Even after you leave, the spirit of home can call to you for decades. Such was the case for a successful New York real estate investor who returned to the Georgia side of Lake Hartwell to create a charming vacation retreat steeped in sentiment. Looking with fresh eyes on the landscape of her childhood, she discovered a waterfront lot with sweeping views, friendly neighbors and a modest, early-1980s ranch house. But after she and her husband welcomed their son, the need for more space became undeniable.
With the decision to rebuild, the homeowner turned to a dear friend: residential designer Rodolfo Castro. She had met Castro years ago on their first day at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where both studied architecture. Though their professional paths diverged, Castro was her first call when it came time to build anew. She then brought in David Frazier, an interior designer whose childhood in Alabama and Georgia proved an added bonus. Frazier’s intimate understanding of the Southern ethos, people and culture sealed the deal. “David grew up in rural Alabama,” the homeowner recounts. “And, as a kid, he spent time here on Lake Hartwell.”