I Rock Therefore I Am. 20 Legendary Quotes from Prince
The Grisham Home Lake Keowee
1. The home has an almost lodge-like feel and appearance enhanced by several
special features both inside and out. Note the Laurel branches in the main
peaks, as well as the use of several types of woods and shingles and stone.
HOUSE ART
Keowee home captures mountains and lakes
Story by Brett McLaughlin | Photos by Jessica Nelms
Ed and Melissa (Missy) Grisham run of the season when the Hilton Head
came to Seneca for a baseball game and residents came across the home he was
ended up being fans of Doug Coghlan. building in Keowee Falls North.
While the Grishams and their sons, Ed explains.
Storm and Quade, enjoyed the 12-and- “We came for the tournament and
under baseball tournament in May 2008, rented a house on the southern part of the This hall light is one example of the
it was Coghlan who hit the biggest home lake, but we went to the Tiki Hut and saw many special features in the home.
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2. Builder Douglas Coghlan didn’t know that the Grishams would eventually buy his Lake Keowee home, but he said the
family clearly liked his use of vintage woods, river stone in the fireplace and even stained glass (in fireplace inserts)
from a century-old Easley United Methodist Church.
some of the homes on the lake and decided “I’ve never felt more at home when en- design a house that brings people and fam-
we should look around.” tering a building for the first time,” Missy ilies together.”
The Arkansas native had grown up added. “We spent the day looking at hous- He also likes to create unique out-
around clear lakes and, while he and his es but hadn’t connected with any of them. door living spaces and, in the case of the
family enjoy living in Hilton Head, being When we walked through these front Grisham home, he received plenty of help
around saltwater was just not the same. doors, we knew we were home.” from the owners. The home features a
Like so many who have settled in the Up- Coghlan described his style as pre- complete outdoor kitchen but goes a step
state, the beauty of the lakes took them. dominantly waterfront lake, but his homes further in terms of being an entertainment
Their search for a summer home be- are anything but traditional because of the area. Grisham loves big fires, so a stone fire
gan on southern Lake Keowee and worked emphasis he puts in four specific areas. pit was added in the center of a massive
its way north. Dozens of homes later, they He believes that expensive homes patio area. From there or from the stools
should have spa baths and, according to that hug the granite-topped bar, guests
were “about as far north” on the lake as one
have a clear view of the plasma television
can go when they came across a home in a Grisham, no one builds a bath better than
Cliffs Community being built by Hillcrest Coghlan. He points to the builder’s almost Grisham had installed under the cover of
Homes of Keowee. It was 85 to 90 percent eccentric attention to showerheads and to the kitchen.
finished. his use of antique, twin bed head frames as And, finally, every Hillcrest Home
Coghlan remembers the day the vanity mirror frames as two examples. will contain several examples of antique
Grishams saw the home for the first time. Coghlan also believes in gourmet lumber.
“Missy and Ed didn’t say much. Basi- kitchens that are family friendly. “I like to incorporate one-of-a-kind
cally, I think they were speechless.” “Kitchens are gathering places,” the things,” Coghlan said.
“We were speechless,” Grisham said. builder said. “That’s why you see a big Missy is convinced this particular
“It was exactly what both of us wanted.” kitchen and dining area together. I try to trademark is what sets the builder apart.
• UPSTATE LAKE LIVING
3. “Doug Coghlan is an artist and a his- The lower level bath is
another example of builder
torian. With the careful placement of each
Doug Coghlan’s speciality
and every window, he frames the beau-
— spa bathrooms. This
ty of the land and of the lake. His choice one features special
of material highlights the history of the showerheads in a tile
area, with salvaged stained glass from an shower. The vanity is an
old Methodist Church (in Easley) adorn- antique, retrofitted with
a copper sink, and the
ing the area by the front door and the fire-
mirror frame is actually an
place, and rustic salvaged beams framing
antique headboard from a
the kitchen. He uses materials that are na-
twin bed.
tive to the area as ornamental touches on
staircases and porches,” she said. and in a transom over a pocket
“It’s a luxury home with a personality door into the office off the great
and a heart of its own.” room. One also cannot miss the
While the Grishams have the luxury use of Laurel wood branches in
of routinely enjoying the unique aspects of the balcony railing or in the
their home, visitors find themselves in a eaves of the roof peaks outside.
constant state of exploration. However, other unique fea-
Some gems are easily spotted, such tures are less conspicuous. The
office features Venetian plaster,
as the stained glass insets in the fireplace
This view from the dining area, through the kitchen and into the
great room provides a good example of the various woods used
in the home, as well as the antlered chandeliers and branch-
accented insets in the upper level railing.
MAY/JUNE 2009 •
4. and the two-by-fours that run through In addition to the open great room, rooms for the boys, each with a balcony
some of the brick in the dining area are kitchen, dining area, the main level con- overlooking the lake. The lockout, which
from an old Chicago warehouse. Also tains the master suite, a guest room and can be accessed from the garage below, is
worthy of explanation are the large, Swiss a closet bath. As one might expect, every also on the upper floor.
fir beams used throughout the home. room has a lake view. Again, amenities For as uniquely as the home was
Coghlan explained that they were origi- abound, from a “signature” Coghlan bath built, the Grishams have also decorated it
nally part of massive pallets on which tex- in the master, to a hand-pounded copper
uniquely, using primarily furniture from
tile machinery was shipped to the United sink and a copper paint finish in the guest
the Mountain House in Cashiers. The
States. room bath.
pieces range from a canopied log bed in
Many of the home’s design features The main level also features a walk-
the primary guest room to a totally unique
contribute to a “lodge” appearance, par- out deck that connects the great room
oval table made of hickory and birch ve-
ticularly the use of river rock, rather than and master suite and also “Missy’s room,”
neer in the lower living area.
ledge rock, to build the fireplace that a large, screened porch with another riv-
“Doug wanted to pay homage to
stretches 25 feet to the ceiling of the great er rock fireplace, plasma TV and a view
room. Similarly, antlered chandeliers and of the Jocassee dam during the winter those who came before us when he built
wall-mounted light fixtures give one the months. the home,” Grisham said. “We’ve tried to
sense they may be in the Yukon or Mon- The lower level features an open seat- honor what he has created.”
tana rather than Upstate South Carolina. ing area with fieldstone fireplace and two “Everything about the house is
“It does look like a lodge, but it doesn’t bedrooms, including a second master that perfect for us,” Missy said. “I’ve nev-
feel that big, even at 6,500 square feet,” has an antique vanity, walk-in tile shower
er seen a house that flows so beautifully.
Grisham said. and that antique headboard-framed mir-
“The view of the lake is our artwork. The
The variety of woods throughout the ror. Grisham is proud of the laundry he
house just magnifies the beauty of what
home is seemingly endless. The floors are has built on this level, which is larger than
surrounds it. It is peaceful and unassum-
oak, with the exception of carpet in a cou- the household laundry on the main level.
ing,” she continued. “We are so grateful to
ple of lower level bedrooms and the lock- From here, one can walk out to the patio,
Doug and his building company for creat-
out unit on the second floor. The trim is outdoor kitchen or down a winding path
ing such a lovely place for us to watch our
knotty pine and many of the eight-foot to the home’s dock.
doors are knotty alder. The upper level features two, similar children laugh and grow.” ❖
Ed Grisham is most at home when
he is at the family’s home on Lake
Keowee and he is behind the
wheel of his four-wheel Kobota.
6 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING