Mountain Cape

Bakersville, NC

A warm, welcoming mountain home designed for peaceful living.

Project Overview

This Mountain Cape was built for a retiree couple from Raleigh looking for a quiet second home tucked into the North Carolina mountains. After a negative experience with a site builder during the demo of their old cabin and facing high prices elsewhere, they chose us for our quality, speed, and transparent process. They wanted a place that felt cozy and timeless, with big windows to frame the creek and woods, and two inviting porches, including a screened one for year-round enjoyment. One request was non-negotiable: a red house with Carolina Blue porch ceilings.

The Site

Located in Bakersville, NC, the property sits on the edge of a wooded, sloped mountain lot with a creek running nearby. While the location was beautiful, the land presented major site work challenges.

The soil was extremely rocky, making excavation slow and labor-intensive. Framing the footers for the foundation required careful work due to uneven terrain.

The home’s exact placement was determined by maximizing the view toward the creek while settling the structure into the natural topography of the hillside.

Design & Customization

The clients selected a Cape-style floor plan, finishing the upper-level bed and bath on-site. The layout stayed true to the original plan with only a few practical adjustments, such as small changes to the main-level bedroom sizes and bathroom footprint.

Design highlights include:

• Oversized windows overlooking the woods and creek

• Two porches, including a screened porch for outdoor living

• Classic red vinyl siding

• Signature “Carolina Blue” porch ceilings requested by the clients

The Build

Construction took approximately six months, with some delays due to weather and the remote location. Set day presented one of the biggest challenges: the narrow mountain road required a full road closure coordinated with the sheriff’s office to safely deliver and set the modules.

Access into the property was equally difficult due to a steep driveway. Materials had to be transported using machinery, and eventually the driveway was regraded to reduce the slope and improve long-term usability.

Despite these challenges, the project moved efficiently thanks to clear communication, planning, and careful logistics.

Client Experience

Throughout construction, the clients remained in Raleigh, so communication became the most important part of their experience and something they greatly appreciated. They loved being kept in the loop as the home progressed, and they consistently mentioned the responsiveness, transparency, and the quality of the work.

The finished home not only met but exceeded their expectations, especially in how quickly everything came together compared to traditional building timelines.

Challenges & Solutions

Road Closure & Narrow Access
– Solved by coordinating with the sheriff’s office to redirect traffic during set day
– Machinery was used to move materials up the steep driveway
– Driveway was regraded to improve access

Rocky Excavation
– Required extensive digging and reinforced foundation work

Existing Utilities
– Removed and replaced an old septic tank
– Reactivated the existing well

Outcome

The Mountain Cape stands out as one of our most memorable mountain builds. It represents our ability to adapt modular construction to remote, challenging terrain while delivering a home that feels warm, personal, and true to the clients’ original vision.

It’s also our first mountain project requiring significant logistical creativity, making it a standout example of what modular can achieve even in tight, rugged locations.

The homeowners love their new retreat and now enjoy peaceful days overlooking the creek from their handcrafted porches.