitting at an elevation of over 4,000 feet inside the coveted gates of Cedar Hill, this lot will boast stunning views of Chimney Top and Rock Mountains. Created to elevate the mountain lifestyle, Cedar Hill combines natural splendor, effortless convenience, inspiring architecture, and privacy. The community installed underground utilities to all homesites, easing the building process of your bespoke mountain estate. The luxury of proximity and the refinement of living can be yours today.

1.21 ACRES | MLS# 101088

OFFERED FOR $375,000

Featuring panoramic, long-range Blue Ridge mountain views, this lot is situated within the upscale Cedar Hill neighborhood. Build your dream mountain retreat on this private lot with paved access atop the Summit. Private water and septic hookups are available. Highspeed internet is currently being installed throughout the community.

1.32 ACRES | MLS# 100893

OFFERED FOR $240,000

Build in this peaceful setting and enjoy the park-like setting right in your own backyard! The lot calls for a short driveway in with a private homesite only 50 feet off the streams. There are 3 streams that pass through the property and 2 that intersect at one point. A pretty setting and an easy-to-walk lot with some short-range winter mountain views possible, with tree trimming.

3.39 ACRES | MLS# 95571

OFFERED FOR $119,000

CEDAR MEADOWS

Magnificent 2.2-acre lot nestled in the heart of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, minutes from Cashiers and Sapphire communities. Southern exposure for warmth and lush garden areas. Design and build a one-of-a-kind custom home with outdoor entertainment space. Create a cozy cottage or grand residence. Limitless opportunities for indulgent mountain living. Embrace the chance to make your personal haven in this picturesque setting.

2.2 ACRES | MLS# 101465

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $175,000

CEDAR RIDGE ESTATES

Enjoy privacy from this estate-size lot that is only a few minutes drive to the Cashiers Crossroads! Walk up the steps to the trail into the lot and follow along the edge of the small stream to the building knoll at the top of the lot shown on the expired 4-bedroom septic permit. Cedar Ridge Estates is a beautifully maintained community with mountain views and streams throughout. Existing water system is available to hook up to, so no well drilling is needed.

4.26 ACRES | MLS# 96955

OFFERED FOR $99,000

CHATTOOGA CLIFFS

This parcel boasts breathtaking views of Whiteside Mountain and Devil’s Courthouse. Even though this lot is perched at over 3,700 feet in elevation, you can forget the steep, winding roads normally required for such views. Being mere minutes from the center of the Village of Cashiers allows you to easily enjoy plenty of shopping and dining, and the wide variety of additional activities this area has to offer. Private gated access to Chattooga Cliffs is via Timber Ridge.

2.33 ACRES | MLS# 98584

OFFERED FOR $249,000

CHATTOOGA CLUB

Beautiful virgin forest land in an idyllic setting in the well-established gated community of The Chattooga Club. Gentle building site has a view of the mountain range and Fowler Creek, which flows into the Chattooga River, runs alongside the property. The lot is surrounded by beautiful hardwoods and indigenous plants including rhododendrons and mountain laurels. Great spot for someone to build their perfect summer retreat or year-round mountain home!

4.5 ACRES | MLS# 96848

OFFERED FOR $950,000

Beautiful virgin forest land in an idyllic setting in the well-established gated community of The Chattooga Club. Gentle building site has a view of the mountain range and Fowler Creek, which flows into the

Chattooga River, runs alongside the property. The lot is surrounded by beautiful hardwoods and indigenous plants including rhododendrons and mountain laurels. Great spot for someone to build their perfect summer or year-round mountain home!

4.3 ACRES | MLS# 96849

OFFERED FOR $950,000

Located in The Chattooga Club, this beautiful 3.2-acre lot features a mountain view on one side and the sound of Fowler Creek on the other. The community offers wonderful amenities, including security, a lake that is annually stocked with 1,000 pounds of trout, and Mac’s View, a picnic area with beautiful sunsets. Club membership is by invitation only.

3.22 ACRES | MLS # 97078

OFFERED FOR $750,000

Beautiful lot on the corner of Club Drive and Gorge Trail in the well-established Chattooga Club community. The property features a stunning waterfall, plentiful hardwoods, and indigenous plants including rhododendrons and mountain laurels. Club membership by invitation only.

2.91 ACRES | MLS# 96442

OFFERED FOR $595,000

CHINQUAPIN

9+ acres of privacy within the gates of Chinquapin! Currently the largest lot available for sale within the Double Knob section of Chinquapin. This lot has great short-range mountain views along with streams running through it. The driveway is already built and ready for your dream mountain home to be constructed!

9.40 ACRES | MLS# 101139

OFFERED FOR $659,000

Envision your dream home on this lot with spectacular long-range mountain views, located in Chinquapin’s exclusive Double Knob section, privately gated within the main gates of the community. Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disc golf course, a driving range, miles of hiking and biking trails, an Outpost clubhouse with a fitness room and live music during the season, as well as new pickleball courts! Chinquapin also offers fiber to the home.

2.74 ACRES | MLS# 100501

OFFERED FOR $569,000

HAMPTONS HAMMOCK COURTESY OF ELLA JAMES; $191.17. ELLAJAMES.CO.UK

Located at Chinquapin’s Logan Gap entrance, this lot offers privacy and long-range mountain views. Large mature trees create a peaceful canopy as you enter this lot through the cut-in trail leading to an almost completely level construction site at the highest elevation point on the property, which is above 4,000 feet. Enjoy the views of the long, layered mountain ranges from this excellent building site. There was an expired 5-bedroom septic evaluation on the property, indicating that it could accommodate a larger home.

3.56 ACRES | MLS# 100810

OFFERED FOR $399,000

Excellent opportunity to purchase a lot in Cow Mountain, the brand-new section of the gated Chinquapin community. Flat build site with stunning long-range views for your dream mountain getaway.

2,000-acre community with park-like living and outdoor amenities like fishing, canoeing, disc golf, and more. Enjoy miles of hiking and biking trails, Outpost clubhouse with fitness room and live music, and brand-new pickleball courts. True fiber to the home for connectivity.

