As designers, it’s always our intention to create something that stands the test of time and brings lasting beauty.

When working with clients, we consider and prioritize the longevity of each decision, and our “Lake House Chic” project expresses that idea.

We began working on this remodel over a year ago, and it’s so rewarding to see it complete after such a long time in the making! However, what is even more rewarding is that we still love it just as much as the day we started, and now we get to share that experience with you.

 

On the Lake…

of Terrell, North Carolina, our client’s home was purchased site unseen when a career opportunity arose. Moving a family of seven can prove to be challenging regardless of where and when you add in the housing market, it can become exponentially difficult. The house they ultimately selected had great bones and the location was outstanding, however, no one loved the house as it stood. That is where we came in. When the Mrs.’ called to ask if we could help, we grabbed our tape measures, and off we went. We knew the family, especially the  Mr.’, as we had completed a full home design for their closest friends a few years ago, and our paths had crossed briefly.

This home was a top-to-bottom remodel in sunny North Carolina, and although it had some great bones and views, the Sutton Place team ended up building into the ceiling as high as they could to create a more spacious and open feeling. As we walked through the door, we immediately understood that this home was not a reflection of its owners. The family opens its doors to all they meet, is full of active teenagers, and a stranger is never known. Sadly, that is hard to do when the kitchen is laid out poorly. No one can move or function. They are an entertaining family, they are always laughing, the kids are a joy to talk with, and the dogs are jovial and make friends quickly. Unfortunately, the house was dark. Even nestled into the wooded lot that opens onto the big waters of Lake Norman, the main areas felt a little depressing. This would not do for this family!

As we continued to tour the home, we could see a lot of room for improvement. The foyer was cookie-cutter and unwelcoming, The dining room was ordinary, the laundry room was not created for a busy family and the master bath had a terrible layout. You had to walk down a tunnel with corners just to get a shower. Don’t even get us started about the neon LED lights that were installed in the water closet. The Mrs.’ had done a great job creating a warm home for her family as they settled into the space and the fact that she has style was a bonus as we started brainstorming. We knew this would be a fun client to work with and could not wait to get started.

 

The first step…

was to change the floor plan. Walls? We don’t need so many walls, and the walls we DO want are not in the right places. We had an engineer come in to find out how far we could push the boundaries. It turns out we could open up the space very easily.

We removed a back bedroom that was essentially useless, extended the flipped laundry and mudroom around, and created a huge pantry that was not incorporated into the kitchen. Brilliant idea, right?

The angled walls were squared up to create opportunities for additional work areas. The pantry has appliances and a bar sink, a beverage area becomes a workhorse for morning coffee, drinks for teenagers, and extra counter space for entertaining.

Speaking of walls… Why have walls when you can have WINDOWS and DOORS? That entire back wall was opened right up and the light value shot through the roof. The black frames made it modern and current and that much natural light will never go out of style. Another trick to making the space feel bigger is by bringing symmetry and visual focus to the open-concept floor plan in a few areas. The fireplace and flanking shelves are symmetrical as are. The windows that are directly across and flank the cooktop and hood.

In the entryway space, you’re greeted by a modern front door, a console table moment, and door-casing lined paneling that draws the eye up to wooden beams and a lantern light across the ceilings. The console table brings a bunch of storage to the entryway, giving easy access to needed items such as gloves or tote bags while remaining uncluttered. The piece is from the Sutton Place Furniture line, newly added to the lineup this year.

 

Complementing the open-concept floor plan…

As you step past the entry way The open-concept floor plan of the kitchen and living room brings the challenge of curating materials that complement the great room while telling a story of their own. We started by choosing a few of our go-to white paint colors, Extra White by Sherwin Williams for most of the walls is carried right into the trim in a glossier sheen to provide durability and texture while maximizing open lines. Since we had to add a structural beam to keep the house sturdy while moving walls, we had our master carpenter create beams that would tie into the floor and cabinet colors and extend those into both rooms.

The green island was selected and we used items such as fabric and rugs in the living room to coordinate with that gorgeous green. The island was almost big enough to deserve its zip code and barstools welcome anyone who wants to grab a slice of pizza, chat about their day, or enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning.

 

The kitchen is the center of gathering, and even more so this time of year…

as we settled in and welcomed our favorite baking, entertaining, and hosting traditions, we were glad we had considered how to make each element in the new kitchen spaces more intentional.

The open front cabinets flank one of our favorite features: a beverage center that looks like a beauty but works like a boss. The tile is unique and pulls in the green from the other spaces, the wood shelves tie into beams and floors once again and the appliances provide function for hot or cold drinks. It is also a great warm-up for one of our favorite features: the hidden pantry. Opening in or out, the pantry door appears like any other cabinet but I can assure you, no one has to worry about enough storage space once that door swings open.

 

 

“The kitchen is one of my favorite parts of any home, and in this space, we knew we wanted all of the finishes to feel cohesive and streamlined.”

