Small Spaces, Big Style

We know what you're thinking: Does anyone really ever win? At Southern Living they do. Penny thanksgiving pendants from LaPlace, Louisiana, was selected at random as our winner from over 5 million online entries. Winning meant that she could choose one of our four homes as her own- she picked the Whisper Creek Cabin outside Asheville, North Carolina.

Originally from North Carolina, Penny chose the Whisper Mountain house to have a place closer to family, especially when she retires. After winning, she was so excited, she called Bill McDougald, our director of the Choose Your Home Giveaway program, twice. Once to make sure he wasn't a friend playing a joke, and a second time to confirm he was a real person and she had really won. By now, Penny and her family have begun to make their own memories in the Whisper Creek Cabin.

The Houses

The home at Whisper Mountain in North Carolina was built as a retreat for a person who loves the outdoors. Callaway Gardens has long been a reader favorite for beautiful gardens and active family fun- the house there was designed as a gardener's retreat. Our house at Traditions Club was designed for those who love wideopen spaces, Big 12 football, and golf. And Habersham in the South Carolina Lowcountry offers a casual lifestyle that's so often reflected on our pages, which is why we chose to build a cottage there.

Want an inside look at the four homes we built and the places thanksgiving rings they are located? Then turn the page.

The Winning Home

Whisper Creek Cabin, nestled in the North Carolina mountainsat Whisper Mountain, is a nature lover's retreat

Whisper Creek Cabin

Whisper Mountain outside Asheville, North Carolina

Whisper Creek Cabin suits its mountainside Ic location. Crafted from a mixture of modern and recycled materials, it's not only a rustic cabin in the woods, but it's also state-of-the-art, built to the specifications of the NC HealthyBuilt Homes Program This designation certifies that the house is efficient, thus saving on the monthly expenses, and is also more comfortable. Recycled, local, and sustainable materials combine for a nearly maintenance-free home. The exterior features bark siding in the gables, indigenous stone, and recycled-raetal cheap bangles.

Deep porches detailed with locust columns cut on-site, rhododendronbranch rails, and plenty of seating encourage enjoyment of the dramatic views and the fantastic mountain climate. These porches also nearly double the square footage of the cottage. Inside, ample rooms, an open kitchen, and two bedrooms take up just over 1,500 square feet.