A Georgia Riverfront Home Blends Rustic Elegance and Modern Comfort

It’s a setting that both homeowners dreamed of for years. “We’ve always said that living on water would be so peaceful,” says the wife. So when a for-sale listing crossed their home search that boasted a spacious five-acre lot on the banks of the Savannah River, which loops around the northeast side of Augusta, Georgia, the couple knew they had to see it. Though the existing home was a dated eyesore, the lot itself was a massive draw for the couple and their three teenage children. “Our current home was already feeling a bit small, and we were looking for our forever home,” says the wife. “The moment we saw this land and this view, we knew it was the one.”

The couple opted to raze the existing home and, in its place, erect an architectural gem on the grassy peninsula boasting water views from nearly every room in the house. Gooj Designs designed the plans for the American Vernacular–style home, while builder Kevin Hefner of Kevin Hefner Construction helped bring it to fruition. “We love the look of natural materials and stone,” says the husband, who wanted to incorporate classic Lowcountry-inspired finishes such as pecky cypress, heart pine floors, and cedar throughout. “We didn’t want it to feel rustic but, rather, create a rustic elegance that would fit the natural river setting.” The result: a welcoming riverfront estate retreat for the family that seamlessly blends with the surrounding natural environment while taking advantage of the river views.

Knowing the interiors needed to complement the architecture, the homeowners reached out to friend and designer Brittany Cason Johnston, whose eponymous design firm is also based in Augusta. “My clients saw this home and this land as a sanctuary that they would reside on forever,” explains Johnston. “The scenery is just breathtaking. You have nature all around: the river, Spanish moss draped from the oak trees, the birds and wildlife. It truly is a place of tranquility and peace.” The natural setting inspired Johnston, who worked closely with her clients pulling together a timeless aesthetic that couples the rustic elegance of nature with comfort and livability. “The land dictated how this home would look inside and out,” explains Johnston. “They wanted a traditional design, but yet they wanted a little bit more of a modern edge to it.”

Entering the home, a foyer clad in pecky cypress on the walls and ceiling pairs with herringbone heart pine floors, all of which greet and envelop guests in warmth. The kitchen, though traditional with a waterfall marble counter and wooden beams, boasts contemporary touches with brass hardware and accents in the lighting and furniture. Even intimate spaces, such as the powder room, blend traditional with modern with the pairing of a velvet drapery and Phillip Jeffries wallcovering in a rich navy blue. “We mixed traditional, organic finishes with modern touches to keep the home fresh while respecting the influence of the natural environment outside,” says Johnston. A contemporary piece of art adorns the space above the stacked stone fireplace in the living room, adding yet another modern touch to a classically designed space.

Subtle nods to nature throughout the home are reminders of the picturesque landscape beyond. A custom hand-painted silk wallcovering by Gracie in the dining room features a bird that the homeowners often see perched along the riverbank. Artwork by late artist Kat McCall features a pair of birds in a flowering tree and hangs above the primary bed. “Everything circles back to nature in some way,” says Johnston. “When you’re in the home, it feels like a breath of fresh air.”

For the homeonwers, the respite and family home they envisioned on the land is now theirs after three years of contruction. “I love waking up and having a cup of coffee on the back terrace and watching the river,” says the wife. Adds the husband, “I tell people my home is my happy place. I look forward to coming home from work every day and enjoying our space with my wife and my kids. It’s where we want to be. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”