Out A Space
Since 1958, The Allen Morris Company has been recognized across Florida and Georgia as an award-winning developer of commercial projects, known for weaving sustainability, health, and environmental responsibility into everything they build. It was only natural, then, for Allen Morris himself to “go green” when it came time to build his dream Executive Retreat Lodge — OutaSpace — nestled in the hills of North Carolina.
Morris researched log building systems extensively before purchasing a package from Timeless Mountain Homes and bringing on Interior Designer Kerry Whitaker to ensure every choice met both his vision and the rigorous standards of the US Green Building Council’s LEED certification program, as well as the Western North Carolina HealthyBuilt Home program.
The result, after two years of construction, is a majestic three-story log cabin retreat spanning over 8,373 square feet, with six bedrooms that sleep up to 22 — the only LEED-certified log cabin in North Carolina, and the largest in the US. Green features throughout include reclaimed wood, water-saving fixtures, Energy Star appliances, low-VOC finishes, and a multi-zoned HVAC system, with most materials sourced locally.
The interior theme is rooted in America’s national parks, with rooms named and decorated accordingly. Locally obtained furnishings, family favorites, and collections reflecting Allen’s love of hunting, fishing, flying, and hiking make OutaSpace feel as personal as it is impressive — comfortable, warm, and built with a continuing respect for the environment.
Interior Design
Lifestyle Design brought Allen’s vision to life by weaving the “America’s National Parks” theme seamlessly throughout every room of OutaSpace. Drawing inspiration from rustic cabin design, layered in cowhide, buckskin, Native American blankets, reclaimed wood, suede, and leather — with the OutaSpace “stag and stars” logo appearing consistently throughout, from the entryway rug to the bathrobes and notepads.
Every detail was intentional — appliances, lighting, flooring, draperies, and furniture all chosen by, along with a curated display of Morris’s art collection, including his Norman Rockwell pieces framed and hung across the home’s three stairwells.
Kitchen
The kitchen cabinets are Appalachian maple harvested from Old Fort, NC, stained with a water-based agent, with a Carolina cherry butcher block top.
Rooms
Each room is named after a national or state park — chosen by Allen’s children — and decorated to match its park theme, with furnishings and linens sourced locally from the Black Mountain/Asheville area. All rooms open to shaded decks and patios, making the most of natural light, ventilation, and mountain air.
·The Grand Canyon · Bear Tooth · Grand Teton · Bad Lands · Yellowstone (master) · Crazy Horse
· Smoky Mountain (study) · MT. Mitchell (fitness center)
Green Building & LEED Certification
For those who want to go deeper, this page outlines what “building green” really means, why Allen chose to pursue LEED certification for OutaSpace, and exactly what qualifies it — from reclaimed wood and tankless heaters to indigenous landscaping and closed cell foam insulation.
Contractors & Credits
OutaSpace was built through the expertise and craftsmanship of dozens of local vendors, contractors, and suppliers — most within a 500-mile radius of Black Mountain, NC. This page is a full acknowledgment of everyone who helped bring the vision to life.
