As we come to the close of the Laurel’s 20th anniversary year, we’re excited to revisit the 2002 cover of internationally-renowned photographer Gil Stose.  This cover image is a classic example of the beauty, style, and essence of regional mountain living. It’s his delight and his job to capture the soul of architecture and design. 

Gil is one of those artists who has a sense of the aesthetic fused to his DNA. While he prefers to be called a craftsperson, his eye for art/design is undeniable. He simply knows when balance, texture, line, form, shape, and spatial congruity coalesce in divine harmony.

So it is with this roomful of light and shadow. He, in teamwork with the room’s interior designers, chose the ultimate viewpoint for his shot. A textural variety of wood, glass, stone, textiles, and elk antlers complements the monochromatic reddish brown color scheme with a tinge of neutralized green and soft pale patterns. Gil says the designer’s choice was, “To soften the overall look with a specialized lens filter. It gave the room a relaxed, mountain feel.”

The POV invites us, the viewers, to follow the abundance of architectural lines from almost any starting point. Let your eye track the rug lines. They move us to the back of the space, then up the vertical lines of the French doors. They sweep us left to right, then up to the ceiling beams and back down to the fireplace stonework lines and antlers, which invite a gaze toward the chandelier, then drop us back down into the room to our starting place.

One of the factors that separates winning photographs from ordinary snapshots is capturing the contrast of deep darks with stunning light. Add to that a wide variety of gradients in-between. In this photo, the dark fireplace interior and shadowy nooks balance the lit chandelier and pale-colored pastel fabrics. The combination shows off Gil’s skill at presenting a story, a feel, an essence. It’s one thing to come prepared with all the usual tools and talent to make a good photo. But when you have the heart and eye of an artist, good becomes great. This is why a commercial photographer like Gil is in constant demand. His artistic abilities move him to an exceptional level.

This photo was shot with a 4×5 camera before digitals were in everybody’s hip pockets. For Gil, and many photographers, the 4×5 was/is the pro’s choice. Prior to the final snap, he shot Polaroid tests for set-up, light, etc.

Gil says, “I have done this for 30+ years. It’s second nature. I’ve always treated the small job as seriously as the big one.” Locally he’s filled Laurel Magazine with hundreds of commercial shots for On the Verandah, Wolfgang’s, Old Edwards Inn, Blackrock, and more. He’s sold scores of architectural, real estate, commercial, and editorial photos near and far. And, while he nails every shoot for his clients, he always makes time for that one soul-satisfying shot… just for him.

Not bad for a guy who got his start in England (BBC) in movies and television, working in 60+ countries. He brought his international background and phenomenal skills to the states, settling in Highlands.

The post Revisiting After 20 Years appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

As we come to the close of the Laurel’s 20th anniversary year, we’re excited to revisit the 2002 cover of internationally-renowned photographer Gil Stose.  This cover image is a classic example of the beauty, style, and essence of regional mountain living. It’s his delight and his job to capture the soul of architecture and design. 

Gil is one of those artists who has a sense of the aesthetic fused to his DNA. While he prefers to be called a craftsperson, his eye for art/design is undeniable. He simply knows when balance, texture, line, form, shape, and spatial congruity coalesce in divine harmony.

So it is with this roomful of light and shadow. He, in teamwork with the room’s interior designers, chose the ultimate viewpoint for his shot. A textural variety of wood, glass, stone, textiles, and elk antlers complements the monochromatic reddish brown color scheme with a tinge of neutralized green and soft pale patterns. Gil says the designer’s choice was, “To soften the overall look with a specialized lens filter. It gave the room a relaxed, mountain feel.”

The POV invites us, the viewers, to follow the abundance of architectural lines from almost any starting point. Let your eye track the rug lines. They move us to the back of the space, then up the vertical lines of the French doors. They sweep us left to right, then up to the ceiling beams and back down to the fireplace stonework lines and antlers, which invite a gaze toward the chandelier, then drop us back down into the room to our starting place.

One of the factors that separates winning photographs from ordinary snapshots is capturing the contrast of deep darks with stunning light. Add to that a wide variety of gradients in-between. In this photo, the dark fireplace interior and shadowy nooks balance the lit chandelier and pale-colored pastel fabrics. The combination shows off Gil’s skill at presenting a story, a feel, an essence. It’s one thing to come prepared with all the usual tools and talent to make a good photo. But when you have the heart and eye of an artist, good becomes great. This is why a commercial photographer like Gil is in constant demand. His artistic abilities move him to an exceptional level.

This photo was shot with a 4×5 camera before digitals were in everybody’s hip pockets. For Gil, and many photographers, the 4×5 was/is the pro’s choice. Prior to the final snap, he shot Polaroid tests for set-up, light, etc.

Gil says, “I have done this for 30+ years. It’s second nature. I’ve always treated the small job as seriously as the big one.” Locally he’s filled Laurel Magazine with hundreds of commercial shots for On the Verandah, Wolfgang’s, Old Edwards Inn, Blackrock, and more. He’s sold scores of architectural, real estate, commercial, and editorial photos near and far. And, while he nails every shoot for his clients, he always makes time for that one soul-satisfying shot… just for him.

