If you've ever stepped into a backyard and thought, this is the best room in the house, you already understand what Wes Priddy is going for. Wes is the owner of Higher Ground Outdoor Living and a founding member of our Best of LKN Business Network, and he took a winding road to get here – from a plumbing, heating, and electrical background up in Boone, to HVAC and interior remodeling around Charlotte, to a stint as a Mecklenburg County building inspector, before landing on the thing he loves most: building backyards. He started the company during the height of the pandemic with just himself and a helper, and four years later he's grown a crew he trusts to turn a plain concrete pad into a place people never want to leave.

In this episode we get into what actually makes an outdoor space work around here – why turf keeps winning out over red-clay sod, how premium composite and PVC decks are framed completely differently than a house floor, and why outdoor kitchens, motorized louvered pergolas, and a good fire pit can add serious value (and square footage you don't have to build). Wes also shares the story behind his backyard tailgate tradition, the case for a solid sound system, and a little hard-won humility about letting clients' design ideas surprise him. Stick around for a plug for his own podcast, Outdoor Living Lounge, and the best ways to get in touch.

https://lakenorman.highergroundoutdoorliving.com/

Join The Best of LKN Business Network:
https://thebestoflkn.com/lake-norman-business-network/

The Best of LKN
https://thebestoflkn.com/

Hosted by:

Jeff Hamm

https://lknreal.com/

Support the show

In this episode, recorded on the veranda at Safe Harbor Peninsula Yacht Club, Jeff sits down with interior designer Sara Brennan of Sara Lynn Brennan Interiors and builder Connor Ruckman of CTR Custom Homes to talk about a spectacular new construction home on Tinker Place in Troutman.

Connor shares CTR's story, from its 2015 father-and-son start in Grand Junction, Colorado to its move to Lake Norman, and what drew the company to the area's lifestyle, climate, and waterfront living. A mutual introduction from broker Nicole Leininger of Ivester Jackson Distinctive Properties helped bring the partnership together.

The conversation digs into what makes this home special: roughly 500 feet of shoreline, a private beach, wide-open water views from nearly every room, and a modern transitional design in soft white stucco oriented so the sunset lands between the dining room windows.

Sara walks through the interior, natural-stone countertops, a scullery, unexpected architectural details, and family-first touches like a true drop zone and a bottle-fill station, while Connor covers the outdoor kitchen, lake bath, pool, and a new covered dock with a lift and subtle lighting.

Both reflect on the trust and craftsmanship behind the build and tease what's next for CTR on Lake Norman.

CTR Custom Homes
https://www.ctrcustomhomes.com/

Sara Lynn Brennan Interiors
https://saralynnbrennan.com/

Special thanks to:

Nicole Leininger
https://nicoleleininger.com/

Safe Harbor Peninsula Yacht Club
https://www.peninsulayacht.com/

The Best of LKN
https://thebestoflkn.com/

Hosted by:

Jeff Hamm

https://lknreal.com/

Support the show

John Finney joins the podcast to talk about the Lake Norman Fondo, now heading into its eighth year. What started as a community ride of fewer than 100 cyclists on the Town Green in Davidson has grown into a 500-plus rider event drawing participants from 14 - 15 states and ranging in age from 12 to 80-something. John shares the history behind the fondo, why all proceeds go back to local charities (including a couple of "secret" charities revealed at the finish), and what riders can expect from the three route options of 35, 50, and 75 miles.

This year's event rolls out from downtown Davidson on Sunday, August 16, 2026, with the first route launching at 7:30 a.m. John offers advice for first-timers (it's not a race – pick a comfortable distance, hit the rest stops, and finish safe), talks about the local breweries and sponsors that make it special, and explains why the cycling community is such a loyal, local-minded group worth connecting with.

Registration stays open right up to the morning of the event. Learn more at LakeNormanFondo.com.

The Best of LKN
https://thebestoflkn.com/

Hosted by:

Jeff Hamm

https://lknreal.com/

Support the show