3.01 ACRES | MLS# 101356

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $300,000

2-acre estate lot for your dream mountain home, within the gates of Chinquapin community, a 2,000acre private, gated community with park-like living and outdoor amenities like fishing, canoeing, disc golf, and more. Miles of hiking and biking trails, Outpost clubhouse with fitness room and live music, and brand-new pickleball courts.

2.03 ACRES | MLS# 101458

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $249,000

Excellent opportunity to purchase a lot in Chinquapin’s brand-new Cow Mountain section with privacy and stunning views. Backs up to Chinquapin’s conservation land and near hiking trails. 2,000-acre, private, gated community with park-like living and outdoor adventure amenities like fishing, canoeing, disc golf, and more. Enjoy miles of hiking and biking trails, Outpost clubhouse with fitness room and live music, and brand-new pickleball courts.

2.21 ACRES | MLS# 101474

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $249,000

Create your dream mountain home on this easy-build lot of more than 2 acres and enjoy the long-range view from your back porch! Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disc golf course, a driving range, miles of

hiking and biking trails, an Outpost clubhouse with a fitness room and live music during the season, and new pickleball courts! Chinquapin offers fiber to the home for great connectivity.

2.01 ACRES | MLS# 97805

OFFERED FOR $224,900

Unique opportunity to own a lot on Chinquapin’s Wolf Lake in a private, gated 2,000-acre community. Enjoy outdoor adventure amenities such as fishing, canoeing, disc golf, miles of hiking and biking trails, fitness room and live music in the Outpost clubhouse during the season, and brand-new pickleball courts.

1.002 ACRES | MLS# 101457

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $220,000

Lot 92 has a building site that is perched above the road for a great distant mountain view and privacy. Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disc golf course, a driving range, miles of hiking and biking trails, an Outpost Clubhouse with a fitness room and live music during the season as well as new pickleball courts! Chinquapin offers fiber to the home for great connectivity.

1.71 ACRES | MLS# 100314

OFFERED FOR $199,900

Located within the gates of beautiful Chinquapin, this large, private lot is perched above the road for maximum privacy. Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disc golf course, a driving range, miles of hiking and biking trails, an Outpost clubhouse featuring live music during the high season, and a fitness room, as well as new pickleball courts. Chinquapin offers fiber to the home for great connectivity.

6.767 ACRES | MLS# 98472

OFFERED FOR $199,000

Flat lot with great usable build space in the brand new section of Cow Mountain! Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disc golf course, a driving range, miles of hiking and biking trails, an Outpost clubhouse with a fitness room and live music during the season as well as new pickleball courts!

2.26 ACRES | MLS# 100872

OFFERED FOR $199,000

Own a lot along Robinson Creek in Chinquapin! This private gated community is an excellent place to build your dream mountain home. The 700 +/- acres of conservation property provide privacy and convenient access to hiking trails. Building and site plans have

already been made. Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, disc golf, hiking and biking trails, a fitness room, live music, and pickleball courts in Chinquapin’s park-like setting.

2.19 ACRES | MLS# 101355

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $199,000

This parcel features a level building site, privacy, and Robinson Creek running through its northern and western ends! Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disc golf course, a driving range, miles of hiking and biking trails, an Outpost clubhouse with a fitness room and live music during the season as well as new pickleball courts!

2.65 ACRES | MLS# 100841

OFFERED FOR $185,000

Lot S11 is a flat, easy-build lot that is conveniently located within walking distance of an Outpost clubhouse and all the outdoor amenities that Chinquapin has to offer. Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disc golf course, a driving range, miles of hiking and biking trails, the Outpost's fitness room and live music during the season as well as brand new pickleball courts!

0.87 ACRES | MLS# 100637

OFFERED FOR $185,000

Lot N12 is conveniently located within walking distance of The Outpost clubhouse and all the outdoor amenities that Chinquapin has to offer. One of the widest lots available in Natures Walk! Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disc golf course, a driving range, miles of hiking and biking trails, the Outpost's fitness room and live music during the season as well as brand new pickleball courts!

0.757 ACRES | MLS# 100834

OFFERED FOR $179,000

Large private lot with a great mountain view! Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disc golf course, a driving range, miles of hiking and biking trails, an Outpost clubhouse with a fitness room and live music during the season as well as new pickleball courts! Chinquapin is one of the few communities in the area that offers fiber to the home for great connectivity.

2.78 ACRES | MLS# 100835

OFFERED FOR $169,000

Lot 23 is a large, very private wooded lot with potential mountain views. Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disk golf course, a driving range, miles of hiking and biking trails, an Outpost clubhouse featuring live music during the high season, and a fitness room, as well as new pickleball courts.

Chinquapin is one of the few communities in the area that offers fiber to the home for great connectivity. Don’t miss this opportunity!

3.839 ACRES | MLS# 100313

OFFERED FOR $169,000

Located within the gates of beautiful Chinquapin, Lot 24 offers a private, mountain view and two possible build sites. Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disk golf course, a driving range, miles of hiking and biking trails, an Outpost clubhouse featuring live music during the high season and a fitness room, as well as new pickleball courts. Chinquapin offers fiber to the home for great connectivity. Don’t miss this opportunity!

2.36 ACRES | MLS# 98273

OFFERED FOR $159,000

Unique opportunity to own a cottage lot in Natures Walk with a view! Conveniently located within walking distance of an Outpost clubhouse and all the outdoor amenities that Chinquapin has to offer. Enjoy lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disc golf course, a driving range, miles of hiking and biking trails, the Outpost's fitness room and live music during the season as well as brand new pickleball courts!

0.55 ACRES | MLS# 98913

OFFERED FOR $159,000

Gorgeous mountain view lot with a very gentle homesite sitting above 3,800 feet in elevation! Northwesterly facing lot in the gated community of Chinquapin. Current 3-bedroom septic permit (authorization to construct) on hand and water and electricity hook up also available at road. You will notice that there are several beautiful homes that have just recently been built, or are currently under construction, on your way to this homesite. The Chinquapin community is truly a nature lover’s paradise with 13 different trails to explore, some for UTV/ATV’s, hiking, and mountain biking.

