This Idea House boasts practical ideas for managing busy schedules, but it also reminds owners to slow down and enjoy the view outside. The house is the first one to be built within a new 1,200-acre golf course community called The Georgia Club, located in the small town of Statham, Georgia. While the house may be in a rural area, it is only a short drive to the eclectic delights of downtown Athens.

Architects Roger Caldwell and Calvin Cline and builders Steve Greene and Charlotte Johnson partnered to create a house where classic Southern architecture and modern amenities combine to appeal to generations of homeowners.

Welcoming Courtyard
A gate leads into a walled garden located just outside the friends' entry. Goldfish swim in a fountain in the center that's filled with aquatic plants. Perennial flowers for cutting, mixed with a variety of herbs, grow in beds and pots around the edge of the courtyard, creating a gardener's dream. Random bricks throughout the area are etched with various words such as "family," "love," and "garden." There's even room for a small table and chairs to enjoy breakfast or a morning cup of coffee outside. At the steps leading into the mudroom, several potted plants add color and dimension to this area.

Get a Custom Look for a Low Cost Here's proof that a luxe-looking console table doesn't have to cost you a fortune. With inexpensive rattan pedestals and a rectangular piece of glass, interior designers Anne-Michelle Langlois and Elizabeth Hutcheson created a spot for displaying accessories. The idea can be adapted to complement any decor.

Plantings With Personality
Landscape architect Cheryl Mihalko designed each of the house's gardens to play up the feel of the specific area. At the formal entrance, she installed classic boxwoods and then surrounded them with cream-colored lantana. Knowing golfers would have an open view of the back of the house, she created a woodland fern "glade."

Fabulous Spot To Gather
The family room's impressive furnishings include two cherry armoires flanking the fireplace, a pair of buttery yellow chairs, and a soft blue sofa that echoes the hue on the walls. Off-white silk drapery panels soften the large windows without hiding the stunning golf course view. Two-story ceilings reinforce the room's sense of openness.

Kitchen With Class
Creamy antique white on the cabinets pairs with a coffee-bean color on the island in this warm kitchen. The matte finish of the deep brown honed granite countertops perpetuates the aged appearance. In the breakfast room, plaid cushions on the banquette and complementary floral window treatments continue the nature-inspired palette of cream, blue, green, and gold found on the first floor.

Light and Bright Cabinet Combining storage and an open feel in a kitchen can seem like an impossible task. That's why we love the floating cabinet above the island. Its glass doors and sides allow light to pass through, accenting dishes and glassware. It hangs high enough that it doesn't block views. Lights underneath the unit illuminate the work surface below.

Fully Loaded Workspace
There's no doubt the laundry room is built for work, but this area offers ideas for lightening the load. Energy-efficient appliances help decrease utility bills. A large sink is available for soaking clothes, while a wooden ladder serves as a drip-dry rack.

Two entrances access the room, which is next to the kitchen. One leads to the main hallway; the other door opens into the master bedroom's walk-in closet. Dirty clothes can be tossed directly from the closet into a basket in the laundry.

Dining in Style
A round, scalloped-edge dining table and coordinating chairs in a cherry finish provide the bones for this small but grand area. The fabrics on the chair seats and window panels repeat colors found in the kitchen.

Beautiful Back Porch
In a golf course community, it is the back of the house that is most often seen by onlookers, so having an exterior room decorated with the same care as an indoor one is essential. Anne-Michelle and Elizabeth outfitted the first-floor covered porch for comfortable lounging. An iron grate acts as artwork above one of the cushioned chairs.

Laundry Room Sort With Ease The laundry room has many functions and is a great place to keep stuff organized. Four baskets with framed labels provide a simple way to divide materials for recycling.

Project Central
The office, tucked between the friends' entry and dining room, is really an organizational nook that can be adapted for multiple uses. The rust-and-khaki wallcovering adds instant panache to the small space. Because of its location, the room is convenient for paying bills, working on projects, or making important phone calls.

