Smith Mountain Lake home tour offers unique designs

The annual Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour will feature properties with unique designs, artistic interior decorating and spectacular scenic views.

Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, the rain-or-shine tour will boast eight homes that can be visited by car or boat.

“There is something for everyone to see and enjoy while gathering ideas,” says Carol Traen, of the selection committee.

The tour will benefit charities that include Bedford Hospice House, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia, Free Clinic of Central Virginia, Free Clinic of Franklin County, Helping Hands of Franklin County, Lake Christian Ministries, Miriam’s House and Smith Mountain Lake Good Neighbors.

The tour has raised more than $3.5 million for local and regional charities since 1991.

Tickets are $25. They can be purchased at any of the homes or by visiting http://www.smlcharityhometour.com.

Read on for details about each home:

129 Catamaran Lane
Located in Moneta, this weekend retreat home features incredible views of the lake. An architect’s design raised the roof, altered room locations, bumped out exterior walls creating space and interestingly shaped rooms and added a garage with overhead storage.

75 Chickadee Circle
This Moneta bungalow has lush landscaping, perennial garden and many trees. Rearranging rooms and adding a second floor altered the original house. The living room is a glassy porch with a view of the lake.

3589 Isle of Pines Drive
Originally built in the 1970s, this Bedford County home was given a remodel in 2005 to open it up to the peace of the surrounding seven acres of park-like woods and the lake.
391 Key West Street
The Country French style new home features a large open living, dining and kitchen area with a view of Christmas Tree Island and Smith Mountain. It also has a media room, wine cellar and exercise area.

1059 North Dam Drive
This new home is informal with an open floor plan and huge kitchen. It has Australian cypress flooring, a stacked stone fireplace, a white ash ceiling, an unscreened porch with a stone fireplace, a master bedroom with see-through fireplace and a bath with multiple jet shower.

1245 Bremble Drive
Originally built in 1980, this home encompasses five wooded lots on Becky’s Creek with 300 feet of shoreline. A remodel in the past few years expanded it by five bedrooms with larger living areas.

130 Atlantic Avenue
This farmhouse-style home has a large welcoming porch for visitors. The homeowners wanted to make sure that they could enjoy the quiet cove and expansive lake views with a mountain backdrop by having an open-design main floor with high windows.

971 Compass Cove Circle
This new Compass Cove home has an interior featuring a rustic look with exposed wood on the main and upper levels, making it feel like a lodge. There is gathering space on all three levels.

- For more information, including directions to the homes, visit http://www.smlcharity
hometour.com.