Guys, I am so, so excited to finally share the final photos of the #csideproject! This project has been a long time in the making and I am so proud of the results and even more excited for my clients who will get to enjoy that lake life 🙂
These photos were taken after final inspection, pre-move-in, so no styling, just the beautiful unabashed #csideproject in all its glory. Here we gooooooo.
Being on the lake, the house was designed to be all about the view (and what a view!). We used Marvin’s Ultimate Sliding Doors off both the living room and the kitchen that totally open the space to the outdoors, and in turn, let the view in.
A lot of time and consideration went into the design of the outdoor space. My client loves a good screened-in porch and is known to host phenomenal porch dinners, but didn’t want to darken the family room. Thus, the right balance between the screened porch and uncovered deck was necessary. Off the family room is an asymmetrical open deck to allow maximum sunshine into the house (pictured above). The screened-in porch is directly off the kitchen (seen on the left of above photo) and runs length-wise toward the lake, perfect for large family dinners al fresco.
This house will play host to large family gatherings all year long, so all aspects were designed to comfortably accommodate big groups (of big people, nonetheless!). Initially the plan was to have built-in cabinets flanking the fireplace, but with plenty of cabinets just a few feet away in the kitchen, the cabinets were replaced with storage benches. This solved two different problems: the cubbies are a great storage area for large, bulky items like blankets and cushions and the benches provide additional seating when the couch is full.
The reverse board and batten millwork along the fireplace wall is one of my favorite details in the house. It adds interest and texture to the wall without taking away from the lake view. It looks so clean and cozy.
The fireplace surround is the Bedrosian Cloe Tile and echoes the kitchen backsplash. Hint: we ordered through Lowe’s and picked up from the store to save on delivery costs.
The glass sconces above each window adds a warm touch without being overpowering. They were very reasonable (under $30) and look expensive – this is the Satin Nickel finish.
The benches on each sides are actually different sizes, so I made the decision to just box out the trim to balance them out and give the illusion that they were the same size. Cushions are next on the to-do list.
The reverse board and batten was then carried through the staircase down to the basement. The ledge along the stairs was the perfect barrier to let it die out. The same sconce was used above the window to carry out the design.
This house will see many generations grow up, so we thought it wise to have a sturdy baby gate built to block the access to the basement. The same material was used as the staircase, so it looks like part of the design instead of a clunky add-on.
Just off the family room is the kitchen. This open floor plan is great for entertaining and maximizes the space (and that view!).
Since the island is the hub of the space, we went with a warm wood tone to ground it. The white perimeter cabinets keep the space bright and crisp. We opted to forgo the top drawers along those white perimeter cabinets to keep it from looking too busy (and to keep cost down – drawers are more expensive bc they require more hardware).
The lighting in here really sets the tone for beach vibezzz. The rattan basket pendants are just the right size and amount of playfulness. I liked that the rope detail was carried up to the ceiling. The sea glass chandelier is just stunning. The stones are a very pale aqua which adds a needed splash of color without owning the room. The sconces above the windows are the same glass sconces as the family room – eventually got that second sconce working 🙂
Here is a close-up of the Bedrosian Cloe backsplash tile. It is such a gorgeous tile that looks good anywhere. The subtle tonal change adds just enough variation without being busy. We used ice white grout with it. Also love the cabinet hardware.
Normally, I would opt for neutral on finishes that cannot be easily changed – like tile. BUT, since this is a beach house where it’s going to be FUN ALL THE TIME, why not choose a fun tile? Plus, blue is pretty much a neutral when it comes to beach houses. I found this blue mosaic tile at Tile Outlet in Chicago and couldn’t be more excited with how it turned out. The white grout makes it pop and keeps the space from feeling dark. The white subway tile in the shower balances the room out. The shutter detail on the vanity also lends itself to the beachy keen vibe of the house.
This beautiful piece of carpentry sits just inside the garage and adjacent to the entry. One of my client’s pain points was shoes kicked all over the house and bags dropped right at the door. This space is the ultimate, organized catch all. The shelf above is deep and sturdy enough to hold weekender bags, towels, margarita machines, you name it. The double hooks will hold jackets, hats, and beach bags, while the bench is a great purse drop and go. Under the bench was intentionally left open so it was easy enough to just kick shoes off underneath. Who has time to put their shoes in a drawer?? The same reverse board and batten detail was carried over here to tie it all together.
This photo also showcases the beautiful Stuga Studio – Pippi floors. Such an awesome tone without being too light. The knots in the floor add a bit of a nautical touch throughout the house, too.
Overall sources:
White paint: Greek Villa by Sherwin Williams
Hardwood floors: Pippi by Stuga Studios
Windows: Marvin
Counters: Montauk by Hanstone Quartz
Backsplash: Cloe by Bedrosians via Lowes
Cabinet Hardware: Amerock Revitalize via Wayfair
Island Pendants: Flora by Pottery Barn
Chandelier: Enya Seasglass pendant by Pottery Barn
Sconces above windows: Light Society in Satin Nickel from Overstock
Bathroom tile: American Olean Deep Blue Paris mosaic tile via Tile Outlet
Bathroom paint color: Basalt Powder by Sherwin Williams
Vanity hardware: Amerock via Wayfair
Thanks for following along on the journey. No time like a quarantine to sit down and write a blog post with pretty pictures to distract oneself. Time for a marg. Cheers, friends! Be well.
The Artesian Project 