1.91 ACRES | MLS# 96950

OFFERED FOR $149,000

Located in Chinquapin, Lot 17 offers almost 3 acres of native mountain laurel surroundings and a private site for your dream home. Enjoy park-like living with lake and stream fishing, canoeing, a disk golf course, hiking, and biking trails, an Outpost clubhouse with fitness room, live music and brand new pickleball courts. This gated community offers great connectivity with fiber to the home, and is just minutes from Cashiers, N.C.

2.95 ACRES | MLS# 101416

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $139,900

CROSS CREEK PRESERVE

Amazing, long-range mountain views can be seen from this lot that sits at 4,200 feet in elevation! The seller already has a complete set of readyto-build, custom house plans designed specifically for this lot, for a three- or four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home. House plans show 3,455 square feet of heated living space on two floors (with the primary bedroom on the main level) and an additional 1,854 square feet of unheated space, including a screened deck and a double carport.

2.54 ACRES | MLS# 98193

OFFERED FOR $179,900

FALCON RIDGE

Truly a great wide and very gentle lot with views galore! Tons of space to build an all one-level home with room for a circular driveway and a garage, if desired. Panthertown Valley National Forest is only 500 ft. up from this lot (just across from Falcon Ridge Road). Underground utilities, community water access, and an expired 4-bedroom septic permit on file.

3.92 ACRES | MLS# 101131

OFFERED FOR $175,000

FIVESTONE

Enjoy breathtaking mountain views from this 4.10 acre lot in the private Fivestone community. With a gentle building site and circular driveway already in place, this location offers peace and privacy at 4,100 ft. elevation. Owners have access to Sapphire Valley Resort amenities, and are just 2,000 ft. from the 6,300 acre Panthertown National Forest. Fivestone offers underground utilities, fiber internet, and low property ownership fees.

4.10 ACRES | MLS# 101477

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $199,000

Boaters on Lake Glenville

FOXFIRE

Flat, easy building site with iconic Whiteside Mountain views within the gated community of Foxfire. Foxfire is a small community very close to the center of Cashiers.

1.2 ACRES | MLS# 98836

OFFERED FOR $259,000

Iconic Whiteside Mountain views within the gated community of Foxfire. Foxfire is a small community very close to the center of Cashiers.

1.4 ACRES | MLS# 98834

OFFERED FOR $229,000

GLASS ROCK FARMS

Enjoy mountain views from your homesite built on this mountain knoll sitting at over 3,800 feet in elevation. Glass Rock Farms is a small community with streams meandering throughout and a 1,250 sq. ft. minimum building requirement, with light restrictions (no modular or mobile homes allowed). The buyer will need to drill a well, apply for a septic permit, and have electricity run from Bee Tree Road to this lot.

1.11 ACRES | MLS# 98715

OFFERED FOR $35,000

Located within the quiet community of Glass Rock Farms, this extremely affordable parcel offers great potential for mountain views and the option to build your dream home at an elevation of over 3,900 feet. Glass Rock Farms has a 1,250 sq. ft. minimum build requirement. No modular or mobile homes are permitted. There is an expired 3-bedroom septic permit on file.

1.25 ACRES | MLS# 100293

OFFERED FOR $19,500

GLEN LAUREL

Huge views of Lake Glenville and the mountains. Access to Lake Glenville with a shared dock. Paved roads; community water; underground utilities. Frontage on 2 community roads. Lot is less than 1/4 mile, from a public boat launch, so you can easily put in and take out any watercraft. If you’re looking for it all - view, lake, and elbow room - this is it.

1.88 ACRES | MLS# 95547

OFFERED FOR $40,000

GLENVILLE

Located less than 15 minutes from Cashiers, this 1.07 acre lot offers an exceptional stream view, easy access off of the road, and a gentle homesite. Enjoy the magical sounds of Grassyrock Creek from your back porch!

1.07 ACRES | MLS# 100503

OFFERED FOR $189,000

GREYCLIFF

Sitting at an elevation of approximately 4,000 feet, this homesite features some of the best southern lake and mountain views around. The Greycliff neighborhood offers a gated entrance, large, paved roads, underground power, community water, and a fantastic lakefront common area with a shared boat dock for the property owners to enjoy. One of the few lots left with these types of views and amenities around Lake Glenville.

3.12 ACRES | MLS# 101083

OFFERED FOR $120,000

HIGH SPRINGS

This lot offers a wooded setting with a mountain view in the High Springs neighborhood. Your future mountain dream home will be just a few minutes from the dining and shopping experiences found in the Village of Cashiers and a short drive from Lake Glenville, the highest altitude lake east of the Mississippi River. Don’t miss this opportunity!

2.1 ACRES | MLS# 97911

OFFERED FOR $60,000

HIGHLANDS POINT

A beautiful lot with spectacular mountain views, this property will not disappoint. Located in the gated community of Highlands Point and surrounded by luxury homes, the lot boasts a gently-rolling, wooded setting with views to the iconic mountain peaks of the region. A short drive from the fine dining and shopping in downtown Highlands, this is the perfect place to build the mountain home of your dreams.

1.43 ACRES | MLS# 101241

OFFERED FOR $95,000

HOLLY FOREST

This is a remarkable lot that has lovely stream frontage, golf course frontage, and great mountain view potential! The front lot setback is only 15 feet, making the perfect spot for a 2-story home, with a garage and breezeway to be built at a 90-degree angle from the house. Overlooks the 14th fairway of the Sapphire National Golf Club and the several streams running through the property. Ownership comes with Sapphire Valley Resort amenities.

0.75 ACRES | MLS# 99013

OFFERED FOR $58,900

A wonderful building lot, with potential views! As most of your neighbors’ homes are nestled around your lot, you will be able to see the best placement of your future home to maximize the potential view, while maintaining your privacy.

2.31 ACRES | MLS# 98799

OFFERED FOR $45,000

This affordable 0.94-acre mountain lot in Sapphire Valley is perfect for your dream home. Enjoy long-range mountain views with some tree trimming. Adjacent to Trillium High community, this lot offers privacy and easy access to hiking, fishing, and golf. Enjoy community water and fiber optics. The new owner will have access to Sapphire Valley Resort amenities, including Fairfield Lake, a fitness center, swimming pools, tennis, skiing, and more. Just 15 mins from Cashiers and 1-hour drive to Asheville airport. Contact us today to schedule a viewing and

make your mountain dreams come true!

