All the pieces came together

The great room opens onto a deck that is often where morning coffee is enjoyed while looking out on Lake Keowee.

Alot of things had to come together in order for Ken and Susie Hanson to have the retirement home of their dreams.

And, they did.

“It really was fate,” Susie said. “So many things had to happen.”

Living in Northern Virginia, the couple had been thinking about retirement. They had talked about wanting to be on the water — either an ocean or a lake — but no plans had crystalized. They did some internet searches for waterfront retirement communities in the Southeast but, honestly, there didn’t seem to be a rush; no need to start marking up a calendar.

Then, on vacation with friends Steve and Darlene, the retirement subject came up. Lo and behold, it turned out Darlene’s sister, Sandy Peirce, is a real estate agent specializing in lakefront properties near Seneca, SC. She suggested they check it out.

Providence?

On Labor Day weekend 2018 they did just that. On a trip with their friends to explore the Upstate, the couples found themselves motoring up SC 130. As they crested a hill and saw the waters of Lake Keowee glistening in front of them, with the Blue Ridge Mountains rising in the distance, the Hanson’s world began to turn upside down.

“My throat literally closed on seeing the mountains,” Susie said. “From that moment we knew this was where we wanted to retire.”

Although that retirement was still two years away, the house hunting began. Peirce showed them numerous homes around the lake, all the while knowing they weren’t ready to buy … not quite yet.

Fast forward to August 2019.

The foyer to the left gives way to this impressive craftsman-style great room whose unique white tilestone fireplace enhances the expansiveness of the room. A windowed expanse overlooks the lake. The door at the far end of this photo provides access to the master suite.

The dock provides yet another place to gather for relaxation or, perhaps, a glass of wine as the sun sets.

RECORD SALES FOR LAKE KEOWEE 01/1/2020-11/3/2020* 305 Lake Keowee Waterfront Homes SOLD with an average price of $1,021,990 & 46 Pending 251 Lake Keowee Waterfront Lots SOLD with an average price of $276,802 & 84 Pending 158 Lake Keowee Interior Homes SOLD with an average price of $420,708 & 19 Pending

GREG COUTU RECORD LAKE KEOWEE SALES 2020 Year to Date: 80 Transactions closed for Over $48,000,000 in Total Sales Volume

2020 Year to Date: 80 Transactions closed for over $48,000,000 in Total Sales Volume

NOTABLE SALES FOR 2020 1992 Hampton Shores, Seneca Seller & Buyer Represented: $995,000 301 Woodgreene Ct, Salem Seller & Buyer Represented: $1,025,000 200 Pinecroft Ct, Seneca Seller Represented: $1,249,000 120 Crest Pointe Dr, Seneca Buyer Represented: $1,347,500 34 Lash Up Ln, Salem Buyer Represented: $1,350,000 310 Oakleaf Ct, Seneca Buyer Represented: $1,450,000 116 Crest Pointe, Seneca Seller Represented: $1,500,000 125 Wynward Pointe, Salem Seller & Buyer Represented: $1,635,000 32 Lash Up Lane, Salem Seller & Buyer Represented: $1,7500,000

“In what has been a challenging year for us all, I’m beyond grateful for the support of our clients and friends at Lake Keowee.

We are fortunate to call this special place home. We wish you and your family a safe and healthy Holiday & New Year.”

GREG COUTU Associate Broker/Realtor, 864.230.5911 coutulakekeowee@gmail.com Waterfront Office | 816 Bypass 123 | Seneca, SC Building Lasting Relationships Through Genuine Concern,

Objective Advice and Enthusiasm for Lake Keowee

Having made multiple trips to the area to show their future retirement location to friends and relatives, they were now planning a vacation week in the Upstate, which happened to coincide with their daughter’s birthday.

However, two days before they were to leave there was a knock on their door and a subsequent and totally unexpected offer to buy their home.

“We weren’t ready to sell until spring, but they offered full price,” Ken said.

In their car, headed to Lake Keowee, they signed a sales contract on their home.

Destiny?

