A Lake Wylie Home with Georgian Architecture and Breezy Modern Accents

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Nestled along the shores of Lake Wylie in South Carolina, this 3,500-square-foot retreat is more than a summer getaway. It’s a layered, personal escape designed with the future in mind. With architectural plans inspired by an 18th-century Georgian estate, the home seamlessly blends historic charm with modern functionality.

Charlotte-based designer Ryann Swan Hackett of Ryann Swan Design brought the vision to life, creating a space that’s equal parts family gathering place and retirement home dreams. Take a look around!

A bright hallway with wooden floors, an open front door, a staircase, and a glass display cabinet evokes lakeside beauty, featuring vases holding purple flowers and umbrellas in this inviting South Carolina retreat. — Take a look around this updated Georgian-style estate on the shores of Lake Wylie, SC — and see how many birds you can count along the way. Image: Brie Williams

The home follows a traditional Georgian layout with clearly defined formal and private spaces. While elegant, the structure presented a few quirks, such as off-center windows, outdated closets, and a second floor that required some creative problem-solving.

Additionally, the primary bedroom was originally open to the staircase and connected to what is now the daughter’s bedroom. Ryann reconfigured the layout to suit the family, closing off openings and adding built-ins to enhance privacy and improve flow.

A neatly made bed with white linens and patterned pillows sits between two nightstands in a classic bedroom with floral wallpaper, mirrors, and French doors letting in natural light at this charming South Carolina retreat. — Reconfiguring the awkward second floor allowed Ryann to create a private primary suite that blends classic and cozy with wallpapered walls, tailored drapery, and antique-inspired mirrors. Image: Brie Williams

Unlike most rooms in the house, the dining room does not face the lake. Rather than seeing that as a limitation, Ryann turned it into a moment of magic. “We wanted it to feel like its own little world,” says Ryann.

She added an ethereal landscape mural, paired with Chelsea Textiles dining chairs and a Pinch London chandelier, bringing depth and softness to a room designed for conversation and connection.

“The client had a clear vision for this home,” says Ryann. “This is their summer home, and it’s going to be their future retirement home, so she wanted it to be a lake house but also a four-season home that makes sense for hosting Thanksgiving.”

Elegant dining room with round table, blue upholstered chairs, and floral centerpiece captures lakeside beauty, while a large landscape mural and sideboard with lamps evoke the charm of a South Carolina retreat. — The formal dining room doesn’t face the lake, so Ryann leaned into a romantic mural and golden crane accessories to create a sense of place. Image: Brie Williams

A softly lit living room with a light gray sofa, neutral pillows, framed wall art, a coffee table with books and flowers, and French doors with patterned curtains captures the lakeside beauty of a South Carolina retreat. — Layered art, tailored window treatments, and neutral textures reflect Ryann’s careful blend of elegance and ease throughout the home. Image: Brie Williams

The original kitchen included five competing wood tones, rooster tile, and mismatched cabinetry. Ryann and her team streamlined the space with a creamy palette, handmade Zellige tile, and reclaimed beams that offer warmth and texture.

“We even added framed art on the far wall,” Ryann says. “It’s not something you see in most kitchens, but it adds soul.”

A kitchen with wooden cabinets, a farmhouse sink, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, open shelves, and large windows letting in natural light captures the lakeside beauty of a South Carolina retreat. — The updated kitchen is now an effortless balance of “rustic” and “refined.” Image: Brie Williams

A gold-framed landscape painting hangs above a marble countertop with a potted plant, a loaf of bread, leafy greens in a bowl, and peaches on a wooden sideboard. — A pastoral oil painting adds a classic moment in the kitchen — a space where art unexpectedly meets everyday life. Image: Brie Williams

The butler’s pantry features Railings paint by Farrow & Ball and offers a nod to historic service kitchens, but reimagined with a fresh, modern twist.

A butler's pantry with a marble backsplash displays liquor bottles, glassware, a cocktail shaker, and a basket of lemons and limes beneath dark glass-front cabinets in this charming South Carolina retreat. — This moody butler’s pantry features a mix of vintage and modern touches. Image: Brie Williams

With frequent guests and no spare space for home offices, flexibility is key. A former coat closet became a hidden wine room, complete with grasscloth wallpaper, an antique mirror backsplash, and built-in wine coolers.

A home bar with wine glasses, decanter, bottles, red flowers in a gold vase, decorative tray, book, and mirrored shelves under a wall sconce with gold accents. — Once a coat closet, this wine room now stuns with beautiful functionality, proving that no corner was overlooked. Image: Brie Williams

The son’s room now includes a board game and homework nook on one side and a tucked-away video game lounge on the other.

Children’s playroom with patterned wallpaper, a round white table, two plaid ottomans, board games, wooden blocks, and small shelves displaying toys and a model sailboat. — This awkward niche was transformed into a whimsical board game and homework nook. Image: Brie Williams

Meanwhile, vintage secretaries in the living and family rooms provide beautiful, functional workspaces for both parents. “These pieces are gorgeous on their own, but they’re also completely practical,” says Ryann.

