Oconee Magazine Home Mountain Lake Dream Home

ocated on Lake ’s northern In addition to its natural setting, additional one room, adding to the aged feel of the home. end nestled in the wooded terrain inspiration included a blend of styles from old “The dining room blends into the screened porch, hillside sits a remarkable house, the southern rural farm homes with elements of New given the use of the same type of columns in both result of an exceptional collabora- England lake front homes. “The house is very rooms,” Ken explains, “and offers a feeling that tion between homebuilder, hom- symmetrical and traditional in its styling,” says space has been recaptured from the porch and L eowners, and architect and design Ken Berry, owner of The Berry Group. “We are converted into the dining room.” team. The spectacular setting served in part as definitely traditionalists in that we prefer using The moderate to steep terrain from the house inspiration for the home as its site placement, authentic, traditional materials.” Materials used to the lake created both a challenge and an oppor- large open rooms, and use of window placement in The Berry Group’s residences include cedar, tunity for The Berry Group. The crew installed invite the outdoors in and offer exposure to views real stone, and timber framing, to name a few. boulder steps one-by-one from the lake up a curv- of the and the pristine wa- “We think you can get better performance out of ing path of 175 feet of elevation to the home. ters of Lakes Keowee and Jocassee. real materials,” Ken says. “There is a difference in The result is a natural looking path of -continu Built by The Berry Group located in Six Mile, look in real cedar, for example, versus an imita- ous stone slabs complete with a mid-way terrace , the home is owned by Jim and tion product. We strive to be as authentic with fireplace, allowing the homeowners and their Mary Rubright, and designed by Keith Summer- as possible.” guests to pause for breath-taking views of the lake our of Summerour and Associates, Architects, The antique heart pine timbers, floors, ceil- and mountains each time they make their way to based in . Winner of the prestigious Pin- ing and doors and 150-year old beams used in the the lake or to enjoy quiet moments in a peaceful nacle Award from the Home Builders Association Rubright home provide a sense of age and matu- outdoor setting. of South Carolina, the home is one of very few rity and are a standout feature of the home. The “The most unique feature is probably the recognized for its outstanding craftsmanship and heart pine columns and beams support the screen sleeping porch upstairs,” say owners Jim and Mary design and is a source of pride for each of the porch and dining room at the rear of the home, Rubright, who enjoy weekends and vacations with collaborators. designed to have the appearance of formerly being their two boys at the home. Windows that push

Timber beams and plenty of windows brighten both the dining room and the kitchen, which features Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances from Wilson Gas Service.

16 • Oconee Magazine • Business, People, Culture www.OconeeMagazine.com Written by Leigh Hartsell Miller Oconee Magazine Home Photography by Accent Photography

open complemented by a very high pine ceiling and skills of our designers enables us to be in- with exposed rafters surround the room. “We volved as a much stronger participant in the team sleep on that porch every time we use the house,” effort,” Ken adds, “and that has been a strength in Mary adds. “We use the ceiling fans to keep us working with our clients.” The process of blending cool at night.” Apparently very effectively. The different desires and opinions of the homeowners family reports that they did not have to turn on and architects and designers is rewarding to Ken, the house air-condition until late July of last year. known for his adeptness at doing so. “I can’t say The Berry Group’s primary location for resi- enough about Ken Berry and the Berry Group,” dential building is at the north end of Lake Ke- says Mary Rubright. “Ken is honest and patient, owee, working in both Oconee and Pickens coun- and had our best interest at heart. He was always ties. Ken, who holds a civil engineering degree available to talk and he would meet with me any- from , has found the area to time I asked. His employees went above and be- be a great place to live and raise his family. “The yond the call of duty to get our house completed communities on the north side of Lake Keowee and were just great to work with. They paid atten- really give us the opportunity to work on the types tion to detail and were so nice.” Ken often retains Continuous stone slabs complete with of projects that allow us to showcase our crafts- relationships with his clients long after their homes a mid-way terrace with fireplace allow manship and use materials that we may not have have been completed, occasionally blending fam- the homeowners and their guests to been able to use in other areas, such as the timber ily and personal time with those of his clients who pause for breath-taking views of the frames, real stone, and antique materials,” Ken he now calls friends. “We continue to work with lake and mountains. says. “Our focus has always been on developing a many of our clients long after the building pro- relationship with our clients and the collaborative cess has been completed,” Ken says. Owner Jim effort that requires.” Rubright’s is equally enthusiastic about the group Each of The Berry Group homes is custom collaboration: “Keith Sumerour captured perfectly designed and is truly collaboration between ho- our concept of a four season open air retreat that’s meowner, builder, architect, and interior designer. like sleeping in a tree house. Ken Berry saved us “Our skills and abilities working with the talent a fortune with one critical structural suggestion,

Showcase Oconee Magazine • 17 that didn’t noticeably change the aesthetics, but skilled working with challenging terrain,” greatly simplified the construction demands.” Ken says, his civil engineering back- The Berry Group employs eight to ten carpen- ground no doubt contributing to the suc- ters focusing on timberwork, framing, and exterior cess of meeting those challenges. He also siding and uses top quality sub contractors for me- has the rare distinction of having both a chanical work, roofing and other projects. “Our mother and father who were each home- craftsmen are a very important part of our team,” builders in the Columbia area where he says Ken. Because of the complexity of the homes, grew up. “I’ve been around construction Ken often looks across the country to find spe- all my life,” Ken says, “and I’ve enjoyed cialty suppliers and contractors to fill his clients’ returning to residential building. I enjoy unique needs: he tells of the story of an Amish the aspect of the completed project and door maker he uses on a regular basis whose work take pride in showing our craftsmanship is so spectacular that he finds the necessary means and recognition of that skill.” And rightly of placing orders, despite the challenge of commu- so. “I say it to any one who asks,” claims nicating without use of phone or computers. Jim Rubright. “I’d pick Ken ten times The Berry Group employs Ken’s flexible approach to the home build- out of ten.” approximately 10 carpenters to ing process is part of the winning formula for the customize special touches through- home builder: “if our homes are truly custom, the For more information, out the custom built homes. home may evolve during the construction process visit www.TheBerryGroupllc.com as other ideas and other thoughts come to the ta- ble. This means that there may be some changes. While it is helpful to have as many decisions made prior to construction, we also realize the project is going to be tweaked and modified throughout the process.” The average construction time for The Berry Group is twelve to eighteen months depending on the complexity of the job and site work. “We’ve shown on multiple lots that we are

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