The Roanoker January/February 2024 - 51

M
ike and Belinda Bryant are high
school sweethearts, and happy grandparents,
with deep roots in Franklin
County. Bit by bit, Mike has used his skills as a contractor
to transform a once humble home into a resort-like
setting on Smith Mountain Lake, adding modern twists
to a profound family legacy.
Belinda's family farmed and raised cattle on over 100
acres when Belinda was a girl. When Smith Mountain
Lake was constructed, her family ceded a large swath of
land to the project. Mike and Belinda built their own
home just down the road from Belinda's parents on the
family's remaining acreage.
Belinda's father lived until the age of 86, despite being
diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 34. He regularly told
Belinda that he was still alive because the beauty of the
land sustained him, and he didn't want to be anywhere
else. He passed away, peacefully at home, in the place he'd
loved his whole life.
Now, Belinda's mom, 86, lives in the same house without
her husband. Although she lives alone, she's close
enough to enjoy family time with her daughter, granddaughters,
and great-granddaughter.
This is because many family gatherings take place
right at the Bryant's house. When Mike and Belinda's
oldest daughter, Bridgit, got engaged in 2017, she
insisted, " I want to get married at home. " The Bryants
consequently set up an archway overlooking the water,
the caterer prepared food in the basement, and the wedding
planner had Bridgit surprise guests by walking out
of the kitchen.
The father of the bride " lost it " as his oldest daughter
walked down the aisle and passed the tree house she
played in as a little girl, triggering memories as he gave her
away. Boaters on the lake honked their horns and shouted
their congratulations as Bridgit and her husband joined
their lives in the covenant of marriage. Like Belinda's
father who lived his last day in his own home, Bridgit's
wish of getting married in her own backyard came true.
Since Bridgit's wedding, Mike and Belinda have
hosted other family events, such as Thanksgiving and
their granddaughter's birthday, allowing Mike to show
off updates as he makes them.
Mike jokes that " a contractor is always slowest to work
on his own home, " because customer projects always take
precedent. Since opening Construction Marketing LLC
with Belinda's brother, Ronnie Booth, in 2010, time is a
commodity. However, Mike was able to complete a recent
outdoor renovation on his own home, rendering the space
more usable for his family.
The renovated upper deck features a stunning view of
the lake. It boasts infrared gas heaters, gas lanterns and
a fire pit that warm people in winter and illuminate the
space. These amenities add a couple extra months of use
over the course of a year and lend an enchanting feel at
night as the flames dance in the darkness.
In the summer, the Bryants utilize the space often
because it's covered from the harshness of the sun, and a
ceiling fan is highly effective at maintaining pleasant air
flow. Their old deck was half-open and half-closed and
too sun scorched to use in the hot months.
Mike says that achieving total temperature control in
an outdoor space isn't realistic because outdoor spaces
aren't enclosed. However, partial temperature control is a
growing trend in construction because " The more people
see others using it, the more comfortable they get with
the idea. "
As for the lower level of the deck, it offers a view
of the landscaping that Mike and Belinda completed
piece by piece as time allowed. They sometimes sit down
there because it feels " cozier " with its new furniture and
stamped concrete.
BEFORE
AFTER
TheRoanoker.com
January/february 2024 51
COURTESY OF MIKE BRYANT
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker January/February 2024

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