41N
estled within the hardwood
forests, craggy cliffs and me-
andering waters of the Ten-
nessee Cumberland Plateau is a house
built from stone and timbers, marble
and metal, hard work and happiness.
Not so long ago, homeowners Greg
and Sandra Teslia could feel the ocean
breezes poolside at their sprawling,
stucco Palm Beach, Florida, home. Af-
ter relocating from Canada in 1991, the
couple spent 27 years on Florida’s Gold
Coast, where they developed a success-
ful international business. However,
even the allure of the ocean couldn’t
hold them when the Tennessee hills
began calling. The lush terrain, cou-
pled with their equine interests, en-
ticed them to put down roots at their
seven acre escape situated adjacent to
the Big South Fork National River and
Recreation Area.
“We purchased the property many
years ago,” Sandra says. “There are
horse trails in our community with di-
rect access to the Big South Fork. This
area is also great for hiking, biking,
ATV riding and hunting. Nearby, Dale
Hollow Lake is considered one of the
top lakes in the nation for boating, fi sh-ing, camping and swimming.”
The couple researched fl oor plans
on the internet, collecting, comparing
and consolidating until their ideal de-
sign began to take shape. Initially, the
Teslias had only considered a conven-
tionally built home.
“We ultimately decided to change
the center of the house to a heavy
timber frame,” Sandra says of the
7,800-square-foot hybrid built by Hon-
est Abe Log Homes in 2018.
Award-winning Honest Abe design-
er Michael Hix drafted plans for the
Teslias’ custom design, and the 40-year-41