Chip Wade's Modern Mountain Home Is Built to Last

Chip Wade’s house, high in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, is a modern marvel: It likely won’t require repairs, or even much in the way of regular maintenance. “Most homes are designed to last about 100 years. This one was designed to last 500,” Chip says. He built the 4,700-square-foot structure using high-tech, ultra-durable materials, including printed steel that looks like wood. Because the property is so remote (it’s surrounded by national forest), Chip and his dad tackled most of the work themselves. “This was the hardest project I’ve ever done,” Chip says, but now he loves spending weekends here with wife Pauli and kids, Mac, 15; Mara, 12; and JT, 10. “The house brings together everything that I’m passionate about — design, architecture and engineering.”

The surround on this 17-foot-tall fireplace is made from pre-colored fiber cement panels called Equitone, the same material used on the exterior of the house. Chip crafted the moose bust from shed antlers, foam and a Pendleton blanket!

Chip wanted something more durable than wallpaper in this heavily trafficked living room, so he installed laminate panels printed with the area’s topography. Warmboard, a type of ultra-efficient radiant heating, keeps the utility bills low. The planks are luxury vinyl from Parterre.

What looks like mahogany in the kitchen is actually PVC printed with a wood grain. “We never worry about it getting wet,” says Chip. “People often ‘decorate’ their kitchen walls with cabinets they don’t need, which is like the most expensive thing you can do!” says Chip. He kept all the storage under the counter for a more open look.

The family can switch out the art in their media room as often as they want: It’s propped on steel shelves — no nail holes! "The colors had to jibe with the landscape," says Chip, "so I used lots of blues and greens."

Floating nightstands maximize space in the main suite. Chip painted the wood bed black, from Barclay Butera, to match.

A Moen Flo system lets Chip monitor water use. He can automatically turn off the Kohler fixtures in case of a leak. "We can control everything in this house to an excessive degree. That means less waste," he says.

The exterior cladding system keeps moisture away from the exterior wall and helps air circulate, so the house stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Chip skipped grass in favor of a lawn from European Turf Company. “It stays perfect without ever having to do anything,” he says.

Chip cleared a small fraction of the 10-acre property, then raised up the patio using Belgard pavers to make the most of the views.