2022 Home of the Year: Custom English country manor on Lake Norman

Home of the Year is proudly presented by The Redbud Group at Keller Williams SouthPark, creating great experiences. Find your own dream home and browse Charlotte listings by neighborhood.

This year’s winner is a shining example of form meets function: it’s visually striking, and it’s clear the Lake Norman home is built around how its family really lives.

You can picture conversations around the oversized U-shaped kitchen island, lazy summer days by the pool and the joy felt sinking into a plush chair, looking out to the water or garden.

• It serves its family well with timeless style that we’ll be admiring for a long, long time.

The house: At 8,321 square feet, the custom new build has five bedrooms and six full and two half bathrooms. It features multiple living spaces, an enviable primary suite, home theater and a scullery.

• All of the guest rooms have balcony views of Lake Norman.
• There’s also extensive landscaping, including beautiful English gardens.
• Harry Schrader of Schrader Design; Scott McMillan and Kirsten Gibson of Kingswood Custom Homes; and Patrick Lewis of Patrick Lewis Interiors are the geniuses behind the magic.

Style: With lots of blue and white, warm walnut woods and rich textures, this house is traditional in the best way. And details like the exposed brick in the scullery and carefully curated antique furniture make it feel like an English country estate.

• My thought bubble: It’s right on trend with the coastal grandma craze taking over TikTok, with a giant kitchen, lush English gardens and a coastal-inspired color scheme. It could be Nancy Myers’ next movie set.

Setting the stage: The owners wanted the entrance to make a statement, Lewis told Axios. An intricate front gate welcomes you in, where you’re met with high ceilings and beautiful chandeliers imported from England.

• The stone flooring starts outside the front door and moves straight into the foyer, creating a clever transition from outdoors to indoors.

Design: To achieve the English look, Lewis used a mix of old and new furniture — from antiques sourced from Atlanta to lighting from UK-based retailer Jamb. Lewis used a lot of the owners’ existing furniture but recovered it in new colors with lots of texture.

• They splurged on a beautiful de Gournay wall covering in the bathroom for a delicious pop of luxury.

Details: There are custom details at every corner, Gibson said. The steel windows in the kitchen and hallway, custom-welded stair parts, and custom walnut paneling in the grand salon really set the house apart from your typical abode.

Kitchen love: The oversized U-shaped island was specially designed for the owners’ love of baking, Gibson said. She can stand in the center and have three working areas.

• Three blue and gold pendants hang over the island, blue and white chinoiserie pottery are displayed throughout and there’s a giant window over the sink that brings in tons of natural light.

Outdoor living: An entertainers’ dream, the exterior of this house is just as impressive as the interior. There are several outdoor spaces, including a guest carriage house and a pool and spa.

• Plus, a private beach runs across the back of the property, and it has a dock for direct lake access.
• The English gardens feature a range of beautifully manicured plants, sculptures and water features and pea gravel paths.

Photos by Michael Blevins, courtesy of Kingswood Custom Homes; styling by Eleanor Roper

See all 2022 finalists here.