0.94 ACRES | MLS# 101479

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $30,000

Located just a few minutes from Fairfield Lake and all the highly soughtafter amenities of the Sapphire Valley Master Association, this gently rolling lot affords ultimate privacy, with a large conservation tract of land bordering the backside of the property. The small but bold Mud Creek flows along the border between this lot and the conservation land, further adding to the visual and auditory aesthetics of the land.

0.67 ACRES | MLS# 97540

OFFERED FOR $27,000

Build your dream mountain home in Sapphire’s tranquil Holly Forest. Bordered on two sides by greenspace, this lot should afford good mountain views. Quick access to Highway 64 and all the Sapphire Valley Amenities.

1.06 ACRES | MLS# 101011

OFFERED FOR $17,500

Wonderful low-cost lot in the heart of Sapphire Valley! Ready for the willing buyer with a new survey and new 2-bedroom septic permit on file with Jackson County. This low maintenance lot would be perfect for the homeowner looking to build a cute cabin. Ownership includes access to Sapphire Valley Master Association amenities.

0.83 ACRES | MLS# 101209

OFFERED FOR $15,000

This wooded Holly Forest lot has a small stream running through it. Fantastic opportunity to enjoy all the Sapphire Valley amenities.

1.36 ACRES | MLS# 100867

OFFERED FOR $5,000

HUNTER RIDGE AT HUGHES KNOB

Loads of potential for long-range magnificent views at over 4,000 feet in elevation on this wooded lot. With some tree clearing, you can pick out the perfect view and house site that will be the best for you to enjoy. Nestled within the subdivision which offers private, gated access and paved roads throughout. Private boat storage is provided within the development that

FAIRFIELD LAKE IN SAPPHIRE

is only five minutes away from the closest boating launch access on Lake Glenville.

1.11 ACRES | MLS# 98802

OFFERED FOR $245,000

This wooded lot has gated access as well as paved access all the way to this parcel of land. With an elevation over 4,000 feet, this lot has an abundance of potential for marvelous long-range views as you build the home that you have always dreamed of. Hunter Ridge at Hughes Knob also offers private boat storage within the development that is only five minutes away from the closest boating launch access on Lake Glenville and its water activities.

1.22 ACRES | MLS# 98803

OFFERED FOR $235,000

Loads of potential for excellent long-range views at 4,000+ feet in elevation. The lot is wooded but with some tree clearing, you can pick out a perfect homesite and the view to go along with it. Situated within this development, this lot allows privacy with gated access at the entrance and has paved road access as well. Hunter Ridge at Hughes Knob also offers private boat storage within the development that is only five minutes away from the closest boating launch access on Lake Glenville.

1.21 ACRES | MLS# 98806

OFFERED FOR $235,000

Located at the very end of the road, this lot offers great potential for exceptional, longrange views with an elevation over 4,000 feet and offers the opportunity to build the home of your dreams. Hunter Ridge at Hughes Knob also offers private boat storage within the development that is only five minutes away from the closest boating launch access on Lake Glenville and the water activities it hosts.

1.06 ACRES | MLS# 98801

OFFERED FOR $175,000

This wooded lot is nestled in Hunter Ridge at Hughes Knob, an up-and-coming development that has gated privacy and paved access all the way to this parcel of land. With elevation of over 4,000 feet, there is big potential for excellent longrange views and for you to build your dream home. Hunter Ridge at Hughes Knob also offers private boat storage within the development, only five minutes away from

the closest boating launch access on Lake Glenville.

1.42 ACRES | MLS# 98805

OFFERED FOR $165,000

LAKE TOXAWAY ESTATES

This beautiful, wooded lot is located in the premier, private community of Lake Toxaway Estates. Features winter views of Lake Toxaway and Lake Cardinal. Access to the lake and marina, as well as Lake Toxaway Country Club (membership by invitation), is limited to Lake Toxaway Estates property owners. Build your dream mountain home and be a part of the modernday story of Lake Toxaway, a retreat with a history of drawing some of America’s most prestigious guests!

1.37 ACRES | MLS# 100695

OFFERED FOR $189,000

LAUREL FALLS - CASHIERS

This large lot offers great potential mountain views, a stream that cascades down the lot, and lush flora, all within the gates of Laurel Falls. At nearly 3,800’ you’ll experience cool temperatures in a dramatic temperate rainforest setting. The top of the lot features a natural build site that should afford some stunning mountain views. An old logging road gives access to a lower

portion of the lot, and the bottom can be accessed via Trimble Ridge.

13.76 ACRES | MLS# 99041

OFFERED FOR $145,000

PILOTS KNOB

Fantastic building lot in the desirable neighborhood of Pilots Knob! Great year-round mountain view potential with tree trimming from this gently rolling lot. Community features include a trout pond, a fire pit, and a common area where owners enjoy the idyllic mountain scenery. Pilots Knob is paved throughout and has an inviting gated entrance with a pretty waterfall feature. Low POA fees and underground utilities make this a great place to build your mountain escape at almost 4,000 feet in elevation!

0.74 ACRES | MLS# 98942

OFFERED FOR $29,000

RIVER ROCK

This is a great, buildable lot in River Rock. Nestled behind the gates of Cullowhee Forest, it has already been partially cleared due to a temporary logging road. The area features meandering streams and waterfalls, and a small but active stream runs alongside the lot. It is priced to sell, at well below the tax value. The motivated seller is ready to make this lot yours!

0.64 ACRES | MLS# 101135

OFFERED FOR $9,999

Build your mountain retreat in River Rock! This lot, nestled behind the gates of Cullowhee Forest, should feature spectacular mountain views with trimming. The area features meandering streams and

waterfalls. It is priced to sell, well below the tax value. The motivated seller is ready to make this lot yours.

0.57 ACRES | MLS# 98124

OFFERED FOR $9,999

ROCKY KNOB

Two lots for the price of one! Located in the gorgeous gated community of Rocky Knob, these lots provide a peaceful setting to build a mountain home with lots of land to explore. Owners can enjoy the beautiful Lake Osage, a 17-acre lake, along with a covered pavilion and grilling area. Sitting at approximately 3,700 feet in elevation, this is the perfect area to escape the heat of lower elevations.

