Testimonials

Whiteside Cabin Testimonials

Tom

Just wanted to tell you what a great trip we had to Highlands. The Whiteside cabin is more like a mini resort. The set up was perfect for 3 couples and the "wow" decorating was more than pictures could show. The weather was perfect! We stayed in two nights and enjoyed the great view on the deck while we grilled, then moved inside later by the fireplace. We all want to go back.

Thanks again,

Cay Akin

Somerset, Ky.

9 -'09

---------------------------------------------------

Hello Tom,

We am sitting in the living room of Whiteside Cabin on Cowee Ridge and

lovin' it so much that we want to book the three nights that you have

open the last week in October!

The dates open on the availability calendar are October 26, 27 and

28th. May we book those with you?

If so, you may book them to the same credit card that we used for this

visit.

Glenda

glenda nagrodzki

8 - '09

---------------------------------------------------

Tom,

Just a note to thank you for allowing us to spend some time in your home. As I told you, we had never experienced the Highlands. We had a GREAT time! Sue suggested it was her best birthday ever! I had a rather good time myself. We explored the waterfalls one day and went down to Dillard for their annual bluegrass festival and Bar-B-Q cook-off on Saturday. The rest of the time was spent on the decks (or on the porch during showers) basking in the beauty of the sights and sounds. Spectacular!

We made every effort to leave the house as good or better than we found it. We'd love to visit again (about the same time in as much as the was temp was 63 when we left and in the 80's when we got home).

Once again, thanks.

Wilburn Albright

8 - '09

-----------------------------------------------------

Tom,

Everything looks great! What we expected and more. Thanks for ordering the perfect weather for us. It was 95 at my house yesterday at this time. The temperature on my truck indicated 70 when we arived with the sun out.

Chris Simoneaux

8 -2- 2009

-----------------------------------------------------

Tom,

Thanks so very much for the canoe directions. You are always so on top of things. It is such a pleasure to be communicating with someone who gives their renters such a high level of confidence!!

Have a great day!

Barbara Resnick

6- '09

------------------------------------------------------

Dear Tom,

We LOVED the cabin! It is very beautiful inside and out. We are looking forward to our second visit next week, although I am not sure the weather will cooperate. We did all the waterfalls in Highlands and Cashiers and vicinity. We shopped a bit, relaxed a bit, and ate quite a bit too!

Hopefully, the rainy weather will pass us by next week and we'll be able to get to that canoe!

Thanks again,

Michelle Wyman

6 - '09

---------------------------------------------------

Tom,

We came home a day early today from your mtn. home, so if the cleaners want to start earlier tomorrow, they can! Your house was wonderful, but we weren't so lucky with the weather. Most of the week, we couldn't even see Whiteside Mtn. from the deck, it was so cloudy and foggy! But, we enjoyed the hot tub, the poker games, movies, and monopoly! :-) Hope you had a nice wkd. in CA, and again, your home is just great.

Thanks,

Lisa Enochs :-)

5 - '09

-----------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom -

This is Marilyn Anderson, your current guest at Whiteside Cabin. Just want you to know that we love the place and are having a great time. We went to Cypress last night and had a wonderful meal. This afternoon we stopped by Dusty's and I absolutely loved the place. There were so many things to look at and buy!! Yesterday it rained and was pretty darn chilly,but I made it to all the stores and shopped all day!! Let me know about the cabin availability and thanks for having such a nice place.

Marilyn Anderson

5 - '09

--------------------------------------------------

Tom,

Thank you so much for the use of your great cabin last weekend. It was a wonderful trip.

Suszanne Williams.

4 - '09

------------------------------------------------------

Hey Tom,

Even with the hurricane force rains we had a really nice time staying in. We loved the cabin. It is just perfect. We hope we can come back again, stay at your “cabin” and do some hiking next time. We followed your advice on Dusty’s. We went back 3 times and got the biscuits, cookies, trout and rib eye steaks All were terrific! Thank you.

