Chris and Mari Schaeffer stood outside their Lake Keowee home.
The construction was finished, and the Schaeffers hosted the people who’d built their place to show appreciation for all the work that had been done.
This house was more than just a place for the Schaeffer’s to spend time when they wanted to get away. It was part of their legacy. A physical representation of what they planned to hand down to their children. This home will be something that can stay in their family for years to come. Where generations will gather and make memories.
Chris stood up to share that sentiment with everyone who was at their home that night. He said he teared up talking about his family. As the Schaeffers looked around, they saw emotion on the faces of the people there from The Stillwater Group. It was clear they knew what this place meant to the Schaffers. They had known all along.
Above: As the sun sets, the lake-facing back of the home comes to life with custom landscape lighting, displaying the architecture and the warmth of wood and stone.
Above: A stylish and comfortable reading nook takes advantage of the natural light and lake breezes.
Above: The main living area is a study in how to bring contemporary design and traditional materials together to create a comfortable and inspiring space.
Finding Lake Keowee
Chris and Mari Schaeffer had spent years considering where they would buy property for their legacy home. For much of that time, Colorado was the goal.
But those plans changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Schaeffers and their kids rented a place on Lake Keowee. Their time in South Carolina’s Upstate took Chris back to his childhood when his parents took him skiing on New England’s cool, pristine lakes.
“It was just an incredible family experience,” Chris said. “It just showed the love they had for me.”
Those moments stuck with Chris. He wanted to give those same memories to his kids. So, they skied during that trip to Lake Keowee. And Chris noticed something.
“The kids had that same look I had when we were going up to the lake,” he said.
Mari noticed something, too. She saw Chris smile and relax in a way that was different from other vacations. And so a decision was made.
Left: The warm tones of the fixtures really bring this kitchen to life. An enormous marble-topped island anchors the space and is perfect spot for casual meals and entertaining.
They Had to Trust the Vision
Creating a legacy takes time. And the Schaeffer’s weren’t in a hurry to make a decision. They wanted to find just the right place.
“We weren’t in a rush,” Chris said. “We wanted to pick out everything and think about everything.”
Knowing they wanted to build a custom home, Mari and Chris also took their time to find the right builder. They continued seeing The Stillwater Group pop up in their research. So, they reached out and set up a meeting.
When the Schaeffers walked into the office, they noticed lots of folks were there eating lunch together. They asked if something special was going on that day. The reply was, “No, we do this all the time.”
That left an impression on the Schaeffers, who knew the build would take three or four years. After seeing the team and meeting with Stillwater Group CEO Brandon Eich, they were ready to move forward.
The next hurdle was finding the right lot. There was one they were considering, but it wasn’t perfect. It was sloped on both sides and was covered in trees. While the Schaeffers couldn’t envision it, Brandon could see the potential.
Mari said Brandon told them, “If you trust me, you’ll end up with something spectacular.”
So, they trusted him.
Right: The custom neon sign on the living wall says it all! When you are on “Lake Time” you want to close to the water at all times. This outdoor living area brings that sentiment to life.
A Team Effort
With the lot secured, the Schaeffers were ready to start designing. They wanted a modern mountain lake home. The Stillwater Group recommended that architects from MHK design their house.
The Schaeffer’s had several ideas for their space. They wanted it to accommodate their family as it grows. And Chris, who has a background in hospitality, wanted to incorporate innovative features that are typically seen in commercial spaces.
As the plans unfolded, the Schaeffers were pleased and ready to start construction. And any challenges were handled by MHK and the Stillwater Group together.
“They’re a perfect team,” Mari said.
There Was a Deep Level of Trust
Once ground was broken, construction started smoothly. About 30% of the way through the project, the project manager changed. The build was at a critical point. Ashton Eich, a project manager with The Stillwater Group, began working with Mari and Chris.
The Schaeffers said he got up to speed right away and had a list of the most important priorities. Throughout the build, Mari and Chris noted that if something wasn’t right, The Stillwater Group would have pointed it out and made sure to fix it.
“It was just so comforting knowing that I could trust them,” Mari said.
One example of that trust has stuck with the Schaeffer’s. When a manufacturer’s rep came to the home to program a steam shower, he noticed the detector and outflows were in the wrong place. The rep told Ashton it probably wouldn’t be a problem. It’s happened before and not caused any issues.
Instead, Ashton went straight to Chris. He told him about the issue and said The Stillwater Group would replace the entire shower to make it right.
Feels Like Family
When the Schaeffers were getting ready to move in, Brandon offered the Schaffers room in his freezer to store food they’d brought up from Florida until their freezer was delivered.
A month later, Brandon’s freezer went out. Chris returned the favor, telling Brandon to bring his goods to their home. He said he would bring it, but he wasn’t storing it.
He goes, “No, I’m gonna bring it down to you, and you’re gonna cook it, and we’re gonna eat it,” Chris said. “It was really, really cool. It wasn’t, “Hey, just store your food.” It was, “Let’s sit down and eat dinner together.”
That’s why the Schaeffer’s had everyone who had worked on their home over to celebrate and share what it meant to them. And they continue to host those folks regularly.
“You feel like you’re part of their family,” Chris said.
Below: As seen from the street, this home takes a more conservative approach, just hinting at the wonders inside.
