Details Make the Difference at The Lookout
At the end of a project, it’s the architectural details that come together to make a project really stand out. It’s difficult to capture those details in photography, so we’re going to dive into one of our modern residences - The Lookout - and take a closer look some small moments that make a big difference.
Year-Round Outdoor Living Spaces
What draws a lot of people to live in Western North Carolina are the beautiful mountain views at every turn. When designing a home in the mountains, creating a strong connection to the outdoors is a must. Whether it's a patio, a deck or a screened-in porch, these outdoor spaces extend the interior living spaces to the outside for year-round enjoyment. Below are six inviting outdoor living spaces.
Mountain Modern Architecture Inspired by the Past
At Samsel Architects, our custom mountain modern architecture takes great inspiration from WNC’s vernacular architecture that we translate into modern living.
Through the Years: Residential Projects 2
2020 marks thirty-five years for our firm and we have decades of past work that won’t fit on our website. This summer we are digging through our archives and looking back at the evolution of our work since opening our doors in 1985. This is the second installment of our past residential projects. You can see the first installment here. Check back soon for the next installment.
Through the Years: Residential Projects 1
2020 marks thirty-five years for our firm and we have decades of past work that won’t fit on our website. So, this summer, we are digging through our archives and looking back at the evolution of our work since opening our doors in 1985. Today we take a glimpse at some of our past residential projects. Check back soon for even more of our project archives.
Modern Cottage in Biltmore Forest
This woodland cottage, located in the Town of Biltmore Forest, near Asheville, North Carolina and the landmark Biltmore Estate, is modern in its construction while holding true to historic examples in the area. From the first glimpse of the exterior through the trees, the house appears as if it has always been there. In response to our client’s request that the house not appear dominant or outwardly showy, we rotated the home’s linear footprint to greet guests with its shortest façade, presenting the impression of a small cottage. The design of the house alludes to the countryside homes of C.F.A. Voysey,
Sunsets and Sazeracs at Black Mountain Renovation
Breathing new life into existing homes is a source of inspiration for us and our clients. We were happy to hear from our client about the joy their re-imagined spaces have given them through the Coronavirus pandemic. The value of a beautiful home is keenly evident right now. Our clients wanted to update their 1920s stone home in Black Mountain by bringing more light into the home and capturing the view of the nearby Craggy Gardens. The clients envision spending several more decades in the house and challenged us to make the home easier to navigate with open gathering spaces and
New Roots for North Asheville Residence
The Twin Oaks Residence is located in a quiet North Asheville neighborhood and is named after two towering oaks that stand at the southern end of the lawn. The trees have long been a part of the landscape and we knew we had to design the home in deference to the oaks. The home, although new in construction, speaks to the past and tells the story of the property it sits on. We wanted the house to fit the character of the surrounding area, so the exterior massing is an interpreted shingle style home, which is historically prevalent in North Asheville’s
A Modern House for Artists in Marshall
One of our newest projects is a simple, modern home located in Marshall, NC. Soon after our clients bought property in rural Madison County, they approached us to help them develop a master plan for the 12+ acres. Their vision was to create a simple home for themselves and rental cabins for artists and visitors. Our process began by studying the character of the land and developing a plan, which included a home site, outbuildings, an access road, and the future artist cabins/studios. After an initial site visit, it was clear that the house would be best located at the
Mill Spring Residence Featured in Carolina Home + Garden
The current edition of Carolina Home + Garden features our Mill Spring project on the cover! Pick up a copy of the magazine today or see the article online here. We really loved working on this project and are happy to see it in print. See more photos of this project here. More about the project This light-filled modern farmhouse in Mill Spring, North Carolina serves as a relaxing refuge for its owners. The home is tucked in the countryside on a horse farm with rolling pastures and beautiful mountain landscape. Our clients wanted a home that would be cozy for them and