Melissa Rabern

8-'08

----------------------------------------------------

Tom and Kevin,

Just wanted to let you know that we experienced a wonderful vacation at Whiteside Cabin last week. Everything was perfect, the Fall color, the weather, the food, and especially your lovely cabin. You two certainly thought of all the extras that make for a memorable vacation retreat. We all thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to return soon.

Pam Foote

10-'08

----------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom-

Thank you so much for recommending this home for our use for a few days. The cabin and views are spectacular. All six of us loved it had had no complaints.

Our dinners out were at Cypress and Paoletti and both were wonderful.

Again, we thank you and hope we cross paths again. Cindy Walter

6-'08

-------------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom,

Thanks so much for the wonderful weekend at your beautiful home. We couldn't have asked for any nicer surroundings, we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves to the max. The house is so comfortable and I really enjoy waking up each morning, sitting on the porch and listening to the birds. The weather has been perfect, chamber of commerce as they say, thanks for ordering it up. Hope to visit with you again!

The Branstetters and the Terrells

6-'08

-----------------------------------------------------

Dear Tom,

You and Kevin have a beautiful home. We enjoyed our stay and felt very comfortable, relaxed and at home. We loved the painting over the fireplace. Is it a Su Abbott? We purchased a painting from Su at The Art Walk in Birmingham a couple years ago.

We would love to stay at your home again and have told several friends about your place. We have property on Smith Lake in Alabama and plan to build soon. We love to see how other people design their homes and we were impressed with yours.

Thanks for making your home available for others to enjoy.

Sincerely,

Sandra & Cindee

3- '08

-----------------------------------------------------

Hey Tom,

We checked into your home yesterday at Cowee Ridge and it is just perfect! Your directions were great, no problems other than the fog and rain. Anyway, my husband and I love to workout and we were curious if there is access to any gym in the area? Thanks!

Dana Pope

12- '07

-----------------------------------------------------

Tom,

Just wanted to let you know how much our family enjoyed your cabin. You guys have thought of everything and we all appreciated it. Thank you again and we will be back next year, if it's still available.

Hope you have a very happy holiday season.

Karin Guy

12 - '07

------------------------------------------------------

Tom (and Kevin),

Hey! We had an awesome time at the Whitleside Cabin this past weekend. It was absolutely beautiful. My husband and I loved how the house was decorated. I wish we could build a house like the Whiteside Cabin in Greenville, but we really don't have any mountains or hills. I just want to thank you for letting us stay at the cabin. Hopefully we'll be staying there again before too long! Thanks again!

Heather Waters

12 - '07

--------------------------------------------------

Tom,

The cabin is even more beautiful than the photos and the sun was just beginning to set when we arrived. It couldn't get better than this view.

I just wanted to tell you how much we appreciated your cabin. Not only was the cabin itself stunningly beautiful but the weather was beyond perfect. We did lots of hiking on Chimney Rock, Whiteside Mountain and some of the waterfalls as well as to the top of Cowee Ridge. We never made it to the canoes, but maybe next time.

One of my favorite places in the home was the little loft upstairs above the living area. So comfortable, like having a big warm hug, good reading light, toasty warm and extraordinary high peak view of the mountain. The quietness, save for the sound of falling leaves, was so sweet. We were very sad to have to leave on Monday.

We look forward to another great week sometime next year at Whiteside Cabin when it's available. Thanks again for sharing it with us.

Best regards,

Marilyn Meiss

11- '07

---------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom....

We made it here and are loving your beautifully decorated home. It is fabulous!!! We got here just as your cleaning lady was leaving.

We took a nice long walk up hill to check out some of the homes for sale.... we loved #95.. it was amazing....the people that own it are lovely, too! Also, there is a statue on the coffee table on the bottom floor that I am very interested in finding out about it... It is an English Setter, which of course, is what I have and show. I would love to go buy one...they are a rare find.. no one has Setter anything. There are always lab, goldens, pointers, springers etc...never any setters...Can you tell me where you found it?