2.36 ACRES | MLS# 95238

OFFERED FOR $49,000

SAPPHIRE HIGH

9+ acres in the heart of Sapphire Valley with all the amenities Sapphire Valley has to offer. This property would make for a great private retreat. Can be subdivided 3 times.

9.89 ACRES | MLS # 96287

OFFERED FOR $150,000

SHEPHERDS MOUNTAIN

Private lot located near the end of a cul-de-sac inside the gated community of Shepherds Mountain. Northwesterly facing lot with possible views of Lake Glenville and mountains beyond with a lot of tree trimming. There is also a small stream that runs through the lower portion of the lot. Create your own trail from the house site to the stream. A new walking trail leads you to the gentle house site. Shepherd’s Mountain is a small peaceful community with paved roads, community water, underground utilities, a community center with a playground area, and lake access.

4.72 ACRES | MLS# 100467

OFFERED FOR $90,000

SIMS VALLEY

Extremely desirable lot with bold stream frontage and a nearly level building site. Surrounded by beautiful native flora and dogwood trees, this is the ideal place to build a mountain home overlooking

a beautiful babbling stream with many small waterfalls. Enjoy some short- and long-range mountain views from this peaceful setting as well. Conveniently located near the community clubhouse, outdoor pool, fitness center, and pavilion that owners can use for social gatherings.

0.95 ACRES | MLS# 85846 OFFERED FOR $66,000

Discover this gently rolling lot in Sims Valley, perfect for your mountain getaway. With 1.52 acres and easy, paved access, this lot offers amenities including a clubhouse, community pool, and fishing at two trout ponds. Eight minutes from Happs Place restaurant, and less than 15 minutes from Lake Glenville for swimming, boating, and kayaking. Less than 20 minutes from the Village of Cashiers with shopping and dining. An expired 3-bedroom septic evaluation is on file.

1.52 ACRES | MLS# 101439

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $35,000

Escape to a serene retreat with Lot 37 Farm Meadow Lane in the Sims Valley community. At 1.20 acres, this gently rolling lot is surrounded by mature trees and features aesthetic boulders. A large road frontage footprint along Farm Meadow Lane allows for easy access. Multiple utilities are available, including underground electricity and water. The clubhouse, pool, and stocked trout ponds are within walking distance. An expired 3-bedroom septic evaluation is on file with the county. Enjoy the deep sense of tranquility and connection to nature this lot provides.

1.20 ACRES | MLS# 101415

NEWLY OFFERED FOR $30,000

STONE CREEK ESTATES

Located behind the gates of the coveted Country Club of Sapphire Valley, this ready-to-build lot offers sweeping long-range views of Bald Rock. Equipped with underground electric (temporary service), Carolina Water tap, sewer, and a wide gravel driveway. Paved roads lead you to the driveway lined with boulder walls and 100 feet of hydra seed and straw-covered sloping lawn space. This homesite’s foundation is ready and waiting for the next buyer wanting to escape to the Blue Ridge Mountains and build their mountain retreat.

1.16 ACRES | MLS# 100352

OFFERED FOR $125,000

STONEFLY

Looking for a lot in town with frontage on the headwaters of the Chattooga River? Here it is, 340+ feet of river frontage, very private, and only a short distance to town. Large, easy building site. Short, easy walk to Summit Charter School.

2.61 ACRES | MLS# 98317

OFFERED FOR $395,000

In-town lot with 460 feet of stream frontage. The headwaters of the Chattooga River run down 2 boundaries. Easy build, easy access. Located in a gated community only minutes from shopping and restaurants. The whole community is very gentle lying, so very walkable.

1 ACRE | MLS# 98318

OFFERED FOR $295,000

In-town lot with 290+ feet of stream frontage on the headwaters of the Chattooga River and a small waterfall. Only minutes to shopping and restaurants. Easy build, gentle lot with a gradual slope from the paved entry road down to the stream. Gated community with paved roads and underground utilities. If you love the sound of cascading water and you want the convenience of being close to everything, then this could be your property!

1.1 ACRES | MLS# 98319

OFFERED FOR $245,000

Easy-build lot, wooded with beautiful deciduous trees, close to town, in a gated community, and with a stream that is part of the headwaters of the Chattooga River. Stonefly is only a little over a mile from the Cashiers crossroads. Convenient to shopping and restaurants, this lot has a gentle slope from the paved entry road down to the stream. The house site is so gentle that

there would be plenty of room for parking, a driveway, and easy in and out.

1.07 ACRES | MLS# 98320

OFFERED FOR $239,000

A wonderful easy-build lot in town. A small stream is one border for approx. 350 feet, which is the headwaters of the Chattooga River. Stonefly is a gated community with paved roads and underground utilities. Foundation, driveway, and parking would all be very easy since this lot is so gentle. Many possible homesites on this property.

1.38 ACRES | MLS# 98321

OFFERED FOR $230,000

STRAWBERRY HILL

Great opportunity to build your mountain dream home in the lakefront community of Strawberry Hill. Exceptional views of Lake Glenville, London Knob, and the mountains beyond. Tennis courts, boat storage, and community pavilion. Build your dream home here.

1.19 ACRES | MLS# 98982

OFFERED FOR $79,500

THE PRESERVE AT ROCK CREEK

Enjoy amazing mountain views all year long from your future dream home on this five-acre lot. Very level driveway and build site that will let you concentrate on creating your home. More than two-thirds of the 320 acres within this upscale, gated community are protected by a conservation easement, guarding against encroachment from future development. Property owners and their guests have exclusive access to maintained hiking trails leading to Rock Creek Falls and other waterfalls.

5 ACRES | MLS# 98076

OFFERED FOR $350,000

TRILLIUM LINKS

Incredibly gentle rolling lot located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac boasting long-range mountain views backdropped against Trillium Links and Lake Club’s iconic 12th Hole. 1.32 acres of secluded privacy and a gentle build site with currently only three homes sharing the same street. The position of this lot would allow a home builder to drive straight into their home, which could be optimally placed to take in the

stunning long-range mountain views. Membership to Trillium Links and Lake Club is not required with the purchase of this lot.

