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Loblolly House, named for the Loblolly pines that surround the home, is an Arts & Crafts home designed by James Erler that is inspired by the Greene and Greene "Ultimate Bungalows." Click here for tour and event information.

Home Site | Loblolly House is located on Smith Mountain Lake in south central Virginia, between Roanoke and Lynchburg. The mountainous setting has a western character, making it an ideal location for the Greene's west coast architecture.
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Exterior | The exterior of the house is wrapped in cedar shingles and siding. The "butterfly" relationship between the garage and the house creates a welcoming entrance. The woven pattern of the garage doors are inspired by the garage at the Gamble House, which many may recognize as "Doc's" house in the film "Back to the Future."
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Entry Way | The stained glass front door is also a feature of the Gamble House, as is the bench. A variation of the inglenook archway is seen over the porch, continuing the friezes seen on the inside of the house. The stained glass transforms the morning light and brings warmth into the house.
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Notice how the glowing colors of the stained glass as viewed from the inside are so different from the colors seen from the outside. Choice of the stained glass used in the door was made by a decorator who is an independent partner of Erler Design. The door was designed by James Erler and built local artisans.

Lakeside Porch | The further variation of the frieze can be seen on the porch overlooking the lake. Glass panels are separated by African mahogany mullions in a 2-1-2 pattern that is commonly found in the oriental art that inspired the Greenes. The use of glass provides for open water views while seated in the house or porches.
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Side Porch | The cloud-lift waves borrowed from the Gamble House dress up the side porch. This is a great example of a little bit of design effort and a couple extra hours of labor producing an artful expression in an otherwise uninteresting structure.

Garage Doors | The garage doors also benefit from added detail. Simply done but produces a marvelous effect.
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Brick and Stone Work | Essential to the Arts & Crafts aesthetic is the way the house integrates with the natural landscape. Here, local brick, stones and pavers become more random as they move away from the house, blending with the natural surroundings
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Hardscaping: Walls and Pavement | The shape of the walls and paving work smoothly integrate with the house. It is an exceptional introduction of things to come.
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Interior | Rich, sculpted woodwork are hallmarks of Greene and Greene. The space opens up to high ceilings and stunning views of the lake.

The stairs are borrowed from the Bolton House. They were chosen for their simple lines that do not compete with the inglenook or the stained glass front door.
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Kitchen | Modern lifestyles demand that the kitchen be connected to the formal living spaces. This means that the kitchen must be more formal than those found in period Greene and Greene homes. Simple flat panel cabinets are dressed up with a muntin pattern borrowed from the Gamble House windows. "Absolute Black" granite countertops quietly meet the demands of a modern kitchen without distracting from the simple beauty of the cabinetry.
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		"Z" or scarf joints turn unattractive butt joints into a lovely feature. There are no butt joints in the house.
		Notice the small cloud lifts in the sunrise muntin is also found in the massive inglenook archway. The cloud lift is a detail that is found throughout many Greene and Greene houses and furnishings. The inglenook cloud lifts celebrate them as a major theme of Loblolly House.

These beautiful hand carved handles, borrowed from the Bolton House entry table, add the final touch of formality to the kitchen cabinetry.
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The intersection of the great room, kitchen and dining room reveals three variations of the frieze dimensions. Like key changes in music, these shifts are uplifting and add movement to the house. It is one of the many layers of discovery that is offered by the Greene and Greene aesthetic.
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The simple lines of the dining room provides an ideal envelope for more Robinson House dining furniture reproductions to come.
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Valence design is borrowed from the Thorsen House. The finger joints and the subtle shaping of the end caps have an organic, muscular quality.
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The inglenook fills one end of the Great Room.
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One of the delights of following Greene and Greene is how different trim elements play off of one another.
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				A closer look inside the inglenook exposes layers of detail.

Through the inglenook, a hallway leads to the master bedroom and library.
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Library | The Library is the heart of the house; warm and very comfortable. The mantle is borrowed from the Thorsen House.
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Bathroom | The mirrors in the master bath are borrowed from the Blacker House, with commercial lights from Arroyo Craftsman.
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Custom Stained Glass, Lighting and Furniture | Erler Design has also designed specific art elements in Loblolly House, including Stained Glass, Light Fixtures and Furniture. An excellent example of custom millwork and stained glass is the front door.
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		The four lanterns in the Great Room are derived from lanterns found in the Prat House and James Culbertson House dining rooms. This bench, an important element on the front porch, is borrowed from the back porch of the Gamble House.

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Erler Design | (434) 953-6747 | jim@erlerdesign.com