Thanks so much for everything!

Mara and Glenn Powell

10- '07

---------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom-

Just wanted to let you and Kevin know how much we enjoyed the house in Cowee Ridge in Highlands!

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! It was raining with a lot of fog when we arrived (we didn't care - just built a fire and opened the bar!) We couldn't see the mountain at all until the sun rose Wednesday morning and it was absolutely breathtaking! What a view!

The house was very clean and really comfortable for the 6 of us. You did a great job with the house design and we loved having our privacy on each floor. The view from the loft was spectacular - I could have stayed a week and caught up on my reading from that very spot and been very happy!

All the personal touches were appreciated - from the comfortable beds and linens to the amenities in the kitchen. The kitchen was well-appointed, but there were a couple of things I couldn't find: a muffin pan and a stove-top griddle. We cooked breakfast and dinner at the house so we really did use the kitchen and thank you for all the extras.

We've rented many places throughout the NC mountains and yours was by far the best and most beautiful. It is a showplace and we thank you for sharing it. We'll look forward to returning next year. PS- Absolutely loved the 4 landscape pieces on the wall going down the stairs - they are stunning. OK, that's it - I'll quit now! Thanks again! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season,

Juli & Bud Robinson

Irmo, SC 10/'06

------------------------------------------------------

Dear Tom,

My wife and I were trying to figure out the square footage of your house. She guessed 2800 and I guessed 2300. Who is closest?

The place is beautiful.Thanks for letting us take our girls---the black lab and the golden retriever. They loved it!

Don Davis, 8 -'06

-----------------------------------------------------

Kevin & Tom,

I know we have been home for what feels like forever now (we rented early April), but I wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed our week there. Your house is amazing. Everything that I would like and expect in my own home. I love the dimmer switches on every light (it really is the smallest things that make it feel right isn't it?)!! Usually when we are on vacation I am dragging my family from one sight to see to another but your house was so relaxing and beautiful that we spent the majority of our time there. Thank you again for making it such a warm, inviting and relaxing home.

Hope to be there again next year. Regards,

Judy Chiappini

4/'06

------------------------------------------------------

Kevin & Tom,

We really enjoyed your excellent cabin in Highlands. Outstanding accommodations, excellent decor and easy access to Mountain destinations. We visited over 20 nearby waterfalls, the Biltmore Estate, Cherokee, NC & Dahlonga, GA. We were pleased with the outstanding local food, wine and shopping. No one, not even our children ages 16 & 7 ever got bored or missed the "City". We would highly recommend your cabin, location and service to all of our friends. Look forward to visiting again next Spring Break.

The Gregory Family

John, Liza, Andrew & Foster

Muscle Shoals, Alabama

4/'06

------------------------------------------------------

Tom:

We had a relaxing mini-vacation at your house. The house and decor were great and the location (between Cashiers and Highlands) is very convenient.

There were several nice touches, two to mention:

Leaving small items such as condiments and spices, etc made the house appear to be a visit in someone's home and not a sterile hotel.

The showers were especially noteworthy.

Ken Goodroe

5/06

------------------------------------------------------

Dear Tom and Kevin,

I wanted you to know how much Don and I enjoyed your home in Highlands. We really wanted to thank you for all of the attention to detail in your cabin. I took the time to inventory all of the beautiful furnishings and art that you've collected. My favorite spot was the landing where I enjoyed that beautiful view and the comfortable club chair and reading lamp. As Don says, this is some "CABIN"!

PS- Wagner loved it as much as we did!

Carole O'Connell

Waleska, GA

5/'06

-------------------------------------------------------

Dear Kevin and Tom,

We just returned from your NC home and we wanted you to know how VERY pleased we were with it! It is REALLY beautiful! You have made it not only beautiful but SO

comfortable...from your choice of furnishings to beddings, art, construction materials used, paint choice, natural woods, lighting, ...I could go on and on! We also really did love the decor in the screened porch! What a welcoming entrance to the house! Then we opened the main door and the house looked even better that it did in your photos!

