Nestled along a Black Mountain ridgeline, this rustic modern home blends the spare sensibility of Japanese design with hewn details of an old Pennsylvania farmhouse. The open floor plan offers flow between the gathering spaces which are proportioned specifically to minimize wasted space. The rooms feature large expanses of windows that frame long range mountain views and capture natural sunlight during most hours of the day.  The farmhouse style kitchen harkens back to the Owner’s childhood, but is equipped with modern amenities for an accomplished chef, including a pantry reminiscent of a country store. The cozy screened porch with large stone fireplace opens to the view to deliver the perfect spot to end the day under the stars.

My husband and I chose Amy Conner-Murphy to design our new home in the Asheville, North Carolina area from among a number of well-credentialed architects. Amy has proven herself to be an exceptionally talented architect and as our home nears completion we could not be happier. Our rapport with Amy was immediate and she quickly distinguished herself as someone with imagination, skill and flexibility. We also greatly benefited from Amy’s network of building professionals and with her help were able to quickly assemble our construction team including our builder, landscape architect and key vendors. Amy has encouraged a two-way dialogue throughout the design phase emphasizing that in this partnership our questions, ideas and uncertainties are a welcome and expected part of the process. Amy designed exterior and interior spaces that have transformed our new house into an invitingly comfortable family home; one that feels as if it has existed for years, nestled into the surrounding mountain landscape, with interior warmth and charm. Our intent as empty nesters has been to downsize by having rooms function for multiple purposes, such as guest bedrooms that also serve as home offices and a dining nook for two that can expand into the adjacent open space living room for larger gatherings. We wanted to create spaces that could easily accommodate friends and family while retaining an intimate coziness for just the two of us. With Amy’s skill and dedication we feel that we are realizing that vision. We thank Amy for making the entire process surprisingly easy and fun.

–The Homeowners