A traditional wooden secretary desk with an open writing surface and shelves stands beside a window with patterned curtains. — With no space for a formal office, this vintage secretary in the living room creates a beautiful and functional workspace, one of two in the home. Image: Brie Williams

Bathroom with a white pedestal sink, oval gold-framed mirror, floral wallpaper featuring birds, a window with a woven shade, and a vase of white flowers—reflecting classic Georgian architecture near Lake Wylie. — This bathroom featuring bird-patterned wallpaper makes a fun surprise for guests. Image: Brie Williams

Although the home includes only three official bedrooms, it is built to host. The bunk room features two sets of built-in twin beds and a king-size bed, offering space for visiting families or slumber parties.

“The thought of adding both the bunks and the king-sized bed was that if a family comes to stay, they have room to spread out,” says Ryann. “And if the kids have friends over, it could be a sleepover room.”

A cozy South Carolina retreat, this bedroom features two sets of wooden bunk beds, plaid bedding, a striped rug, a wicker basket holding hockey sticks, and a window with a green valance overlooking lakeside beauty. — This bunk room was designed to maximize sleeping space for guests, with plenty of fun touches — like vintage fishing rods. Image: Brie Williams

A bedroom with a bed, patterned bedding, wall-mounted bird taxidermy, framed art, a window with a green shade overlooking Lake Wylie, a wicker trunk, and a black pendant light. — The king bed that faces the bunks is flanked by stunning wildlife accents. Image: Brie Williams

For a lived-in, Old World aesthetic, Ryann and her clients collected antique pieces from Round Top, Brimfield, and Paris. One of Ryann’s favorite finds is a mirror in the daughter’s room, carved with tiny birds and florals.

A cozy bedroom in a South Carolina retreat with a floral bedspread, a desk with books and a lamp, shelves with baskets and decor, and a plush bunny on a chair—perfect for soaking in lakeside beauty and historic charm. — Delicate and feminine, the daughter’s bedroom includes a whimsical mirror Ryann sourced. Image: Brie Williams

Still, her favorite space may be the living room.

“When you walk in, the ceilings are massively tall, and the French doors open to the lake,” she says. “It feels like something out of Gone with the Wind, romantic and grand but still relaxed.”

A bright living room with two sofas, armchairs, a fireplace, and large windows captures lakeside beauty. Wall art, books, lamps, and flowers decorate the space in neutral tones at this South Carolina retreat. — The formal living room features soaring ceilings, traditional millwork, and lake views. French doors open to a terrace, creating a grand yet livable feeling. Image: Brie Williams

Two outdoor spaces extend the home’s livability. Upstairs, the primary suite opens to a private balcony with a porch swing, lounge chairs, and a dedicated coffee bar. “That little moment is everything,” says Ryann. “It’s their morning ritual, a space just for them.”

A covered porch with a wooden swing sofa, blue and white floral armchairs, small white side tables, and decorative pillows creates a charming South Carolina retreat overlooking a lush green outdoor landscape. — This private balcony off the primary suite is designed for slow mornings, with a porch swing, soft pastels, and layered seating. Image: Brie Williams

A wooden sideboard with two white lamps, a coffee machine, blue hydrangeas in a vase, and a round mirror against a green wall; evoking lakeside beauty at a South Carolina retreat. A floral armchair and hat are in the foreground. — A petite coffee bar outside the primary suite offers convenience with charm and serves as a favorite morning ritual spot for the homeowners. Image: Brie Williams

Downstairs, the covered porch is the perfect outdoor lounging spot. It opens out to a bluestone patio that becomes the center of summer entertaining. Rather than replacing the uneven stone, Ryann kept it and added formal furniture to elevate the rustic surface. Large umbrellas provide shade while a long dining table and a fire pit on the lawn complete the scene.

A white outdoor dining table with wicker chairs sits under a large umbrella, surrounded by greenery and trees on a stone patio—perfect for enjoying lakeside beauty at this South Carolina retreat. — The bluestone patio serves as a casual but elegant al fresco dining space. Image: Brie Williams

Four cushioned wooden chairs and woven poufs are arranged around a stone fire pit on a grassy lawn, creating the perfect spot to soak in lakeside beauty at this inviting South Carolina retreat, with trees framing the tranquil scene. — Nestled into the expansive lawn, this fire pit zone invites casual evening gatherings. Image: Brie Williams

Throughout the home, Ryann blended historic references with practical design choices that reflect the family’s lifestyle.

For Ryann and her clients, designing this home was not about replicating the past but about nodding to it and ensuring the space feels real, romantic, and lived in. From layout puzzles and secret nooks to antique treasures and lakeside views, this Lake Wylie retreat proves that historic charm and modern living can work beautifully together.

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A Reimagined 18th-Century Estate on Lake Wylie

Brittany Shepard

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