And thank you as well for all the condiments in the cabinets and fridge! It made it great for a short visit not to have to buy those things.

Thank you for making the home available! It was a great vacation though it was too short!

May God bless you.

Dean and Claudette Kucera

06/'06

-----------------------------------------------------

Creekside Testimonials

Hi Tom:

The cabin is fabulous, we are so happy! Just a quick note to let you know how much we are enjoying our time here at Creekside cabin and Highlands. Everyone is so friendly, the cottage is fabulous and the hiking spectacular.

We have already decided that we want to come back next summer for July and August !

Thanks again.Hi Tom!

Samantha Miles

9-'09

------------------------------------------------------

Tom,

Your place at Creekside is great! We so enjoyed our stay. We did go for a canoe ride on Mirror Lake. What a nice lake! We also rode back up the creek a good way which was beautiful as well. It was amazing how many mallards were there and a pair of mute swans. Thanks for the warning about the waterfall! Being at the end of the little road was wonderful! No through traffic! And I did one more blackberry picking out back before we left. The lot at the top of the hill made a perfect morning and evening walk. My husband saw wild turkeys there one morning. According to a neighbor, one house had a bear visit while we were there. Your neighbors were all so friendly and interesting. They seemed to really like you & Kevin.

We did so much hiking while in the Highlands area! Great exercise! I absolutely Love the little tin cups that were in one of the kitchen cabinets! Do you remember where you got them? I'd love some to use as pencil holders at my cabin. I took photos & am going to try to get a friend of mine to make some...or do it myself if I don't find some!

Your directions and suggestions were very helpful. Being able to ask you questions and quickly get answers was great! Thanks so much for everything! Hope to return next year!

Ellen Rumble

8 - '09

Tom,

My wife and I spent 2 nights at the cabin in Highlands before I had to travel to NYC. Our daughters, their husbands and little ones are arriving Tuesday and Wed.

We love your house and I am looking forward to enjoying it again starting tomorrow.

Doug Roam

7- '09

-----------------------------------------------------

Tom-we had a great time at your Creekside cabin. All went fine-everything was perfect. Thanks-we will be back next year.

Best-Michael Rierson

7 - '09

---------------------------------------------------

Tom,

We LOVED your house in highlands!! Thank you for a wonderful week. It was perfect in every way. It is so well equipped and beautifully decorated. The porch is like heaven. It was such a great house for a 2 and 4 year old. No busy roads, drop offs or raging waters. We definitely want to rent it again next summer. My daughter made it here easily. The directions were great...sorry for the trouble. This house was so nice. We had a great time. I can't believe it was in the high 90's at home and we were so pleasantly cool there!! Our grandchildren played in the creek for two days. We definitely would love to return next summer.

Kathy Hawthorne

6- '09

----------------------------------------------------

Thank you for everything Tom – the weekend was GREAT!

Stacy A. Gray, CTP

4 - '09

-----------------------------------------------------

Good morning Tom! I just HAD to share a very coincidential occurance. I was at my aunt's house over the weekend (we have quite a large, close family) and I was telling them about our trip to Highlands- we used to go there as a family years ago. I went to the computer to show them the cabin and she said "Oh, we stayed there last summer!" Out of the hundreds of homes to choose from, we must have the same taste because she and her family stayed with you in the same home in 2007 - she said you were wonderful and was so pleased that we would get to have such a nice experience. I just had to share that...isn't that so weird and neat?

Have a great one!

Shannon Pohl

4 - '09

-----------------------------------------------------

Hi, Tom--just wanted to let you know how much we are enjoying our visit to your beautiful Whiteside cabin. It is SO comfortable and has everything we need, and then some. The dogs are enjoying running loose outside--something they never get to do at home! We are really enjoying Highlands also--this is a perfect get away from Mardi Gras!

