A Project Reveal from the archives Lakehouse Living/Dining Room and Breakfast Room

This is a look back at a project completed about 5 years ago but was not shared in detail here on the blog. It also perfectly demonstrates that great design endures.

Back story: This is a second home for some lovely clients who live out of state. Their children and grandchildren are living in different areas of the southeast, and they wanted a centrally located place where they could all gather for summertime fun and holidays.

The home had everything they were looking for in terms of space and location (deep water with a dedicated pier). However, it was originally built in the late 80’s or early 90’s and was in need of a refresh.

Here’s a look at how the living room and dining room appeared at our first meeting.

Living area. Lots to love here if you put on your rose colored glasses. Tons of windows, beams, and a big ole stone fireplace that’s actually double sided and wood burning.

Access to the wraparound porch is through these doors. Love the indoor/outdoor connection

This is the dining side of the room and faces the front of the house, so the room spans the entire depth of the house.

The plan for these rooms from a functional standpoint as communicated by my client was to provide seating for a crowd when extended family descends upon the property - many times with friends in tow. And for growing families as grandchildren are added. She also wanted family friendly fabrics, a welcoming feel, and plenty of color.

The flooring material had been added just before they bought the property, but it was too bossy and busy to be a good fit for the general direction we were taking.

Aesthetically speaking, they wanted an environment that was classic but current. My client loves color and whimsy, and she had a few family pieces she wanted to incorporate.

With her wish list in mind, a design was developed that began with setting the appropriate tone for a welcoming feel. And color is a great tool for creating mood.

I decided to simplify the backdrop of the room by color drenching everything with a muted shade of green. Simplifying the backdrop creates a quiet canvas where more important design elements can have a moment to really shine shine. And this particular shade of green feels so calming.

We considered painting or washing the stone on the fireplace, but ultimately decided to keep it as we found it to celebrate it’s rustic glory.

That earthy green backdrop is the perfect companion to the rustic fireplace. And don’t we love how the bold hues play off of the muted paint color? Lake views are framed by simple linen panels trimmed in gold Greek Key trim. They’re simple but sophisticated.

We created 2 zones for entertaining. The seating area seen above and below are centered around the fireplace. Another strong focal point in this area is the view of the lake just beyond the wall of windows. We decided against a TV in here, and this decision was intended to encourage conversation and connection.

You can get a little glimpse here of the new, quieter flooring. Custom upholstery in family friendly fabrics makes entertaining a little less worrisome. Also note the view through the fireplace to the eat in kitchen.

We added a beefier mantel to the fireplace and topped it off with a mix of blue and white and brass. The classics never go out of style and the textural contrast here creates interest.

I love a little of the unexpected, don’t you? Here a vintage federal mirror in all its aged beauty adds a bit of faded glamour.

More curated finds top the grasscloth coffee table. To support quality time spent with the family, the bottom shelf can store books, games, crayons and magazines for easy access.

Another thoughtful selection are these beautiful custom chairs. They’re on a swivel base so you can take in the view of the lake as easily as joining in on the conversation.

Here’s a look at the dining side of the room. We built a window seat that spans the entire bay. You can really pack the littles in here to get tons of seating.

Other details to note: The window treatments in the dining area are of the same fabric as the curtain panels on the opposite side of the room, but here we opted for Roman shades. They’re the same, but different. These are the type of details that make a room thoughtfully considered and connected.

This is my own iphone photo so the image quality is not great, but I wanted to include it here because it shows how we cleverly added a few pieces that could be called into service as needed for crowd-sized entertaining . The table has a dropped leaf on the back side, allowing it to go from sofa table to dining table. The upholstered stools tuck neatly under the table when they’re not in use but are light enough to move wherever they’re needed when entertaining.

Here’s the kitchen side of the fireplace. Is there anything cozier than fireside dining? I think not. More found objects decorate the mantel (and yes, we added a new beefier mantel on this side too)

I absolutely love this dining combination. The round table is new and so chic. We combined it with a set of the iconic vintage Cracked Ice rattan chairs . I also love the contrast between the lotus pendant light and the rough texture of the stone fireplace. All of the seemingly unrelated design elements come together to create a really special moment in this home!

I hope you enjoyed looking back this project with me!

We enjoyed working with these amazing clients! I’m excited to share that we’ve been invited back to add a bathroom to one of the guest bedrooms. Updates coming soon!