For these avid golfers, their custom-built River Island home suits them to a “tee.”

From golf and football, art and entertaining, reading and Star Wars, Evans residents Amy and Dan Lawson have a multitude of diverse interests. They also have the perfect place to pursue their passions in their contemporary River Island home, where their décor is as eclectic as their avocations.

“I love a lot of different styles. I like a clean look and not a lot of clutter. I love wood and natural elements,” says Amy.

Variety of Textures

With its gabled metal roof as well as cedar columns and beams on the brick front porch, the exterior of the home has a traditional feel. However, the custom metal front doors with eight glass panes, which reach from top to bottom, give the first hint of what’s inside.

Featuring white walls and contrasting black trim on the windows throughout the interior, the custom-built house has a contemporary vibe. An open staircase in the foyer features horizontal railings, and large picture windows in the living room bring a spacious feel to the free-flowing floor plan.

A variety of textures adds to the appeal of the home, which features European white oak flooring throughout the house. “It’s cut so you can see the knots,” Dan says. “We didn’t stain the floor — we topped it with a clear finish.”

In the living room, the Lawsons, who moved into the house with their three children in September 2021, showcase some of their interests and creativity. For instance, a golf ball-filled vase of gladiolas sits on the coffee table, and an abstract pallet knife acrylic painting by Savannah artist Vincent Golshani rests atop white oak built-in cabinets.

“Most of our paintings are pallet knife,” says Amy.

The custom-made maple coffee table, which Amy calls “indestructible,” features rough edges and a clear-coat polyurethane finish.

A two-tiered round end table is situated by each of two cream-colored couches in the room, and the neutral palette, featuring shades of white and gray, continues throughout the house.

However, Amy also adds greenery in the living room and other spaces to give the décor a pop of color.

While the two-story ceiling includes a windmill ceiling fan, the upstairs catwalk overlooks the living room.

A white oak beam in the wide doorway matches the horizontal rows of white oak beams on the gas fireplace, where the rocks inside change colors.

Although the stucco living room fireplace is finished to resemble concrete, the custom dining room table actually is made of concrete.

An Astroturf runner stretches from end to end on the center of the table, and three large matching serving platters rest on top of it. With three chairs lining each side of the table, it comfortably seats 12 people.

The top of the side table also is made of concrete, and the surface rests on two cedar posts.

“One of the cedar columns for the front porch was split, so we had it cut to use for the table,” Amy says.

An onyx vase anchors each end of the side table, and Amy displays her collection of Native American horsehair pottery on white oak shelves on a brick wall. “I bought a piece a year for the last few years,” says Amy.

The brick wall includes 10 to 12 Augusta pavers, which originally were street pavers. Thick, 3-inch cove molding accents the room.

“All of our woodwork and trim is really quite plain,” Amy says. “I like the softness of cove molding.”

Relaxing Ambiance

One of their favorite spots in the house is the media room, where the diehard football and golf fans like to watch three sporting events at once on the trio of TVs on a gray shiplap wall. The Lawsons watch movies in the room as well.

“Dark walls make movies show up better at night,” Amy says.

The room also features a sliding barn door with glass panes, two propeller ceiling fans, two computer stations, open white oak shelving, two vegan leather couches and a wet bar with wine racks and a mini fridge.

To show their school spirit, the University of Georgia graduates hung a portrait of Uga, the Bulldawgs’ mascot, above the wet bar. Dan’s mother, Marion Ward, painted the acrylic on another wall. “I like for art to have some connection or to mean something to me,” says Amy.

The dark molding complements and contrasts with the two gray shiplap walls and the two light-colored walls.

For a breath of fresh air when they’re watching sports, the Lawsons can retreat to the covered screened-in back porch that is accessed through sliding glass doors from the media room.

“It’s a good, cozy spot,” says Amy. “We watch a lot of football out here.”

The porch includes a TV, stamped concrete flooring, a tongue-and-groove ceiling, a ceiling fan, Edison lights, wicker furniture and a wood-burning raised hearth brick fireplace with a gas starter. A Masters gnome stands on either end of the wood mantel.

