Cherokee Country Club

Cherokee Country Club is located near the Chattahoochee River in Sandy Springs just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. The country club is renowned for its commitment to the highest standards in dining and member services, which has brought the property an extraordinary number of honors and awards throughout the years. Cherokee Country Club renovated its dining area and expanded with a substantial addition to its covered outdoor dining providing it with a more transitional look. The property partnered with Harris Interiors (HINT) to complete the interior design.

Country club design can be tricky. It is important to not only perfectly match the personality of the property, but also realize these facilities usually cater to a broad age range, so finding furniture that appeals to a wide group both aesthetically and physically can be a challenge. “Our goal was to provide something beautiful but also something they could take care of—classic, comfortable, and approachable, and also maintenance free,” said Kelley Harris, President and Principal Designer of Harris Interiors (HINT).

To help ensure the perfect fit to the country club’s broad age range, HINT worked with Summer Classics to provide the client with sample chairs to try out ensuring they would fit all body types and demographics. Cherokee Country Club preferred teak and the result was a chair well-suited for all ages—sturdy but lightweight and with seating that was not too deep and featured comfortable cushion where needed most. Harris and his team chose chairs from the Croquet Teak collection. Sturdy, timeless and built for year-round living, the Croquet Teak collection has a handsome, classic look with hand-carved detailing. Featuring sculpted arms and curved back legs, this outdoor teak collection is made from the highest quality marine grade slow-growth teak, mortise and tenon construction. HINT also chose the exclusive oyster teak finish, which is designed to mimic the silvery grey patina teak develops as it ages over time. This finish also
allows for much less maintenance.

For tables, HINT chose Bella Vita Superstone table tops in custom sizes to accommodate the club’s request. This solid surface, faux concrete composite material is both UV and stain resistant, which makes for an ideal dining table for public spaces such as this. In the fire pit area, Harris Interiors used Kennebunkport Adirondack chairs, which is an updated design of a circa 1999 Summer Classics favorite. Originally made in pine wood, the update features durable, wrought aluminum construction for long-lasting enjoyment. A horizontal-slatted back and streamlined frame, brings a fresh look to the traditional Adirondack.

“I think Kelley’s use of the Croquet and Kennebunkport created the perfect blend of a timeless yet updated look for the club,” said Meg Wilson, Project Lead for Summer Classics.

“For us, working with Summer Classics is a no brainer,” stated Harris. “They are commercially approved, have a great warranty program and a team that hits deadlines and always knows the answers. Their products have a quality look that doesn’t scream outdoor furniture. I’ve been using them for my entire 17-year career and they’ve become a household name for us. In addition, we have recently branched out to senior living projects and using Summer Classics for that sector has been seamless. Our rep Meg Wilson has really coached us on what works.”

The Cherokee Country Club project won a Bronze Award from the Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers in the “Hospitality and Country Club” category. On premise, the furniture has been very well received and Cherokee Country Club has already ordered more chairs and tables. “The timing on this project worked out well for Cherokee Country Club and its members with the outdoor dining expansion taking place right before the pandemic,” stated Harris. “The extra space outside has allowed patrons to continue enjoying dining under COVID restrictions.”

“Our in-house designers strive to create pieces that combine traditional craftsmanship with modern concepts to set a standard of unsurpassed quality and elegance,” said Wilson. “We believe this goal was accomplished with the teamwork of HINT and Summer Classics for this renovation project.”