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Castle on the Lake Osterfelds enjoy their unique Jocassee getaway Written by Leigh Savage Photography by Kris Decker/Firewater Photography 94 athome SUMMER 2014 95
When most people think lake house, the image of a castle or monastery does not spring to mind. But that s exactly what Jeff Osterfeld envisioned when he built a vacation home at Lake Jocassee. The 5,100-square-foot home sits in a serene, secluded spot called Fisher s Knob that offers 180-degree water views. The home makes generous use of fieldstone, which Osterfeld said is low-maintenance and provides the look he was after. It s almost entirely stone, copper and big beams, which gives it that monastic look, he said. My bride calls it our Jocastle. The look always appealed to Osterfeld, who said the 12-inch stone walls, along with six-inch interior walls, create outrageously good insulation. But more than that, he loves the stone s uniqueness. I can hardly say I ve ever seen another home that looks like it, he said. Osterfeld enlisted the help of former LS3P- Neal Prince Studio architect Matt Tindall, and the resulting plan won the 2013 Design Excellence Award from Residential Design + Build Magazine. It was recognized for its porches, outdoor dining areas and terraces that connect the residents with the outdoors, as well as for how the three stories were designed to fit the steep hillside. The Osterfelds live in Cincinnati, and chose an Ohio interior designer to create an Old World look inside the home as well. Sheri said she followed her husband s lead. It was his dream, and I just followed along, she said with a laugh. The house is beautiful and the people are great, but I m more a city girl. Osterfeld, owner and CEO of Penn Station Inc., discovered Lake Jocassee when returning home to Ohio from Georgia. I cut through the mountains and ran into it, he said. I just fell in love with the area. When we wanted to build a second home, I remembered the pretty lakes there. With180-degree water views at Fisher s Knob on Lake Jocassee, the Osterfelds placed a premium on outdoor spaces, with outdoor dining and living areas scattered around the dramatic fieldstone structure. 96 athome SUMMER 2014 97
The award-winning architectural design by LS3P Neal Prince Studio has been recognized for fitting seamlessly into a steep hillside, as well as the way the porches and terraces connect the residents with the outdoors. 98 athome SUMMER 2014 99
Inside, Sheri Osterfeld worked with an Ohio designer to complement her husband s castle-like vision. Copper accents, dramatic light fixtures and textured, aged walls add Old World style while expanses of windows - including in the circular dining room - maximize views and light. SUMMER 2014 101
He bought the property in 2006, with construction complete in 2010. John Edwards, studio leader at LS3P-Neal Prince Studio, said the architect team knew they would have a chance to get creative when Osterfeld discussed the look he wanted. People coming here to retire or build second homes often abandon some of the more rigid functional tenets that they might draw from when building for normal work life, Edwards said. People think a little more outside the box. He said those are dream jobs for most architects. Those are the things we live for, he said. It lets us explore things that don t occur every day. It s a real pleasure and a challenge. Tindall s team mixed massive stones with smaller field stone elements, working to achieve a particular blend, a process that involved creating many sample walls. One notable fixture on the exterior is a belfry tower. When relaxing on an outdoor deck, visitors can look straight up at the corner turret element, which features a Buckeye Bell made in Ohio. I knew Jeff would be sold on that, Sheri said. A sign near the tower lets visitors know rules such as how many rings signal mealtime or happy hour, but I don t think we ve been following the rules the way Jeff intended, she said. The Osterfelds agree that the back porch is their favorite spot and the ideal place to eat, read or relax with a glass of wine. The view is so spectacular, Jeff said. And being at the foot of the mountains, it s often 60 to 80 degrees. It s warmer than Ohio but the heat is very tolerable. In addition to the back porch, Sheri loves the dining area with its round table and curved bank of windows. If you have to be inside, it s a nice place to be, she said. But the biggest dining area is outside, right by the grill and overlooking the lake. There are sitting areas around the fireplace, and it s a very nice place to hang out. The curved staircase is lined with fieldstone and topped with a faux- finished dome and candelabra-style lighting. While the largest dining table is in the circular indoor dining room, the most popular spot for meals is the outdoor dining area, with no decor needed beyond a few stacked-stone columns framing postcard-perfect scenery.
Cedar and copper accents the fieldstone on exterior details, lending an aged appearance that makes it seem like the home has been there for decades. Inside, the kitchen flanks the circular dining area and includes furniture-style cabinetry, softly textured walls and a view from the kitchen sink that Sheri calls one of the best in the house. A curved stairwell full of hand-cut fieldstone is functional and beautiful, and enhances the Old World feel with candles and, at the top, a dome with a candelabra-style fixture. Sheri calls the interior a work in progress, and recently picked up more pieces, including a rug and studded leather pendants that look like they belong in a castle. Osterfeld s company, which he founded 32 years ago, has 277 sub shops in 13 states. The closest locations are in Charlotte and Raleigh, though an Upstate outpost is likely in the future, he said. He heads to the lake house about every month or two, and while he plans visits as a respite from work, he often finds himself working in the middle of the night. His wife and four children, ages 20 to 28, join when they can, especially one son who recently moved to Greenville. But with one in college and the other three working, it s challenging to get everyone together. The exception: the legendary Fourth of July celebrations that have become a favorite tradition. Everyone gathers for meals, fishing, skiing and more. We have a regulation shuffleboard, and everyone plays, Jeff said. We just spend a ton of time outdoors, hiking and enjoying the lake. It s just great. ah A small stone structure houses equipment and life jackets just a short walk from the dock. With four grown children, the Osterfelds enjoy gathering friends and family for skiing, tubing, fishing, hiking and other active pursuits.