World Class Designers and Builders
While we recommend working with our team of designers and builders, property owners can choose their own architects and builders subject to ARB guidelines and review.
Mountain Retreat Living
A Southern Living Custom Builder
Mountain Retreat Living, a division of Southern Heritage Homes, is the preferred builder for The Coves. They offer both custom and ready-to-build homes designed by noted home designer Bill Grant, professional member of the American Institute of Building Design. Southern Heritage Homes formed its reputation and commitment to premium custom home design and construction.
Southern Heritage Homes (SHH) is an intentionally small, family-owned, high-quality homebuilding business with an abiding commitment to craftsmanship in everything they do. This has allowed SHH the privilege of designing and building hundreds of one-of-a-kind primary and secondary residences throughout the Blue Ridge foothills over the past 25 years.
SHH builds homes using a controlled process that exploits engineered wall panel and modular companents wherever practical. This allows for more timely construction, facilitates workarounds on challenging sites, and minimizes weather exposure.

Nelson, Byrd, Woltz
Noted Charlottesville landscape architects Nelson, Byrd, Woltz master-planned The Coves specifically to make the experience of our 100 waterfront acres a celebration of its agricultural past, the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, and the joy of being in the woods on a clear mountain lake. By design, a walk or drive through our entrance and onto our curved, wooded roads evokes the sense of being on the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. From our ridge-top homesites and certain trail sections, one can see the broad expanse of the lake, Smith Mountain itself, Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and a 360-degree pan of the surrounding mountains. Plus every homesite offers its own unique, compelling view of the woods, water, and outdoor amenities.
Grant & Grant Design Group
Highly respected mountain home designer Bill Grant of Asheville, North Carolina’s Grant & Grant Design Group offers both packaged and custom home plans compatitble with The Coves design standards (ad described in our Pattern Book.) Bill has been appointed by our Owners Association as Chair of our Architecture Review Board (ARB) with authority to review, refine, and approve home plan submissions to insure consistent adoption fo the design principles that make The Coves such a special place. Numerous home styles are available, and creativity in shape, placement, and finishes is encouraged
Bring Your Own Architects and Designers
Potential community members are welcome to use architects and designers of their own choosing. The Coves has developed guidelines for builders that can be found here along with more details concerning the community.
Our Business Partners
The Coves community exists as a result of countless contributions large and small from our relationships with trusted partners. Their talent, determination, and dedication has served as a strong foundation and ongoing extension of our vision and mission.