1.32 ACRES | MLS# 100231

OFFERED FOR $310,000

WALNUT GAP

This wonderful, high-elevation lot nestled in at over 4,600 feet in elevation in the Walnut Gap community is ready for that buyer who is looking to escape to the mountains and the find cooler summer temps. Lot 1B lies strategically with easy access to both Cashiers, NC, for the small-town feel, and Franklin, NC with the name brand stores for everyday needs. This is your opportunity to build your home away from home in the heart of the mountains of Western North Carolina!

2.77 ACRES | MLS# 101212

OFFERED FOR $25,000

WILD TURKEY

16 acres of rolling property with good mountain views.

16 ACRES | MLS# 96616

OFFERED FOR $150,000

WOUDES MTN VILLAGE

In the charming community of Woudes Mountain Village sits this serene and private land that boasts beautiful hardwoods and native flora. Features include a small stream and a private walking trail that allows a short hike down to the community’s shared docks and lake access, making it easy to get into your boat and out on the water! The land is gently sloping to provide a more accessible build site for your mountain retreat or year-round abode.

2.53 ACRES | MLS# 100747

OFFERED FOR $69,900

OPPOSITE: GOLF WITH A VIEW AT TRILLIUM LINKS AND LAKE CLUB

REDEFINING LUXURY REAL ESTATE MARKETING

RESULTS DRIVEN, EXPERIENCE FOCUSED

THE RAVEL & THE REST

Fabric is a core component of our daily lives. We wear it, carry it, create it, and create with it. Not often, though, do we delve into the underlying metaphors of the fabrics in our lives and their inherent commentary on our world and society. However, this year at The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts, we have the opportunity to contemplate these deeper meanings through the thought-provoking work of textile artist and educator Kimberly English.

The Bascom welcomed Kimberly through the 2022-2023 Winter Resident Artist Program (also known as W.R.A.P.) to live and work on campus while designing and building a unique site-specific installation in the Thompson Gallery. “ The Ravel & The Rest ” is an exhibition of ironic abstraction, juxtaposing gestures towards creation myths and contemporary existential concerns surrounding climate change, globalization, and technological advances. The Ravel & The Rest will be displayed at The Bascom until April 8th, 2023.

word S by delaney a S bury photography courte S y of kimberly engli S h and the ba S com: a center for the vi S ual art S

Originally from middle Georgia, Kimberly knew that she wanted to pursue art from a young age. When the opportunity arose to attend Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), it was the perfect chance to dive into her passion. “When I started my undergraduate studies, I had no idea what I wanted to major in,” Kimberly remarked. “I dabbled in advertising and explored drawing, but my professors pointed me toward fibers because they could see that I had this sensibility for texture and pattern. I took a class with the fibers department and instantly felt like everything clicked into place, but it wasn’t until I studied abroad in France that I developed my love for weaving,” she said. “I kept seeing looms everywhere, but there was no class available at the time, and despite never having woven, I felt this magnetic pull to it.”

Kimberly convinced one of her classmates to teach her how to weave on the looms late at night, and from the start, she felt like she was learning a language that she already knew how to speak. “Weaving just made sense with the way my brain worked,” she remarked, and thus her exploration of the skill continued when she returned to SCAD to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts, and even beyond to the University of North Carolina (UNC), where she completed her Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts.

As Kimberly recalls, her time at UNC was when her practice began to transform. “I was in a very contemporary interdisciplinary program where I was encouraged not to weave as much, but I still had a strong desire to speak with cloth in my practice.” So, she began incorporating found and purchased textiles into her work, and it was then she believes the seeds were planted for The Ravel & The Rest While weaving was her first creative love, she’s breaking out of that now and speaking with other materials. “This exhibition has a lot of woven fabric that I have physically made, but there are also many manufactured materials that convey a juxtaposition of machine versus hand.” So, she says, “I’m not making everything and laboring over every thread in the cloth like I normally would. I’m bringing in more contemporary uses of the cloth in a short-hand way to discuss these ideas I’m interested in exploring.”

Throughout her practice, Kimberly has found immense fulfillment in working with textiles, in part due to their physical nature but also because they have a powerful ability to convey concepts that people might not expect. “Cloth is soft and warm but also primal and necessary,” she remarks. “It sags with time and gravity and has this skin-like quality that touches you back when you interact with it.” In her interpretation of themes such as globalization, climate change, labor, production, and the evolution of humanity, she believes that fabrics are the ultimate Trojan horse for discussion surrounding abstract ideas that relate to the human condition. “Cloth can symbolize security, the human body, time, labor, and our society at large,” she says. “I’ve really enjoyed exploring these broad concepts of progress and industrialization through cloth material because of its distinct ability to convey intimacy and storytelling, which is something many do not anticipate.”

Cognizant of the impact of the themes she explores, Kimberly thoughtfully sources the textiles for her work. She seeks out second-hand materials and often trades with others for the fabric and cloth used in her projects. “I try to be as mindful as possible, and for me, that means not buying when I can,” she said. “A big part of my practice is seeking out these second-hand materials, whether at the thrift store or online marketplaces. I like using second-hand denim in my practice, and while there is not a lot of denim in The Ravel & The Rest exhibition, it’s always something I’m on the lookout for.”

In graduate school, much of Kimberly’s work was focused on the contemporary garment industry and sweatshop labor, which she says is still central to her practice and personal life. “I was interested in exploring the history of women’s work and the evolution of human production,” she recalled. “I began diving into this idea of invisible labor and labor that is done in the private sphere, and how that translates into cloth production.” From there, Kimberly began researching textile factories of the early 1900s and particularly the 1980s because, at the time, there was a mass exodus of production to countries where there were fewer labor laws, and the labor itself was cheaper, ultimately leading to the sweatshop crisis that exists to this day. She brought into her practice more domestic fabrics like tablecloths, napkins, placemats, women’s sweaters, and aprons, and deconstructed them into pieces that spoke to that labor that went unrecognized and overlooked. “A lot of that work referenced the female body, but a lot of it also referenced the absence of something - so there was a simultaneous absence and presence in unraveling those textiles and creating pieces from what was left,” she voiced. “I was making work that was talking about the issues politically, but in a way, I was also speaking to familial relationships and how work done in the home is also related.”