Thanks,

Suzanne Caver

2- '09

------------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom,

The "cabin" was fabulous...loved the decor! We had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed Highlands' shopping (found some great sales), dining (Oak Street Cafe, Old Edward's Inn and Main Street Inn, plus fabulous steaks on the grill) and hiking (along the river where "Deliverance" was filmed). Again, thanks for making such a lovely escape available. There was no snow, but I won't hold you accountable! We will definitely contact you the next time we make a trip to Highlands!

Regards,

Vicki Lagerwey

2 - '09

-----------------------------------------------------

Tom-

Just wanted to let you know what a wonderful home you have. We really enjoyed ourselves, thank you. One final inquiry, my girlfriend loved the panels on the main level leading out to the deck. Do you know where you purchase the fabric?

Thank you again and Happy New Year.

Ryan Moore

1 - '09

---------------------------------------------------

Thank you, Tom, for a beautiful week.

Because of that we would like to make plans to return next year, for two weeks.

I will look forward to hearing from you.

Wishing you a very Happy New Year.Thank you, Tom. The house is perfect and we are very happy to be here.

The cabin was perfectly clean and the kitchen sink faucet is working but is loose at the base. We have been coming to the area for the last 20 years and are very grateful to have found your beautiful warm cabin. It meets many needs for this particular Christmas.

Merry Christmas and God bless!

Marguerite McNeil

1-5-2009

---------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom,

The house is awesome. Thanks for the 2 day (winter) rental, I needed this!

Mark Morgan

11-21-08

----------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom,

We really enjoyed the cabin. We hope to rent it again. We locked up and turned the water off. I wanted to ask if you know the brand and model of the mattress in the upstairs bedroom. My husband and I slept on it and it was wonderful. Well, Thanks so much for sharing your fabulous place with us. We had such a relaxing holiday. The cabin is so comfortable. And Highlands is great.

Take care.

Teri Vigeant

9-'08

-----------------------------------------------------

Tom,

We really enjoyed out stay at your house. It was very comfortable and the decor was exquisite. We will probably want to rent the house again.

Buck and Sandy Sims

7-'08

-----------------------------------------------------

Tom,

Diana and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay this week. The cabin is absolutely beautiful and the fall weather and scenery could not have been better.

Again, everything else was great. We tried Wild Thyme Café and agree it is the best. We want to try to get back again next year. Take care and thanks.

Richard B. Lyttle, AIA

11 -'07

---------------------------------------------------

Tom,

I just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed your home this past weekend.

What a beautiful place!!! A perfect location in that we definitely

felt "alone" in the woods - no neighbors were around at all, yet easy

enough to get into town. The only sounds we heard as we sat on the

deck at night were the sound of the water in the creek, along with the

birds and raccoons, and whatever else was roaming around out there.

The canoe was an awesome bonus! Our boys just loved it.

This was our first visit to the area, but won't be our last. When we

return, we'll definitely contact you and will want to stay at Creekside Cabin again.

Thank you!

Mary Beth Bell

4/'07

---------------------------------------------------

Hi Kevin and Tom,

Once again you have done a wonderful job on a cabin. The place was beautiful. I still love the other one (Cowee) and hope to be there again next spring, but the new one is very nice as well. I especially love the beds and the bedding. And seeing as it was such a cold week I loved the fireplace as well!

Thanks so much!

Judy Chiappini

4 - '07

-----------------------------------------------------

Tom:

We did really enjoy the house and our week in Highlands, and hope to have many more. You have done a great job of decorating and making the house comfortable for your guests. Even with some construction noise we had a great time, as did George our Lab.

We were very pleased, and can't imagine a better place.

Hope to rent again,

Debbie Shapiro

5-'07

----------------------------------------------------

Tom,

just a quick note to tell you how much we enjoyed our stay at your house in Highlands over the Memorial Day Weekend. Our accommodations could not have been better ~ besides being absolutely beautiful, we appreciate your thoughtfulness in providing for our every need. The setting is so peaceful, and we spent many happy hours on the screened porch.