By separating the porch’s white columns into pairs, the view of the woods behind the house is unobstructed.

Offering more outdoor living space, a covered deck along the back of the house includes a tongue-and-groove ceiling, recessed lighting and wrought iron railings. A farm table sports a Masters Tournament theme in the spring.

“The table didn’t fit inside the house, so we moved it outside to the deck,” says Amy.

Resting atop each plate is an embroidered napkin featuring an emblem such as a green jacket, pimento cheese sandwich, golf visor, golf bag, golf glove, golf club and ball on a tee, azalea and flag.

For the centerpiece, more green Astroturf serves as a bed for Masters golf balls and two white vases filled with yellow roses, greenery and a small gnome clad in a green cap and white Masters caddie jumpsuit.

The outdoor living spaces, which offer just the right amount of seclusion and openness, are Dan’s favorite spot to relax. “I feel like I’m in the middle of a forest,” he says.

The fragrant gardenias and tea olives add to the ambiance as well.

“When we’re on the back porch, we can’t even see the neighbors,” says Dan. “But in the winter, we can see the Savannah River from the deck.”

A door from the deck also leads to the master bedroom, which features an accent wall, a propeller ceiling fan, white onyx lamps on the bedside tables and a colorful oil pallet knife painting by Leonid Afremov.

“We have really bright art. I enjoy abstract art,” Amy says.

The adjoining master bath features a walk-in shower with 2-inch-by-4-inch porcelain tiles on the walls, porcelain tile floor, glossy quartz countertops, two vanities and a soaking tub.

Places to Congregate

As much as they enjoy quiet time, the Lawsons also like to entertain family and friends on game days and holidays. An indoor dining area, which runs parallel to the deck, offers plenty of space for guests to congregate.

They can gather around the epoxy resin river table in the dining area, which also features a coffee bar with a hammered metal sink, open white oak shelves and an instant hot water faucet for Amy’s hot tea.

The room includes another fireplace with rocks that change color and a white oak mantel, white oak built-in cabinets and plenty of floor space.

A large island with a waterfall quartz countertop, a sink and retractable outlets is the centerpiece of the adjoining kitchen. Four vegan leather stools offer seating, and the island can hold a spread of food for any occasion.

When it isn’t being used for parties, a large charcuterie board on the island serves as a base for a golf ball-shaped vase filled with greenery and yellow roses. A tray holds a stack of more embroidered Masters-themed napkins.

Other kitchen accents include a pot filler, subway tile backsplash and matte quartz countertops on the perimeter counters.

“I wanted the countertops to look like concrete, but concrete is not a good surface in a kitchen,” says Amy.

More party space is available in the basement, where the golf enthusiasts, who play at least once a week, offer their guests a variety of entertainment options. The space includes golf-themed décor, a golf simulator, pool table, game table, dartboard and weight room.

Amy and Dan, along with tennis-playing daughter Lottie, are avid readers, and built-ins, which flank an artificial turf wall, are full of books. Above the artificial turf wall, five framed golf tournament flags are lined up in a row.

The flags are from the 2020 Masters, 2020 PGA Championship, 2018 British Open, Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the 2014 Drive, Chip and Putt contest. Their oldest daughter, Taylor, won one of the qualifiers in that inaugural event, giving special meaning to the Drive, Chip and Putt flag.

The golf simulator gets a lot of use from Dan their son, Xander, and golf memorabilia includes a framed Masters flag and three Masters Tournament irons hanging on a wall.

“My father had those clubs, and he has no idea where he got them,” says Amy, who grew up playing golf with her dad.

A barn door leads to the weight room, and the top of an iron-based table in a corner was made from the same tree as the charcuterie board in the kitchen.

Dan picked out the basement rug, which features a design of Yoda heads in honor of his penchant for Star Wars. In addition, the wall sconces by the front door and on the wall along the basement stairs resemble the light sabers from the movie.

Another bar in the basement features an antique mirror picket fence backsplash that reflects light, icemaker, fridge, microwave, open white oak shelves, cabinets and wine racks.

“It’s an easy house to entertain in,” says Amy. “Everyone can find their space.”

By Sarah James