Peg-Board Storage Center
The office's best organizational secret lies within the two cabinets on either side of the desk. Peg-Board installed on the back of each cabinet provides endless options for hanging shelves, baskets, and hooks. Store craft materials, such as scissors and glue, in plain sight. Or hang spools of ribbon on hooks for easy access when wrapping gifts. Detailed plans and step-by-step instructions for building the Peg-Board Storage Center Project are available for $4. To order send a self-addressed, stamped (with two first-class, letter-rate stamps), business-size envelope to Peg-Board Storage Center Project, Southern Living Projects, P.O. Box 523, Birmingham, AL 35201. Please enclose a check for $4 payable to Southern Living Projects. Allow six to eight weeks for delivery.

Dazzling Display Anne-Michelle and Elizabeth put a new twist on a timeless idea with the dining room's plate arrangement. Cream-and-brown plates in various sizes and patterns form a striking focal point over the two buffets. There is no need for additional art on the room's one wall with this dramatic example of form and symmetry.

Welcoming for Guests
In the sitting room, which can function as a guestroom, an upholstered daybed draws visitors into its cozy confines. To the left of the daybed sits a writing desk with antique character.

A green theme is carried throughout the room's trim and walls and in its mix of plaid and striped fabrics. Built-ins along one wall provide additional seating and storage. The cabinets on either side of the window seat can house a television or stereo equipment. Drawers beneath offer space for guests' clothing.

Double-Duty Seating This multifunctional piece is a sofa by day and a guest bed by night. The sides of the bed are hinged to fold back, so it is easy to change the sheets. A monogrammed accent adds graphic punch to the simple upholstery fabric.

In addition, French doors lead to the covered porch. Enhanced by an outdoor fireplace, visitors can relax out here even on a wintry day.

Covered Porch Exterior Accessories A mantel above the outdoor fireplace is dressed up with antique tiles that are affixed to reclaimed window sashes. These sturdy materials stand up to the elements without sacrificing elegance.

Rest Easy
In the master bedroom, soft materials and soothing hues create a serene scheme. It's a room where the colors, furniture, and accents create a special place for sleeping or simply relaxing. At the room's center, a king-size, four-poster bed forms a classic focal point. Plaid silk bedding repeats the soft blue and silver found throughout the room. Two armchairs supply the perfect spot for reading.

Master Bath High-Style Shower The master bath's walk-in shower stands between the two vanities and is accessible through large glass doors on both sides. Earthy taupe tiles line the shower. A rectangle of stones framed by tile molding adds an extra detail to the solid taupe tiles. A high window allows in plenty of natural light.

Bath Tile Tricks
In the boy's bath upstairs, tiles in French blue, green, and ivory are laid in wide horizontal stripes. Matching painted stripes continue the design around the room's walls. A clear shower curtain guarantees a view of the fun idea.

Green penny-round mosaic tiles jazz up the shower's neutral expanse of tile in the girl's bath. Like polka dots on a dress, the green circles are a whimsical and stylish detail.

Map It Out There's no missing this creative touch in the boy's room. The wall to the right of the doorway features antique maps with pins marking various golf courses around the country. The maps continue the golf theme in the room and also add a lot of impact for little cost.

Kid-Chic Retreats
The second-floor bedrooms have timeless appeal with a golf theme in the boy's room and a soft, feminine look in the girl's room.

In the boy's room, light green on the ceiling, buff on the walls, and steely gray-blue on the trim present a masculine theme that goes beyond traditional blue. A cushion-topped toy box sits at the foot of each twin bed, adding storage as well as extra seating.

Mix-and-match fabrics in tones of green, cream, yellow, and deep pink partner well with the cherry finish of the furniture used in the girl's room. Suspended fixtures add lighting on each side of the bed. Bright paintings accent the walls, and coordinating draperies tie the look together. The room is feminine without being too cutesy.

Silver Image In the girl's bath, a silver tray adds shine to the area over the vanity. The tray's center was cut out and fitted with a mirror. Hung from a pink ribbon, the look is both girlish and glamorous.

