MUKU OWNERS: Cottages Cabins

Monday, July 10, 2017

Cottages Cabins

Claire & Jamie Fraser, from Outlander

When I finally gave up my obsession with the “Twilight” books last year, I thought I was done, once and forever, with all that nonsense. Well…

Instead, I accidently tuned in to watch a new series on Starz TV called “Outlander,” which, for me, took the place of Twilight, and then some.

I talked here about “Outlander” a few months ago when I showed some of the beautiful sets and costumes from Season One.   The series is based on the first book by Diana Gabaldon; there are seven more main books plus additional books about the secondary characters Gabaldon has created. The Starz series Outlander could be on TV for 10 years, if all the books are filmed, as hinted at!

After watching the first season of Outlander on TV, I am working my way through all the books. Right now, I’m reading Book Five.

Beautiful Outlander sets: Claire Fraser in Paris

It’s interesting how much history you learn from reading. I know, I know – everyone KNOWS this. But, when you have finished high school and then college, you think you are finally done with history for good! Never again will you have to memorize dates of wars, names of Kings, or economic reasons behind important conflicts. But then, you pick up a novel and realize that your thirst for knowledge doesn’t end with the diploma…it only starts.

And so, here I am, at 60 - yikes! – with a keen interest in all things Scottish, all because of the Outlander books and Jamie Fraser, the handsome, tall, brawny, red haired Highlander from the 18th century who is the main character in the story.

Jamie & Claire at Lallybroch, his beautiful Scottish castle.

While the first Outlander book is all about Scotland, as the story unfolds, Jamie and his wife Claire move from Scotland to the United States and settle there.   Scottish Highlanders in the United States? And in North Carolina to be precise? What? Why?

An early painting of Scottish settlers in North Carolina, outside their log cabin.

Apparently, North Carolina was mostly settled by Scottish Highlanders – did you know that? I didn’t!   And today, their descendants still live there, in the mountains that reminded them so much of their homeland.

Originally in 1739, the governor of North Carolina, brought 360 Highlanders to the state with the promise of ten tax-free years. Later, after the crushing defeat at the 1745 battle at Culloden in Scotland, the proud Highlanders were on the verge of dying out by starvation and evictions. Instead, they chose to come to North Carolina in record numbers with the promise of a land grant.   Many settled along Cape Fear and Cross Creek. Evidence of their presence is still felt there today.

During the American Revolution, the Scots strangely fought for the English, their sworn enemy back home. But, they were quickly defeated in battle in 1776 and took up allegiance to the United States in 1778. The Scots spoke their native Gaelic in North Carolina and in the Presbyterian churches they established. But, after the Civil War, Gaelic declined and by the 1950s, all traces of the Scottish language in North Carolina disappeared.

Today – native Scots names in North Carolina remain: Bain, Black, Campbell, Gilchrist, McDonald, McDougald, McKay, McLean, McNeill, Morrison, Patterson, Ross and Stewart are the more popular ones.

1910. Girls in kilts from North Carolina Flora McDonald College

For the past sixty years – there has been a resurgence of the colorful Scottish culture in North Carolina. Each year, over 35,000 Scottish descendants participate in the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain.    Men in kilts and women in traditional dress gather to keep their traditions alive. Besides the Scots, many fans of the Outlander books also attend the North Carolina games.

The most famous Scottish Jacobite female, Flora MacDonald, who also immigrated to North Carolina.

Until I read the Outlander books, I had no idea that North Carolina was so Scottish. But, after reading of Jamie Fraser’s homestead that he creates at “Fraser Ridge,” I’ve been fascinated with the state’s history.   Jamie Fraser first builds a few sheds for his family to live in during the winter, but he quickly erects a beautiful, large white painted wood house that I try to imagine and wish it were real.   The author, Diana, has said that the fictional Jamie and Claire settled in the mountains, somewhere near Boone, though there are views of Roan Mt. in nearby Tennessee from the fictional Fraser Ridge.

This 1772 historic house in North Carolina, is probably what the big house at the fictional Fraser Ridge might have looked like.

And inside, this could be what Jamie & Claire’s 18th century master bedroom, with the large stone fireplace, looked like. Isn’t this so romantic?

And so, while I am reading all about the Scottish colonial history of North Carolina (no, I can’t believe it either!) – events in every day life pull me under even further.

First, I got an email from a reader with a house in North Carolina. Hers is a second house in Cashiers, a tiny village in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The town sits up high in the mountains, with incredible views of waterfalls, lakes, and the verdant forest.

Known for its cool climate, Cashiers is a popular place for vacation homes. And this reader’s house is one of those. It was custom built a few years ago, and the architects received many awards for it. What I loved about the house was it was so authentic looking – it looked like it could be several hundred years old. History and the blog were colliding – in North Carolina.

The owners live in Atlanta, and spent many years looking for the perfect place to build in the Highlands area. When they finally found the perfect spot in Cashiers, they told their architect they wanted quality over quantity. It is a small house, with just two bedrooms – measuring a mere 1,550 sq. feet. But isn’t that a perfect size for a second house, especially if you don’t want to entertain all of your lost cousins?

The house is stone and brick with metal clad windows and a slate roof. It’s a Cotswold style cottage, although I prefer to think of it as a Scottish Hunting Cottage that perhaps Jamie & Claire of Outlander might have lived in!

The architect Travis Mileti with Mountainworks Custom Home Design entered the house in the American Institute for Building Design event and it won Best In Show and Designers Choice and it’s own division – the first time an entry has won all three major awards! HERE.

So – enjoy this fabulous Scottish Hunting Cottage (or Cotswold Cottage) whichever you prefer!

Here, the front of the house, hugging the side of the mountain.

Quality over quantity. Stone walls and slate roofs.

Here is the mountain view behind the house. To the right is a covered porch with stone fireplace.

The drive is gravel.

The back side. The main floor is on the second level. The bottom level, basement, is where the guest bedroom is. On the top, third level, is the master bedroom suite. The covered porch is at the left, on the second, or main level.

Love the slate overhang and the charming window above the door.

The front door is so charming!! Because of the frequent rain storms, all windows have either stone or brick sills which slant downward to wash away the water. Hardware on doors throughout are English gate latches.

The main room has one large living and dining room. The walls on this level are stucco. Above and below levels have shiplap walls.

The stone for the mantel was found on the property. The windows above the windowseat face the front. The Dutch door opens to the covered porch. Most of the furniture and accessories are antique.

The large bank of windows look out at the mountain views. Throughout the house, antique lighting fixtures were used. Floors are a rustic #2 white oak.

The view into the kitchen.

Looking from the kitchen back into the dining room.

Shiplap walls and farm sink. The windows look out at the mountainside view.

A combination of painted and stained woods. Love the kitchen!!!

My favorite room is the powder room. Skirted vanity. Notice the adorable sink and hardware!!! Cute mirror and sconces. And I love the corner shelf with the collection of brown and white transferware. LOVE!!!!

The winding stair case has a horn chandelier and several iron sconces.

An office was carved out of the landing. Notice the corner shelf with tiny lamp on the staircase!! Throughout the house, the owners used antique oriental rugs for their richness and pops of color.

The master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling with shiplap walls. All in cream and browns, with a collection of antique brown and transferware over the headboard. Small windows add charm.

A large built-in dresser, stained dark, adds more architectural detail. Again, quality over quantity. Such a great motto for house building when you don’t want a huge space, but crave fine craftsmanship.

Available link for download