Not bad for a guy who got his start in England (BBC) in movies and television, working in 60+ countries. He brought his international background and phenomenal skills to the states, settling in Highlands.

For more information, visit Gil’s website, gilstose.com or call him at (828) 506-9376.

The post Revisiting After 20 Years appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

The year 2007 brought Kevin and Donna Bradley to the Highlands area to embark on a new beginning. Having lived in and owned businesses in Florida and Michigan, “the mountains are calling and we must go” was motivation enough to make this move. 

Black Rock Granite and Marble was born at 2543 Cashiers Road in Highlands in 2009 as Kevin decided to continue in the artistry and business of stone procurement and fabrication. The couple’s hard work ethic fostered successful growth that has evolved into Black Rock Design Build, offering a multiple-showroom campus along Route 64 connecting Cashiers and Highlands.

With the Granite Shop thriving, adding cabinetry was a natural complement. Donna applied her design background and introduced Kitchen and Bath design to the business. 

In 2011 they purchased the two-story colonial at 2251 North 4th Street to convert it into a full custom kitchen and bath showroom. The couple hired Gregg McLain to assist with the design of the promising new space. Gregg had founded and owned a Kitchen and Bath Design Studio in Bluffton, South Carolina, where he brought his special talent for showroom design and custom residential work to clients in the Hilton Head / Savannah markets.

For the next few years, the three worked on developing the showroom. The Kitchen and Bath Design Studio celebrated its grand opening in October 2014. It features kitchen displays with Miele appliances, custom fabricated lighting fixtures, beautifully-articulated, artisan-quality work by the Stone and Granite Shop and handcrafted cabinetry.

The new Design Studio was well-received and the Kitchen and Bath business was flourishing. This led to homeowners requesting additional remodeling work beyond installing new cabinetry and stone countertops. Projects evolved into reworking floor plans, moving walls, and adding footage to homes to make them more functional for the family gatherings and mountain escapes that define our resort town. People wanted more from the dated, older homes they had inherited or acquired. Gregg’s architectural background combined with Kevin’s construction experience allowed clients to reap the benefits of both design and renovation services while also taking advantage of the full range of products available through Black Rock.

By 2016 a third showroom was added to the campus at 2220 North 4th Street, directly across from the Design Studio. It features curated natural, porcelain, and ceramic tiles, as well as examples of boutique vanity cabinetry fabricated from wormy chestnut and other rustics in Black Rock’s custom shop. The ability to customize cabinetry and millwork for feature pieces, islands or vanities opens many design possibilities to make every project unique. Fabricating stone on the premises allows Black Rock to offer highly customized options for countertops, showers, fireplaces, feature walls, furniture, etc., examples of which are on display in all three showrooms.

Most recently Black Rock acquired a local metal fabrication facility, which they renamed Southern Steelworks. This addition to the family enables Black Rock to integrate metal doors, windows, and railings, custom hoods, table and island bases, fireplace screens, and decorative metal work into projects, adding to the diverse, exceptional work this firm is producing.

Today, Black Rock Design Build is positioned to partner with clients on full renovation projects that often include kitchens and one or more baths, as well as master-planning the repurposing of interior spaces and constructing additions. 

With three designers on staff and a full range of interior architectural products, Black Rock’s Design Services offer a unique one-stop shop experience. Visit the website at blackrockdb.com to see their sophisticated Mountain Contemporary look. Call Black Rock Design Build at (828) 482-4424 to schedule a consultation for your remodeling project. They hold NC General Contractor’s License #81039.

The post Beautifully Designed. Perfectly Detailed. appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

That’s why Todd Taylor’s Mountain Motor Coach is such a wonderful resource when you’re looking for a stress-free way to arrive at your destination. Begin your trip with their shuttle service from one of the many area airports. 

Whether you’re here for a wedding, special event, or weekend golf game with your friends, their professional drivers will be sure to get you to your destination safely and on-time.

Clients are chauffered in ease through one of Mountain Motor Coach’s new and impeccably-maintained vehicles, ranging in size from an Audi Q5 SUV that can comfortably seat four to a luxurious 12-passenger Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Limo.

Social distancing is important to Mountain Motor Coach because they’re dedicated to the safe transport of their clients, and drivers and maintenance crew are fanatical about meeting every safety guideline required. After all, its commitment to stress-free service wouldn’t be possible if its passengers had to worry about their health on the trip.

That deep commitment to customer service comes naturally to Taylor. Local residents first came to know him as the general manager of the Country Club of Sapphire Valley, which has earned a national reputation. He followed that with the management of Burlingame Country Club, before putting in three years at Lonesome Valley.

From there, he was recruited to manage the 4th Street Market in Highlands, which is to convenience stores what Jaguar is to passenger cars. Alongside that, he opened and manages Whiteside Realty, and is overseeing the opening of Triple Creek, a tiny cottage community, near Lake Glenville.

This is all testament to his commitment to deeply indulgent customer service and building loyal client relationships.

To learn more about Mountain Motor Coach and its concierge chauffeur airport and shuttle service, and to engage its fleet, visit mountainmotorcoach.com or call (888) 506-1907.

The post Mountain Motor Coach appeared first on Laurel Magazine.