As a close advisor once told her, “Nobody is going to give you permission to make the work; if you want to make it, make it, it’s your practice.” She carried this piece of advice into her first exhibition after moving to North Carolina, “ Tall Truths ,” which she displayed at the Slouch Gallery in Weaverville in May 2022. Tall Truths antagonized the role of progress and other beliefs or myths such as capital, creation, and dominion in human survival, with abstract woven imagery that reflected upon these notions while also connecting them to rising oceans, global supply chains, and consumer waste. “ Tall Truths was radically different from what I had been exhibiting in the past; though it still dealt with the same concepts, the formal quality was so drastically different,” she stated. “In hand-dyeing all of the indigo and weaving these huge pieces, I really had to ask myself whether I was going to trust myself as an artist to dive in and make this work

that I feel is important.” It was a challenge she believes many artists face when emerging from the tight circles of support and feedback found in graduate school, but for her, it felt like the first body of work that she really trusted herself to bring to life.

Seeking an opportunity to give herself the time and space to grow and develop her practice even more, Kimberly applied for The Bascom’s Winter Resident Artist Program, pitching her most ambitious body of work yet. “ The Ravel & The Rest is probably the most true and autobiographical to the work that I want to make,” she expressed. “While these pieces are very conceptually related to the work that I’ve been doing over the past few years, The Bascom’s annual theme of Origins allowed me to juxtapose these new ideas that I was interested in but didn’t quite know how to connect yet. Through this theme, I drew in something very personal to me, being raised in a religious household, and brought that autobiographical voice into this more researchbased and abstract idea of the term origin.”

As Kimberly explains, The Ravel & The Rest is about the ravel or the fraying of a textile. She sees the ravel or the fray as a loose thread parsed out in a cloth - a result of either becoming or the process of unmaking. “I like the juxtaposition of this unfinished, very vulnerable thread as symbolizing something being made or unmade in this contemporary zeitgeist way of discussing creation stories,” she says.

Kimberly hopes for people to form their own connections to the work when viewing The Ravel & The Rest . “In some ways, it’s autobiographical,” she states, “but it’s also very broad in speaking to these creation stories and contemporary concerns. There is so much in this work as a whole that there is an opportunity for anyone to go in and find something that resonates with them – whether it reminds them of a textile they are familiar with or if it’s the imagery that sparks a connection for them and makes them contemplate.” With their large scale, these pieces are meant to be confronting - or confronted, and she emphasizes that there is no correct interpretation of the work, “I want it to be subjective in how people relate to it, even if that’s different from how I view it personally. It’s important that people formulate their own

ideas of what the work is about, investigate that, and know that there is no right or wrong way in which they connect to it.”

In reflecting on her residency at The Bascom, Kimberly feels the supported time and space she received to work on The Ravel & The Rest was a gifted opportunity to grow and develop the next stage of her practice. “Looking forward, I’m trying to carve out more residency opportunities that will lead to exhibitions, and my residency on The Bascom campus just illuminated how important self-truth is for my practice,” she said. “The idea of trusting yourself when you’re the only one in the studio, and having to rely on your own feedback and intuition has been a really enlightening exercise for me.” As for her advice for those just beginning their exploration into the arts, she believes developing a routine and establishing a discipline in making is paramount. “A lot of creative practice really has nothing to do with creativity, but it has a lot to do with showing up and holding yourself accountable to the goals that you set - you’re not always going to want to go to the studio, but each time you do it will be rewarding.”

“Weaving today is recognized as a craft rather than an art most frequently, and I’m excited to be tiptoeing the line as an artist working in a craft medium because textiles can speak both

languages - form and function,” she remarks. As Kimberly works towards the goals she has set for herself and her career, she continues to teach and share her knowledge and passion for art. When she’s not in the studio, she and her husband are renovating their new home, spending time out on the water, hiking, and exploring all that beautiful Western North Carolina has to offer. To learn more about Kimberly English and to explore her past works, visit her website at Kimberly-English. com , and make sure to stop by The Bascom’s Thompson Gallery before April 8th to experience her exhibition, The Ravel & The Rest

ABOUT THE BASCOM’S W.R.A.P. PROGRAM

The Bascom Winter Resident Artist Program, better known as the W.R.A.P., calls on artists across the Southeast to submit site-specific installation proposals for The Bascom’s beautiful and intimate Thompson Gallery.

The selected artist is given the opportunity to live and work on The Bascom campus and to design, build, and install their project during a four-week period. This is the 9th iteration of the WRAP series which was inaugurated in 2014.

To learn more about The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts and their current and upcoming exhibitions, visit their website at TheBascom.org

Les Bateaux Belmond Tour France On Board

word S by delaney a S bury

photography courte S y of belmond image S

View from the upper deck lounge of Belmond’s newest barge, Coquelicot.

France is among the oldest countries in the world and the largest in Western Europe. Its profound influence can be seen in almost all aspects of modern culture, from cuisine and fine wine to music, art, fashion, literature, and sports. With its rich history, flavorful foods, and iconic landmarks, many of us have placed France on our travel bucket list. Who hasn’t wanted to experience the glimmering lights of the 134-year-old Eiffel Tower?

While many pinpoint Paris as their desired destination, there is far more to see in France than the hustle and bustle of the Parisian streets. In fact, traveling outside of Paris and into the countryside, “la campagne,” as the French say, might have more to offer than one could imagine. While you will find other large cities outside of Paris, such as Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Bordeaux, and Toulouse, you will also find a world of intrigue among the historic villages and towns

in la campagne. Imagine picturesque, fairy-talelike villages and castles, medieval architecture, sprawling vineyards and pastures, lavender fields, and dense forests. Now imagine yourself traveling along a gentle river, a glass of fine French wine in your hand, taking in this serene storybook setting with your friends and family.

