photos by: MICHAEL HELLINGER PHOTOGRAPHY
A perfectly peaceful lake life does exist – with nearly no traffic, yet still only 20 minutes from Mooresville, 15 minutes from Hickory, 17 minutes from Statesville and 50 minutes from Charlotte.
Getting to know this truly magical home that delivers amazing views and soulful serenity will be transformative, and you may find yourself with all the feels of a mountain setting (think Asheville vibes). You may also wonder about the inspiration for this gem of a retreat.
Fortunately, this Catawba, NC treasure landed in just the right hands back in the summer of 2021. While looking at what they thought was their soon-to-be new home, Sandra Lyke and her husband, Rick, wandered up the hill to see what the rest of the area had to offer.
“We didn’t get too far when we came across a guy sweeping the porch at another house – also with a sale sign. He was having his first showing in an hour, so I asked if we could see it. While not at all my style, I knew when we walked in and saw the beautiful view of Lake Norman – with a small island in the center and no homes across the lake to distract from that view – that this was our lake home. We put our offer in within 15 minutes.”
That was in July, and by August, a complete remodel on the two-and-a-half-year-old home was in full swing. An interior designer for 28 years, Sandra knew what the house needed to bring it to life.
“The first thing we did was add 23 additional windows, so we could take in more of the stunning view, and capture the light from the front-facing southern exposure,” she shares. “We removed every piece of flooring, tile and carpet on all three levels, added a deck on the lower lake level the width of the entire home and added a front porch – also the width of the house,” she says.
Every light fixture was replaced, along with toilets and showers, and farmhouse trim was added to every room and window. Besides a main level carport and an additional driveway, the couple also incorporated gorgeous landscaped gardens on all four sides of the home.
“The kitchen was gutted, and new, extra tall cabinets were added along with quartzite counters and backsplash. All new appliances came in, plus the Meile plumbed coffee station, ready and waiting to whip up your favorite coffee drink with the push of a button. The 48” Italian gas range with double ovens, along with a built-in refrigerator and wine fridge make for a lovely chef’s kitchen. The heart of the home – this kitchen has a 20’ ceiling that’s faced with wood from the property,” Sandra explains.
Another exceptional feature – the lower lake level boasts its own entrance and would be a perfect in-law apartment with two bedrooms, large family room, nice size bathroom, a built-in bar and kitchenette with a huge private deck overlooking the lake.
“This home’s magical view is enhanced by the 100-year-old Catawba trestle bridge which is why we named the house Trestle View on Lake Norman,” Sandra shares. “The bridge is very charming with granite supports and a metal upper structure casting an industrial vibe from days gone by and was my total design inspiration for the home itself. The evening sunsets are the backdrop to the bridge and take your breath away.”
There’s no shortage of charm, comfort and pure contentment within these walls, making it an ideal home for those in search of a laid-back lifestyle or a getaway retreat where nature does indeed take center stage!
“Even as one flower in the garden fades, the next grouping blossoms throughout the season with continuous color,” shares Sandra. “There’s a heron nest on the water’s edge of the property with a Mr. and Mrs. Heron living there, and an eagle family in the tree above them. A little beaver family visits most days, and the trestle bridge is full of osprey nests. Then there are the wood ducks – for which the street is named.”
Located at 5888 Wood Duck Way in Catawba, NC, this amazing home is listed by Susan Dolan, senior broker with Ivester Jackson Christie’s. Reach Susan at 704.560.7201 or email [email protected] for more information.
