Casual Elegance

It’s fitting that the home of Bob and Terri Lamendola is located in The Water’s Edge because that is exactly where the Arts and Crafts beauty sits – right along the country club community’s scenic shoreline.

Visitors arriving by boat need only traverse a short walkway to reach the house, which blends seamlessly into its surroundings, belying the fact it was built just three years ago. The home is one of eight that will be showcased Oct. 5-7 at the 22nd annual Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour.

“I have always loved going on home tours, and the fact that local charities benefit from this event made us eager to participate,” said Terri. “This is also an opportunity to showcase the work of our home’s builder and subcontractors, with whom we were most impressed. Additionally, this gives Bob and me the opportunity to meet some interesting folks in our area.”

Arts and Crafts design, a movement ade popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, emphasizes traditional craftsmanship and simple forms.

“This is the first house we’ve built together, and we chose the Arts and Crafts style because we both love its simple, rustic and casual features,” said Terri.

On the exterior, reddish-brown accent wood and rough hewn posts that contrast with cream-sage-colored siding announce that this is no ordinary design. From the street side, visitors enter through a door with stained-glass ornamentation and find themselves in a world of Arts and Crafts wonders – beautiful dark wood trim, heart pine floors, simple and stylish furniture and distinctive doors with transoms. To the right of the entry is the masculine study with custom board and batten-style oak paneling and a dramatic coffered ceiling. The room is home to Bob’s collection of auto-racing memorabilia.

“I would call this my favorite room – very relaxing, masculine and reflecting one of my sports passions,” he said.

The entrance hall leads to the main living area, the heart of the home, with space for relaxing around the stone fireplace, dining and meal preparation in a big kitchen with cherry cabinets, contrasting island, Wolf-brand range and slate backsplash.

“This main living area is a favorite part of the home because it allows everyone in the family to be together,” said Terri. “And the views of the lake are unobstructed.”

The open floor plan and the many lake-facing windows make the space feel bright even though the furniture pieces, many of which are antiques, are mainly constructed of dark wood. The couple also favors furniture from Stickley, a manufacturer whose products complement the Arts and Crafts style. Antique ceiling beams grace the main living area.

The main-floor master suite has a spa bath with a stone accent wall and remote-controlled blinds. Attached to the bedroom is a sleeping porch with a cozy bed swing.
The builder, Scott Stalker of Stonefield Homes of the Triad near Greensboro, N.C., is known for utilizing space that may have gone unused with built-in cubbies. At the Lamendola’s home, they’ve been tucked away in the computer/sewing room, mudroom and side-entrance hallway.

A stylish Arts and Crafts-style staircase leads up to two guest bedrooms, one with a playroom perfect for visiting grandchildren. The level also features a lookout man cave complete with wet bar, TV, special ventilation to filter out cigar smoke and a view of Smith Mountain.

The home’s lake level includes an exercise room with sauna and a bathroom with pebble tile shower and unusual sandstone vessel sink. This level also has a guest suite, family room with stone fireplace, full kitchen, screened porch, 1,000-bottle wine cellar with a rustic, old world-style door and a wine-tasting room.
 
“We have collected and enjoyed wine over the years, but it’s great to finally have the proper place to correctly store it. I would never build another home without some kind of wine cellar. I enjoy having that space as well as the wine tasting room,” Bob said. 

The Lamendola’s 6,500-square-foot home also includes guest quarters above the garage with a spacious bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette. All the guest space is perfect to accommodate their daughter’s family with grandchildren, who visit from North Carolina, and their son who travels to the lake from Connecticut.

BUILDING BASICS
Year Built: 2009
Square Footage: 6,500
Design Style: Arts and Crafts
Builder: Scott Stalker, Stonefield Homes of the Triad, Greensboro, N.C.
Draftsperson: Patricia McLemore, On Eagles’ Wings Design, Greensboro, N.C.
Dock Builder: Smith Construction Co., Glade Hill
Landscaping Design: Cabell Crowther, Lynchburg; Installation: Seven Oaks Landscape & Hardscape, Glade Hill
Interior Design: Melinda Bell Dickey, Alem.Dickey Designed Interiors, Greensboro, N.C.

WANT TO GO?
SML CHARITY HOME TOUR
What: Eight waterfront homes, accessible by car or boat, featuring distinctive architecture, interior design and landscaping are open for tours. Proceeds benefit eight area charities.
When: Oct. 5-6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 7 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Tickets: $20 in advance online or at local outlets (see website for a complete list); $25 on Home Tour days at the individual homes or the SML Visitor Center at Bridgewater Plaza (cash or check only)
Contact: smlcharityhometour.com, 540.297.8687
More Info: For additional coverage of the 2012 Home Tour, pick up copies of our sister publication, Laker Weekly, on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 or log on to smithmountainlake.com.