On their first morning at the lake they were walking with their daughter Haley’s in-laws, Mike and Mary Fiorini, who had recently purchased a lakefront home. As they strolled, they saw several “craftsman-style” homes they liked and reached out again to Peirce, who called the builder. While none of those homes were available, the builder said he had a spec home under construction in the Riverstone community that wasn’t on the market yet.

“We fell in love with it, and, by Friday — our daughter’s birthday — we were in The Cabana (at the Lighthouse Restaurant) signing the contract and drinking a margarita,” Susie said.

“We liked the way it sat on the lot, the cove and the view,” she said, adding that the floor plan checked most of their boxes. Also, the builder was open to letting them choose paint colors, countertops and other design features.

They had found their retirement home.

Fate?

The couple returned to Virginia. Ken got serious about his retirement plan and, from five states away, they began overseeing the completion of their home. They put 90 percent of their belongings in storage and set up a work-from-home office for Ken in a relative’s basement.

They closed on their new home on December 16, a date etched (along with the longitude and latitude of the home) on a plaque above the dining room window that overlooks the lake. Susie moved down this past January. Ken followed in March and officially retired in May.

The home itself is a spacious mix of “craftsmen” styling — beamed ceilings, paneled flooring, an ample use of exterior stone, etc. — and personal whimsy — a storage area converted to a game room and wine racks, half filled with empty bottles, used as wall décor.

“We wanted a home on the water, an eating area that overlooks the water, one-level living and a lot that wasn’t too steep,” Susie said.

“We’re on the upper edge of steepness,” Ken added with a grin, acknowledging that the drive from the road down to the house is a bit precipitous.

{at top} The first-floor guest room is expansive and features a full bath with tile shower and leathered granite countertops. • {middle} The master suite is spacious and bright with a great view of the lake. It features inset lighting and an alcove ceiling. A connecting hall provides access to his and her walk-in closets and a luxurious bath. • {above} A large kitchen is home to an array of the latest stainless steel appliances and a large island that serves as both a dining area and a centerpiece when the couple is entertaining. Leathered granite countertops are a unique feature.

A stone and wood-crafted entry gives way to the home’s foyer. To the right is a guest suite, but one’s attention is immediately drawn forward, through the great room and toward the windowed expanse that overlooks the lake. The room’s unique white tile-stone fireplace enhances the expansiveness of the room and also creates a flirtatious art deco moment.

To the right is a large kitchen, home to an array of the latest stainless steel appliances and a large island that serves as a centerpiece when the couple is entertaining. While Susie enjoys showing off her first-ever walk-in pantry, the shining star of the kitchen is clearly the leathered granite countertops the couple chose. The home’s only dining area blends seamlessly and seats up to 10 people.

Off of the kitchen/dining area, a door opens to the home’s large screened porch, frequented many aday for morning coffee. Another door provides access to an open-air deck, which can also be reached from the great room or the master suite at the other end of the house.

The suite itself is large enough to afford Susie room to pursue her interest in painting while looking out on the lake. It features a cove ceiling with fan and inset lighting. There are two walkin closets, with Ken staking claim to the larger of the two. The master bath is also large and features a unique blend of leathered granite, stone and tile. From the Jacuzzi one can look out on a massive stone retaining wall that highlights the entry landscaping.

This level also includes a guest room with full bath, laundry room and access to the garage.

Stairs lead to a second-floor that provides ample living area and sleeping quarters currently inhabited by the Hansons’ son, Michael. Since the

This spacious screen porch is accessed from the kitchen/dining area and opens onto the deck on the main level. It provides a great gathering place for entertaining and relaxation.

pandemic began he has been doing his banking job from home and also pursuing his love of photography amid the beauty of the Upstate region. The lakeside level of the home features two guest rooms that overlook the lake. Each has a full bath and walk-in closet. This level also affords access to the storage-area-turned-game room with its dartboard and ping-pong table, a wine room and walkout access to the lower level patio.

A small, grassy area in the back gives way to a more gradual slope down to the dock, where another area has seating arranged for enjoying beverages and sunsets.

“There have been a lot of good surprises,” Susie said of the couple’s first months in the home. “We love to be able to go hiking and see waterfalls right here, walk through the neighborhood, and I enjoy kayaking on the lake. It’s just so peaceful.”

Kismet? n