With Les Bateaux Belmond’s River Cruises, you can soak up the splendor of rural France from the comfort of your private barge as you traverse the rivers and canals of la campagne. Les Bateaux Belmond operates seven stunning barges, accommodating between four and 12 guests, and offers a variety of journeys that take you from the vineyards of Burgundy to the olive mills of Le Somail and the medieval châteaux of Grignan. Each of their barges is uniquely designed with pleasure in mind, from the glamorous cabins to the opulent dining and lounge spaces. Some even have heated pools and sunbeds on lovely sundecks. The elegant interiors of each boat focus on luxury and comfort, with rich details that honor the history and heritage of each locality, and each barge is equipped with bicycles allowing you to hop out and ride along the various canals in which your barge is moored. Onboard you will be tended to by their seasoned staff, many of whom are fluent in both English and French. In addition to your own guide, who will highlight the history and importance of the region, the barge’s private chef will serve delicious pairings of fresh and seasonal regional cuisine, perfectly paired with local wines and cheeses.

“The essence of travel with Les Bateaux Belmond is that your time is relaxed, and any excursions will be tailored to your personal tastes and requirements,” Belmond says. These excursions depend on the region in which you are traveling but include visits to local

attractions such as stately châteaux, vineyards, abbeys, cathedrals, and lively markets. Additional excursions like hot air ballooning can also be added on to enhance your experience. During the cruise, your boat will even be accompanied by an air-conditioned vehicle which will take you and your private guide on any chosen tours.

ALL ABOARD CHAMPAGNE

Step aboard Belmond’s newest addition to their luxury fleet, Coquelicot, where you are invited to savor the Champagne region from the water, home to some of the most famous sparkling wines in the world. This intimate floating sanctuary houses six guests and features two lounges, an open kitchen, and a shaded top-deck dining area. The barge was designed by Humbert and Poyet, with each design choice channeling the essence of Champagne. From the neutral, earthy-toned linens and raw materials to the contemporary furnishings, antique touches, and local flourishes, Coquelicot pays homage to the culture and architectural heritage of the region. Coquelicot features three guest cabins with en suite bathrooms and an indoor salon with a

champagne bar stocked to the tee per your tastes. With exceptional outdoor space, you can relax with a cup of coffee and pastries while catching a vibrant sunrise from the top deck or gather your friends and family to dine al fresco as you take in the passing landscape.

One of the itineraries you may choose on Coquelicot will take you on a journey through Champagne, beginning in Épernay, the “jewel” of the region, and ending in Sillery. Board your barge and receive a warm welcome from the dedicated captain and crew with a delightful champagne reception, followed by your first gourmet meal of the week prepared by the chef. As you continue your journey deeper into the region, you will have opportunities to visit historic vineyards and producers who have cultivated the world of sparkling champagne. Experience the wonders of Hautvillers Abbey, where the monk Dom Pérignon accidentally discovered how to make champagne. Visit Ruinart, the oldest established champagne house in the world, dating back to 1729. This exclusive partnership between Belmond

and the famed producer presents a rare opportunity to explore the Ruinart vineyards and sample some of their finest champagnes. After your tour, you’ll return to the barge for a fivecourse lunch crafted by Ruinart’s private chef and paired with select vintages. Enjoy an elegant lunch at the renowned Brasserie Le Jardin, where all of the cuisine is seasonally and regionally crafted by Chef Phillipe Mille. Once in Sillery, you will have a thrilling visit to Veuve Clicquot, a

and villages. With four cabins and room for eight guests, Lilas, one of Belmond’s Burgundy barges, allows you a peaceful journey along the river Rhône and into the heart of the region’s spectacular landscape. Lilas showcases a contemporary twist on classic French style, paired with inspiration drawn from nature, making for an elegant and intimate atmosphere. Onboard, you will lounge and enjoy gourmet cuisine in the sophisticated dining room or in the airy lounge

supremely celebrated champagne house where you will have the unique opportunity to explore their vast underground cellars. At the end of your trip, the chef prepares an extravagant farewell gala dinner.

BONJOUR BURGUNDY

The region of Burgundy offers some of the best river tourism in France with its vast network of inland waterways connecting historic towns

with doors that open to allow for exquisite al fresco dining. Soak up the sunshine, passing vineyard landscapes and châteaux from the deck while you take a dip in the barge’s heated pool and watch the countryside float by.

One of the itineraries you may embark on with Lilas will take you from Avignon, the gateway of the Province region, to Lyon, considered by many to be the gastronomy capital of France.

Board Lilas in Avignon and settle in with a champagne reception to begin your journey along the Rhône. Pass the famous Pont Saint-Bénezet and Villeneuve les Avignon to Roquemaure, where you will enjoy your first gourmet meal skillfully created by the chef, while you prepare for your next adventure. A guided tour through the walled city of Avignon will take you to the Palace of the Popes, giving you time to shop and sample the local cafés. At your next stop, a scenic drive through the countryside will take you to the Provençal village of Grignan, famous for its wild roses and 12th-century château. Explore the narrow, cobbled streets and dine at a local restaurant before heading to a truffle farm to learn about the world-renowned black diamond. Back on the barge, you will continue your journey to Tain L’Hermitage, where you will visit a local winery, explore Côtes du Rhône and visit the famous Valrhona chocolate shop. Cruising the Vallée du Rhône is sure to delight as magnificent views of the vineyards of Côtes Rôties and Côtes du Rhône seemingly stretch right to the water’s edge. Find inspiration with a guided walking tour of the riverside town of Vienne, where you will learn about its Roman history. Once in Lyon, you will marvel at the sights during a guided walking tour through the city, which is rich in culture and gastronomy. Visit the ornate Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière and stop into the chic boutiques before heading back to the barge for your farewell gala dinner.

BON VOYAGE!

Les Bateaux Belmond’s fleet of luxury barges offers a first-class opportunity to explore the charming and romantic French countryside from the water with all the comforts one needs. Included in each person’s fare is transport from Paris to the boat (if applicable); all table d’hôte meals with each week’s menu, a special curation of regional and seasonal delicacies unique to the region you are cruising through; complimentary beverages; accommodations on the barge; and all excursions stated in the itinerary, fully escorted by the experienced onboard guide. To peruse their available journeys and begin planning your perfect cruise with Belmond, visit their website at Belmond.com/boats

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