At a time when we could all use a mental vacation, we thought it would be a good time to reveal the before and afters of our lakefront Morningview project!
Our clients were relocating to the greater Nashville area for jobs and wanted a primary residence that felt like a vacation home. Empty nesters wanting to downsize, but still have room for their kids to visit, they purchased a lakefront 60’s ranch that needed an overhaul inside and out. When they pulled us in, they had a preliminary plan to open up the main living area and vault the ceilings, and to add another level for a master suite. We had the pleasure of working with our clients from these initial stages, laying out the master suite, kitchen, and living room built-ins, all the way through to finishing touches of bedding, window treatments and accessories.
ENTRYWAY
Walking through the front door, the house is unrecognizable from what it was previously. A new front door, vaulted ceilings, a new staircase, and tall paneling take this entry from dark and cramped to bright and airy.
KITCHEN
The kitchen, though still in the same location, feels twice a big after we moved the opening into the front hall, opened up the wall to the living room, and added a clerestory dormer along with a vaulted ceiling.
Taking out most of the wall between the living room and kitchen also allowed us to add an island with plenty of seating and a range. Our clients can now entertain and cook while overlooking the lake through the wall of windows in the living room.
Once a dark, closed-off space, the kitchen is now open and bright, creating a much more integrated living space.
Now, this may be the only time we have ever taken out a window. Typically we are adding windows and trying to bring light into spaces wherever we can. This window, however, looked into the garage. We suspect that perhaps the garage was an addition and the window was never removed. We fixed that and made a cozy banquette corner, layered with light. The teal beadboard ties in with the island and pulls in the soft, soothing colors of the lake. A custom, slightly distressed table we designed to fit the space supports the craftsman details we added throughout the house.
We bet this nook is getting a lot of use these days as our clients work from home!
LIVING ROOM
This may be the most dramatic wall transformation in house. The vaulted ceilings, wood beams, new stone veneer, shiplap, and the custom built-ins add so much character to what was once a very plain space. We designed the built-ins to extend all the way up to the ceiling, providing lots of display space and storage, and even additional workspaces as both sides have drop-down desks.
Opposite the fireplace wall, where there was once a coat closet, a new staircase leads up to the master suite addition and gives drama to the other end of the room.
MASTER SUITE
The master suite footprint was set when we came onto the project, but we changed the layout of the spaces within the exterior walls to maximize the views and light in the space. We re-oriented the bedroom so the bed could be placed opposite the wall of windows overlooking the lake. We also added more windows so our clients could get the full effect of waking up on the lake every morning.
Likewise, we laid out the master bath and closets to pack a lot of function and light into the spaces. We were able to fit two vanities, a makeup vanity, a jetted tub, a separate water closet, a large shower, and a closet for a stackable washer and dryer into this space, which is less than 200 square feet.
The neutral, fresh palette and textures reflect the lake and keep the space feeling bright and clean.
GUEST BEDROOMS
Meanwhile, on the main level, the existing bedrooms got mini-facelifts with fresh trim, paint, and lighting.
New furniture and decor make this room warm and inviting, perfect for weekend guests.
No lake house would be complete without a bunk room so we had to deliver. For a small bedroom, this room can sleep a lot of people!
BONUS ROOM
This walk-out basement room was a little bit awkward and bland so we gave it personality with new built-ins and white-washed the fireplace. We carried the teal and reclaimed wood from upstairs to liven up the space. Placing the sectional on a diagonal allowed us to create a lot of seating that faced both the TV and the view out to the lake.
On the opposite end of the room is a desk space, flooded with natural light from the additional slide door we added.
We also added french doors on the other side of the room to enclose a multi-use space for music and exercise.
EXTERIOR
Our transformation extended outside, where we continued the craftsman elements and incorporated the existing brick. We gabled the master suite on the second floor with shake shingles under the ridge to tie in with the clerestory dormer we added in the kitchen. The gabled, cedar front porch plays up the asymmetry created by the second floor addition and adds a lot more personality than the original front porch.
As the pandemic keeps us home more and unable to travel, we are living through our clients and are hoping they are enjoying their everyday lake house!