A Belgian Farmhouse Home Perfect for Retirement

This Georgia couple was able to build their dream retirement home a few years earlier than expected. A rustic Craftsman look that incorporates a mix of materials defines the exterior of this 3,000-sq.ft. home, helping to create a unique Belgian farmhouse style.

Written by Stacy Durr Albert

Photos courtesy of Modern Rustic Homes

Sometimes the best things in life happen when you least expect them — just ask Chris and Scott Smith of Marietta, Georgia, who never imagined that a big life change would arrive in the form of a simple advertising postcard.

“We were thinking about eventually planning a retirement home, but we hadn’t even starting looking at land yet when we got a postcard announcing a foreclosure sale,” shares Chris. “We instantly fell for our valley lot with a stream in the backyard and a 360-degree view of the beautiful surrounding mountains.” Nestled in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, the two-acre lot offers unparalleled views of nature and a sense of absolute tranquility.

The couple decided to purchase the site right away, plus two more acres across the street so they could enjoy an open view of the mountains, which are part of the famous Blue Ridge. After buying the property, the Smiths decided to forge ahead early with plans for a dream home.

“I pored over magazines and websites to refine the look I wanted, and found that I was drawn to the Belgian Farmhouse style,” shares Chris. “A timber-frame structure would be the perfect backdrop for combining the rustic, traditional and sometimes modern elements that I loved." A few months later, the couple attended a log home show and found their architect: Michael Grant, from Modern Rustic Homes, a design/build firm in nearby Ellijay. “Remarkably, Michael translated our first conversation into a drawing we worked with for the rest of the design process,” says Chris.

Though the Smiths originally set out to build a weekend retreat since they still had ties to Atlanta, the criteria soon shifted. “As ideas grew and inspiration kicked in, they wanted a retreat that would also be suitable as a retirement home when the timing was right,” explains Grant. “I developed a floor plan to provide for one-level living with a guest suite upstairs, and planned the design around their requests for an open plan that would allow for entertaining and casual living.”

A Hybrid Farmhouse Style

The resulting 3,000-square-foot design incorporates varying ceiling heights and beam configurations to help define rooms (in lieu of walls), as well as sight lines that pull your eye toward different focal points all around the property.

“Visual access from inside to outside was carefully planned by having windows and doors aligned with interior door openings and hallways,” says Grant. “This arrangement captures the view of the trout stream, mountains and meadows surrounding the house.” The stunning white pine timber frame was also planned carefully. “The client wanted ‘Timber-Frame Lite,’ the look and feel of a timber-frame home, but not a true timber-frame structure,” explains Grant. “Our solution was a hybrid of conventional construction methods combined with timber-frame elements to create the look.”

Building The House

The construction process, led by general contractor Joe Dixon, was incredibly smooth, thanks in part to the site itself.

“As build sites go, this was a dream lot, with no steep grades, oversized trees or difficulty getting to the property,” shares Grant. “The property is nestled in a valley — I jokingly told the owners they had the only flat lot in North Georgia. We didn’t have the challenges of building on the side of a mountain.” Once guests walk through the front door, they are instantly wowed. “Having lived with a small dark entrance foyer in our Cape Cod-style home, I wanted to let light flood in this home and really set the stage for a ‘you’ve arrived’ experience,” explains Chris. “When you step in, the foyer area soars two stories, and you see straight through to the fireplace porch and beyond.”

The lines between indoors and out are easily blurred, especially in one of the owners’ favorite areas, the living porch. “It’s one room I can’t imagine living without,” reveals Chris. “We open the sliders for large parties, and with a roaring fire in the fireplace, it’s comfortable all year long.” In fact, the porch — and the rest of the home — is so comfortable, that it seems to attract more than just human visitors; dragonflies showed up regularly during construction, leading the homeowners to dub their home “Dragonfly Lodge.” Michael saved one of the dragonflies he found, framed it, and presented it to the Smiths when their house was complete. “Dragonflies symbolize good luck, happiness and also change that leads to a deeper understanding of the meaning of life,” shares Chris. “It turned out to be the perfect name for our home.” Just like that unexpected postcard, the dragonflies seem to be a sure sign of good fortune and blessings to come.