A family getaway in Sautee Nacoochee Valley

Home and Garden

A family getaway in Sautee Nacoochee Valley

Pink publisher Cynthia Good and Bright House CEO Joey Reiman purchased 215 acres of pristine woodland in Sautee Nacoochee Valley for a romantic weekend retreat in 1992. They created a warm retreat for their family -- perfect for getting away from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta. See photos.

BY JULIE HAIRSTON: Pink publisher Cynthia Good and Bright House CEO Joey Reiman were practically newlyweds in 1992 when they purchased 215 acres of pristine woodland in Sautee Nacoochee Valley for a romantic weekend retreat.

The property includes miles of hiking trails, a stream with a waterfall and breathtaking views of nearby Mount Yonah. "When we first bought it, we had a real Cherokee Chief come here and bless it," Reiman said. As soon as the blessing was completed, as many as a dozen hawks rose from the treetops to soar over the landscape in a dazzling display of wild beauty.

The couple hired Atlanta architect Norman Askins to design a romantic, Craftsman-inspired cottage where they could relax with family and friends. Using mountain artisans, native and salvaged materials and personal objects like these pottery shards gleaned from beaches around the Italian island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples, the couple fashioned a casual refuge. "We had way too much fun building it," Good said.

The dining room has been the scene of many extended-family Thanksgiving celebrations, in addition to family meals for Good, Reiman and their two teenage sons. The antique chandelier uses a rope-and-pulley system that lowers the candles for lighting and raises back up to spread light over the repast. The walls feature exposed timber and period mortar. Wide-plank oak floors salvaged from a South Carolina schoolhouse glow with vintage patina. The dining table was created from an antique door.

Those holiday gatherings demand a kitchen up to the task. The oven can cook a 28-pound turkey. Cabinets are faced with 200-year-old barn wood. No window treatments are necessary. The nearest neighbor is miles away. "You can hike all day and not even get to the end of the property," Good said. Diners can spill outside next to the stone fireplace with its three-story chimney. The home's authenticity extends to the wine cellar, which is nestled into the mountainside for natural cooling.

A touch of whimsy graces the downstairs bath where an aluminum bucket serves as a sink. The shower is lined in Tennessee blue stone. Exposed brass fixtures extend the vintage motif. The couple is vigilant about protecting the home's role as an antidote to the stress of the workaday world. The haven has a central sound system and video capabilities upstairs, but no TV or Web capacity. "It's really peaceful and you feel like you're a million miles away," Good said.

Nature's grace infuses the mountain retreat with a sense of tranquility inside and out. A simple bouquet of tree branches creates a lacy pattern from a vase atop an antique bureau in the living room. The plaster wall created with period techniques provides a consistent backdrop. "Because of this place, our sons don't have 'nature deficit disorder,'" Reiman said.

Lots of comfortable seating creates an inviting upstairs gathering spot amid the second-floor bedrooms. The fireplace, which uses the same chimney as the downstairs living room fireplace, sends its smoke through stacked stone placed by mountain artisans using time-honored methods. On the landing outside, an imposing dinner bell salvaged from a Belgian schoolhouse can call nature lovers in from the trails at mealtime.

Exposed beams soaring overhead support the peaked 32-foot ceiling. The beams create their geometric patterns beneath a tin roof that makes any kind of weather a treat. "When it rains, it's just the best," Good said. Though the couple feels miles away from civilization, they can return to the bustle of Atlanta in 90 minutes, if they choose.

Reiman and Good found these unique light fixtures at a store in New York. Illuminating the upstairs great room, they are among a number of vintage or unusual lamps and sconces throughout the house.

A series of antique lanterns wired for modern use hang next to the bed in the master suite. The bottom fixture casts a moon-and-stars geometric pattern on the paneled wall behind it.

This leaf lamp from Anthropologie lights the guest bath.

Crystal prisms on light fixtures in the master bath add a dash of sparkle amid the home's less ornate decor. With five bedrooms and four baths, the three-story home has plenty of room for family and guests.

The cozy master suite has double doors that open to a private balcony. When weather permits, the couple opens the doors when they retire so they can doze off to the soothing sound of the nearby stream. The ladder leads to an overhead loft, where the Reiman boys loved to play when they were small.

The clawfoot tub and wood wainscot maintain the home's vintage motif. The paned Craftsman picture window keeps nature close at hand even during a long, relaxing soak after a day of hiking.

Bluebirds of happiness soar over the vanity in the master bath. Tiny crystals on the lamp echo the sparkle of another light nearby.

This comfortable guest room gets its charm from antique furnishings and a chicken painting purchased from a local folk artist. Good and Reiman allowed the floors to radiate their vintage glow by using throw rugs rather than covering more square footage with area rugs.

An antique wooden bench holds towels in the guest room, ready for company at a moment's notice.

Brass pulls accent the distressed antique finish of a chest in one of the guest rooms.

The delicate embroidered flower on a decorative pillow in the guest room echoes the natural motif and vintage style that inform every aspect of the house.

Kids invite friends for a sleepover? No problem. Bunk beds on the third floor provide plenty of room. Antique portholes next to the bunks promote a sense of adventure. The kid-sized portal to the right leads to a tucked-away play space. Now that their sons are teenagers with busy schedules, the Reiman family isn't able to spend as much time in their weekend home as they once did. So, Good and Reiman have put their getaway on the market.

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BY JULIE HAIRSTON: Pink publisher Cynthia Good and Bright House CEO Joey Reiman were practically newlyweds in 1992 when they purchased 215 acres of pristine woodland in Sautee Nacoochee Valley for a romantic weekend retreat.

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