The best cabins combine rustic furnishings and rough-hewn architecture of wood and stone complete with porches, walkways and open-air rooms to encourage outdoor living.

The owner of Camp Firewater restored this previously small cabin on Lake Lanier to resemble America’s Great Camps of old.

The homeowner, a designer, relied on a multidisciplinary team of artists, craftspeople, architects and builders to create a high level of craftsmanship fundamental to the Great Camp tradition.

The overall a is notable for its attention to detail, evident in the mountain laurel twig railings, paneling and wainscoting from an old barn in Tennessee and using the same wood on the fronts of the kitchen cabinets.

At the same time, furnishings that took three years to accumulate keep the camp’s history alive. The greatroom with its stone fireplace will capture the visitors’ attention with many collectibles. A bunkhouse style bedroom has a Adirondack style vintage lake boat hanging from the wall and each bed is outfitted with a Hudson bay wool blanket.  The outdoor sitting area with a firepit has a walkway leading to the spectacular boathouse with its beautiful view of the lake and hills.

Camp Firewater will surprise and delight visitors with its rustic style reflecting the value of natural materials and handcraftsmanship.

The Tour of Homes, presented as a fundraiser by the Green Blades Garden Club, will be held on Saturday, April 13.  Hours of the tour are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased at PJ Fashion and Expressions Florist in Landrum, Down to Earth Garden Center in Tryon, The Garden Patch and Flower Cottage in Columbus, Kathleen’s Gallery in Saluda, The Wrinkled Egg in Flat Rock and the Silver Fox in Hendersonville.

On the day of the Tour, tickets will be sold at each of the homes as well as the Park on Trade.  Parking will be available at Stonehedge; vans for transportation to the Lake Lanier homes will be available at the Tryon Antique Mall Shopping Center near the Lake Lanier entrance and parking for the Byrd house will be available at Urgent Medical Care.

Go to www.greenbladesgardenclub.org for more information on the tour and the garden club’s projects.

For more information and to purchase tickets, call June Current 828-859-2048 or email junecu@charter.net.
– article submitted by Deborah O’Donnell