Jack Affeldt, an economist, once worked in solar energy—and so where other homeowners are still getting their feet wet exploring energy-reduction methods, this couple already knows what works best: a conditioned attic, plentiful skylights, cutting-edge insulation and water-source heat pumps, among other green features.

"This is the third house they’ve built," says Griffin. "They’re well-seasoned, well-informed. They definitely know what they want." Still, they’re relatively new to the Asheville area, and Kathy Affeldt expresses gratitude for the homey perks of their retirement locale. "There’s a great sense of community here," she says. Their last house was in coastal Hilton Head, S.C., "A gorgeous place—but it’s a resort," she points out. The mountains reminded Kathy and Jack of their respective Northeast and New England roots. "There are a lot of trees, a mix of modest and big homes, all age groups. Not every house is the same. And we just fell in love with Biltmore Forest."

Such European stylings as a prominent porte-cochere ensure that the house will reflect the stateliness of Biltmore Forest’s original structures. "It will sit above the road, and in order to keep their entrance gracious, we pulled it around to the end of the house, which is somewhat unusual," explains Griffin. The site sits on a corner lot, and, he adds, "we didn’t want to give up the ideal space on the opposite end for outdoor living"—including side and back patios.

"We wanted the house to fit into the Biltmore Forest aesthetic," Kathy says. Inside, however, it’s all Affeldt, designed to accommodate the couple’s love of entertaining. They frequently host two sides of a large, extended family. And thus there will be five bedrooms, an exercise room and a formal dining room that can sit at least 20 on Thanksgiving. As for the kitchen, Griffin describes it as close to commercial level, a "true chef’s kitchen" with a prep sink, multiple freezers, and marked sections for clean and soiled cookware.

Kathy raves about the induction cooktop: "It’s used a lot in Europe," she says. "It’s much more responsive than a gas stove, and much cooler." A separate, ventilated niche will house a barbecue pit for Jack’s creations. Nearby will be a breakfast room and the Carolina Room, a many-windowed solarium that means year-round scenic noshing.

Despite such innovations, however, the expansive culinary area doesn’t sport the look-at-me trendiness that has, in recent years, trickled down from haute bistros to fashionable homes. The kitchen will be its own room, able to be closed off from the rest of the dining space when Kathy wants privacy. "She is serious about what she does. She is not a performance cook," says Griffin, who was the fifth architect the couple interviewed when planning their home.

"I would still be cooking when my guests arrived," he notes with a laugh. "But her entertaining style is different. She would have everything all ready by the time everyone got there."

And yet a series of sliding doors can transform the rooms into a full party wing when it’s time to commingle. In other words, it’s an open plan only when it needs to be.

Another super-personal touch is the golf-simulation room, a high-tech 3-D marvel where Jack can hone his game untroubled by pesky weather or hard-pan lies. "Some people put in home theaters," says Kathy. "That’s not us. This is more to the point for the way we live."

Contact Robert Griffin at Griffin Architects at  828-274-5979  828-274-5979 or visit their website at www.griffinarchitectspa.com.