 

 

 

Subtle contemporary details…

We knew that the family’s lifestyle was the priority but since the kids were older, we wanted to give the kitchen’s sleek new look with grown-up materials such as natural-toned stained cabinetry, light quartz countertops that bounce a lot of natural light back into the room, white zellige tiles also act as light reflection and give casual elegance to the main kitchen space.  Adding in appliances that were beautiful while getting all of the jobs done.  We pulled touches of the natural wood tone into the hood with a surprise pop and created a one-of-a-kind focal point.

The details

The accessories in this space bring it to life and add personality with a mix of vintage and new-styled pieces. A large cutting board on the island is ready to be layered with charcuterie trays, and styled serve ware and decor on the countertops and in open-shelving brings form and function to tie everything together. A material connection between the kitchen and adjacent dining nook is maintained through the minimal tonal palette.

The Great Room

Because this is a family home and our clients have young kids, we decided to design this main great room to be a more formal seating space and delegate the TV-watching space to a separate area.

Complete with comfortable yet sophisticated seating, personal touches, and contrasting textures, this space is perfect for lounging and conversation. Using swivel chairs from the Sutton Place Furniture line allows the guests to spin and chat with those in the kitchen. All of a sudden you have a party instead of a wall.

Speaking of walls, what do you do with one that is 30 feet high? You put up a feature wall, add some stunning light fixtures, and dress up the stair rails. A clean line stair picket and banister bring this staircase in 2023 at warp speed.

 

Dark and Moody gets a new meaning with a black dining room – how much do you trust your team?

Our clients trusted us A LOT. When we said we wanted to do the entire space black, I am pretty sure the Mr.’ and Mrs.’ did the side-eye behind our backs. I mean, this could go wrong but with the custom wall treatments, the light floors, and a gorgeous, it works. I mean, it works. We had a custom table created to fit just right and can be handed down through generations. added in woven chairs and you are ready to entertain. Or just have a family dinner on Thursday night. The drama of the black walls compliments the casualness of that farmhouse table and all the textures we could layer and now a dinner party will be one for the books. Custom accessories give the space a personal feel, for instance, the horse (Kentucky is home) and the European deer mount is a classy way to show off a memory.

 

Powder rooms are often overlooked in the design process, but they are one of our favorite spaces to experiment with.

We’re of the mind that if there is one space to go bold and take design risks, it’s the powder room.

Not only are powder rooms small enough for the little details to make a big impact, but because we don’t have to worry about moisture from a bathtub or shower, we can play with fun wallpaper and interesting mirrors. We went dark and moody in here and we are not too proud to admit when something is missed when we design a home. Occasionally, we forget to give all the answers and have to go back to hear the question when it pops up. That is custom.  That happened in this powder room. We went in to see the progress and when I shut the door, my excitement went through the roof. I am not sure who made the decision to paint the door the same color as the walls but they were aces. It was the perfect choice for this powder room and we were in love.

 

A space of peace and relaxation—

—to go to at the end of the day. Your bedroom design should be a retreat-like atmosphere where one can lay their head after a day’s work. But crafting a place of tranquility is easier said than done. That’s why we listen carefully to what the client wants in their sanctuary and work hard for bedroom interior design ideas that guarantee a soft spot to land.

In our Lakehouse Chic Retreat project, the Sutton Place team incorporated a primary bedroom design based on the client’s desire to keep the color palette minimal throughout the home. We added an element of warmth and dimension with a feature wall setting the mood of the space and bringing in so much coziness and character. Light materials and furniture pieces layered throughout the bedroom design work to balance out the room. Modern lighting pendants hang to save nightstand space and all of the harder materials are softened by an upholstered bed, a few beautiful personal accents, and of course, sweeping views of Lake Norman that surround the home.

The clients wanted the bedroom design to feel as calming as possible, and Sutton Place team wanted to draw attention to the beautiful backyard seen through those amazing black windows. Complete with a cozy reading area, a few items in a tranquil blue, and an abundant mix of textures, this bedroom design perfectly emulates its retreat-like surroundings.

When we were on our initial walk-through of the home, the master bath was right at the top of the wish list. Not surprising as the shower was laid out in a way that made me think someone was paid to do a bad job. You had to walk down a short tunnel, make a U-turn behind the wall, and then a quick additional left turn. It was a terrible layout and had to be destroyed. So, we did. Their must-haves? Double shower heads, more storage on the vanity, and heated flooring. We didn’t hesitate with the sledgehammer started demolition on that bathroom and the results are those that perpetuate the casual luxury of a spa. Shower heads galore, multiple niches, handhelds and a heated floor make this a dream shower. The tile we selected ties into the natural wood that is elsewhere in this home and to create interest, we darkened the vanities up a bit and had custom glass installed around the shower. Features such as appliance drawers and flip-outs give additional storage options and adding two windows at a height that allows natural light and privacy to coexist, this bathroom is so much more functional and appears much larger in scale.

 

See the entirety of the Lake House Chic project here.