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Trends • Development • City Living
What's New in Them Old Hills
Realtor Nathan Fitts says "rustic
chic" is in mixing modern amenities
such as stainless steel kitchen appli
ances and soakertubs with plenty of
wood accents.
By Kathy Dean
I t seems that more and
more people are moving
from the hustle and
bustle of city life to
settle among the beauty and
tranquility of north Georgia
and its surrounding hills.
Really, the idea of enjoying
life in the mountains is almost
as old as the hills themselves.
But there’s plenty that’s new
in the mountains, too — new
communities, new home styles
and a new awareness.
“Highlands has always been known
for its beauty and luxury,” said Bill
Gilmore, provisional broker, Highlands
Cove Realty and Atlanta Realtor with
PalmerHouse Properties. “Unfortunately,
that has kept some people away. They’d
been concerned that the high price
points might keep the area out of reach
for them. These days, Highlands is
finally becoming recognized for being
more inviting to a wider range of people,
without losing any of its reputation for
luxury.”
Gilmore shared a long list of features
that are drawing new residents to the
Highlands-Cashiers area, just over the
Georgia border in North Carolina.
There’s the redone Highlands Pool
and the Cashiers Fitness Center, both
available to everyone. Half Mile Farm,
a country inn now owned by the Old
Edwards Inn, has been completely
renovated into something unique.
44 August 2016 ida
Cashiers/Sapphire will see new
restaurants opening, some headed
by the former chef of Madison’s at
Old Edwards, a AAA Four-Diamond
Award restaurant. Speaking of food,
the Highlands Food and Wine Festival,
previously known as Highlands Culinary
Weekend, is a three-day long celebration
of regional and local cuisine that
embodies the essence of the Highlands
community in an assortment of private
venues.
This year the autumn festival runs
from Nov. 10-13, and includes a variety
of wine dinners, a sip and stroll, small
bites presentations, Sunday Gospel
Brunch, Autumn Oyster Roast and an
exclusive “Rockwood Rocks” dinner held
at the Rockwood Lodge. Brewers, wine
makers, artisans, local chefs and culinary
leaders of the Southeast will all be in
attendance.
“Everybody thinks that Highlands
is expensive, but they should know that
there’s a good selection of affordable
homes, some fully furnished and ready to move into, that offer good rental potential,”
Gilmore explained. “We’re getting the word out that our community is welcoming
and family friendly. And with the wide variety of price points in the area, a broader
range of people are becoming aware that this is the place for them.”
While homesites in the mountains are considered luxurious, with their lush
greenery and breathtaking views, that’s not the normal perception of mountain
homes. People often think of primitive log cabins and the barest of necessities. Today,
that’s far from the truth.
“The hot new trend here is modern rustic homes,” said Nathan Fitts, Nathan Fitts
& Team of REMAX Town & Country in Blue Ridge. “In the past, housing in the area
was primarily cabins for vacationers. Now, local builders are concentrating on more
modern finishes for the interiors.”
Those finishes include premier lighting as well as features for full-time living, like
pantries, masters on main and walk-in closets. Modern rustic homes tend to have a
contemporary look inside, but rustic elements on the outside, and take full advantage
of the mountain views with full-length windows.
“One area builder uses locally sourced elements throughout the homes he builds,
like old barn wood that he reclaims and uses to create chair rails in rooms,” Fitts
added. “It’s touches like these that give each home a history, makes it unique and
keeps it native.”
While there are plenty of historical sites and long-held family homes in the north
Georgia mountains, a notable new community in the Blue Ridge area is garnering a
lot of attention.
Don’t let the world “old” confuse you: Old Toccoa Farm is a new, active lifestyle
community in the Blue Ridge mountains of north Georgia. Homesites normally
range from one-half to three-quarters of an acre, and there’s a well-balanced portfolio
of home designs, each carefully positioned on the land to take advantage of long
and short range mountain views of the distant Cohutta Mountains, Rich Mountain
Wilderness and Toccoa River Valley.
Builders in the 400-plus acre master planned community now offer some smaller
footprint homes and cottages that range from 2,200 to 3,200 square feet, with even
smaller cottages set to begin very soon. Board and batten, cedar shakes, natural stone
and tin accent roofing are some of the features used to create a look and feel unlike
the typical mountain cabins seen in other communities.
According to Old Toccoa Farm Managing Partner Peter Knutzen, “People come
to see Blue Ridge and they fall in love with the area. Then they visit Old Toccoa
Farm, and they’re thrilled to find all the added values — like gatehouse security, city
water and sewer, river footage, miles of walking trails — all included for the same price
Continued WHAT’S on Page 46
Small, but functional cottages, such
as this one in Ellijay, also bring mod
ern accents like stainless and granite
indoors with generous porches to
enjoy the views outside.
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