Bands of Color In the girl's room, strips of ribbon circle the perimeter of the room in much the same way a border would. Decorative push pins, attached at intervals along the ribbons, adorn the unusual feature and hold the strips on the wall.

Mohawk Industries Plush carpeting enhances the comfort level of bedrooms. Carpeting from Mohawk Industries adds softness and a place to lounge in the girl's room at Brookfield. Choose a neutral shade that will work with a variety of color schemes for ever-changing tastes. For more information call 1-800-2-MOHAWK, or visit www.mohawkcarpet.com.

Jane Seymour St. Catherine's Court Collection Beautiful fabrics and color schemes, inspired by the actress's home in England, give any bedroom a luxurious look. Here, a guestroom features bedding and accessories from the collection. Find the St. Catherine's Court Collection at Parisian. For more information call 1-800-424-8185, or visit www.janeseymourhome.com.

Jenn-Air The spacious kitchen combines modern practicality with good-looking products. That's the goal of Jenn-Air and its many reliable appliances. Whatever the style, Jenn-Air can match products with finishes from classic white and stainless steel to the warmth of beautifully stained wood. For more information call 1-800-JENN-AIR, or visit www.jennair.com.

Broyhill Furniture, Inc. With its Charlestowne Square Collection, Broyhill re-creates the easy elegance of 19th-century antiques for a new generation of homeowners. Each piece comes in three finishes. The wood features wormholes and worn corners for the look of well-loved heirlooms. For more information call toll-free 1-877-518-9182, or visit www.broyhillfurn.com.

Georgia Lighting Find quality lighting for interiors and exteriors through Georgia Lighting, the "Masters of Light." The company offers custom chandeliers, lamps, and sconces as well as distinctive and stylish mid-priced choices. The company's products can be found illuminating the rooms throughout this Idea House. For more information call toll-free 1-866-544-4861, or visit www.georgialighting.com.

Sherwin-Williams Paint Stores Paint can add more than color to the walls. It can also contribute texture and interest, as it does in Brookfield's boy's bath. Stripes in various sizes and hues copy the tile design in the shower area to create a continuous band of color throughout the space. To find a store near you, call 1-800-474-3794, or visit www.sherwin-williams.com.

Jeld-wen Wood Windows--The Norco Premium Collection The Norco Premium Collection of wood and clad-wood windows and patio doors adds beauty to any home. As a bonus, they're energy-efficient. A broad variety of shapes and sizes ensures the perfect fit for your home. For a dealer near you, call 1-800-877-9482, or visit www.jeld-wen.com.

Kia Americans spend almost as much time in their cars as they do in their homes, and Kia believes in making every mile count. With safety features and stylish designs, there's a car for every need, from the Sedona minivan to the Amanti luxury sedan. For more information call 1-800-333-4542, or visit www.kia.com.

Allstate Protect the investment in both your home and automobiles with the help of Allstate. Insuring these important possessions will put your mind at ease, and Allstate can show you the best options. For more information call 1-800-ALL-STATE, or visit www.allstate.com.

BellSouth Answers Bundles BellSouth now allows you to combine only the services you need for a customized package that saves you money. Mix local plans and long distance with Internet and wireless plans. Choose from existing combinations or create your own Bundle. For more information visit www.bellsouth.com.

Electrolux This company offers a variety of vacuum cleaners to address the needs of Brookfield's multiple floor surfaces, from hardwoods to carpet to tile. Electrolux models feature ultra-quiet operation, ergonomic handles, and high-quality air filters. For more information call (706) 860-4110, or visit www.electrolux.com.

Kirkland's When it comes to decorating your home, Kirkland's has everything you need at a price you can afford. At our Georgia Idea House, you'll see lamps, mirrors, garden accessories, throw pillows, and more from Kirkland's. Two pedestals serve as a stylish base for a glass-topped table. To find a store near you call toll-free 1-877-208-6668, or visit www.kirklands.com.

© Copyright Southern Progress Corporation, . All rights reserved. Privacy policy   (http://www.southernliving.com)