Thank you again for making it available to travelers ~ this was our first trip to the Smoky Mountains, and we definitely hope to return one day.

Sincerely,

Virginia Curran

5 - '07

------------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom,

I just wanted to send you an email to let you know how much we enjoyed your Creekside Cabin in the Highlands. The house was just beautifully decorated and so warm - we were so impressed with all of the gorgeous furnishings and touches. And, the well stocked kitchen made it so easy for us to prepare family meals. Most of all we enjoyed the outdoor deck with the nice view of Shortoff Mountain and the sound of the creek as it flowed by.

Thank you for making our vacation so wonderful, we really appreciated it! If any weekends open up in the summer (renters cancel) please keep us in mind, we'd love to enjoy Creekside Cabin again.

Debra & Jay Curran

5- '07

--------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom,

Dick and I had a wonderful first trip to Highlands, thanks in great part to the beautiful and comfortable accommodations at Creekside Cabin. We loved the natural beauty of the area, the relaxed yet tasteful landscape of Wildwood Forest and the absolute charm of the town itself. Though we covered a lot of territory, we realize that there is still so much more to see, so we hope to plan another trip and stay a few more days. We did not get a chance to look at any real estate this time, but we did pick up some literature.

Tom, thank you again for making our arrangements so pleasant and seamless.

Kindest regards,

Luci Morgan

p.s. the king bed upstairs was so very comfortable - would you know what brand and type it is? thanks, L.

----------------------------------------------

Tom,

We had a wonderful time at your Creekside Cabin. Great cool weather with a couple of terrific t-storms to watch from your screened porch. We did it all from waterfalls to hiking and tried the Rib Shack too! Again, we had a great time and you have a wonderful place up there.

The cable guy came and replaced something and it turned out he knew someone who works with my husband at Turner Broadcasting. Small world! And your housekeeper, Teddi, was so great to us.

Thank you again. It was a wonderful summer getaway for our family. I will be sure to pass along your information.

Take care.

Jill and Cole Breland

6 - '07

------------------------------------------------------

Dear Tom,

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely house in the Highlands with us. We could not believe how beautifully decorated EVERY inch of the place was. The furniture in the house was FANTASTIC we are in the process of building and need your personal touches. Even the dog biscuits for little sweet boy. We loved your bedspreads and wondered where you found such beauties. I know you did not get them at Scotts show. We need to know your secrets. We loved our trip, The Highlands, and your house! We will be back and will tell our friends about your fun---beautiful spot. Thank you again for everything!

Trudi & Norton,

Pensacola, FL.

6- '07

--------------------------------------------------

Hi Tom,

We just got back from Highlands and wanted to say thank you so much for renting your place out - it was wonderful! We had an absolutely great time and were sad to go today! Everything was wonderful and we only wish we could have stayed longer - hopefully next time :)! The cabin is BEAUTIFUL!

The decorations are just gorgeous! Wade is a great cook and he was amazed at the wonderful kitchen! The cabinetry, the doors, the paint color, furnishings, ceilings, layout of the cabin - every detail is just gorgeous!

Those showers are so pretty! The screened in porch was an absolute favorite area of ours! It was wonderful to spend time out there and is a great enclosed area for the dogs! We enjoyed Highlands and every part of our trip! It was a great time to get away and relax for a few days! Highlands is just so pretty and with this amazing cabin it was just a perfect time! I guess you probably are getting the idea - we LOVED it :)!

Thank you so much for allowing us to bring our "furry kids"! They are like family to us and it is so nice to be able to include them in our vacation time! Our small dog and I really enjoyed the area to take walks! It was great to take them into the Highlands area! With the wonderful cabin, wonderful area, and being dog friendly - that's a winning combination for sure in our book!

Well - thank you so much for letting us stay in your beautiful home! We sure do miss Highlands and Creekside Cabin! Both are beautiful :)!

Thank you so much!

Wade and Holly Burdette and

Two Lucky Dogs - Codey and Rigley

10-'07