HOW I REINVENTED MY LAKE HOUSE. TAKE THE DESIGNER HOME TOUR NOW.
CHARLOTTE, NC, INTERIOR DESIGNER LISA SHERRY TRADED A BELOVED BEACH HOUSE FOR A LAKE HOUSE. TAKE THE DESIGNER HOME TOUR TO SEE HOW SHE BROKE DOWN BARRIERS (AND WALLS) TO MAKE IT HER OWN.
I love home renovations. I love personal transformation. In my designing world, the two are absolutely related. So, I was thrilled when the Designer Home Tours network asked me to share more about the floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall gut renovation of my personal lake house, just outside of Charlotte, NC. It was an amazing makeover – for both the house and me. Today, I’m eager to open up and continue to share still more.
But first, the backstory. For many years, I owned a beach house on Bald Head Island, just off the North Carolina coast. I cherish every moment of the BHI experience – with the notable exception of the very long drive to get there. I found myself craving a lifestyle shift. I needed to be on the water but also closer to my homebase in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Lake Norman was the answer. It’s a lake community, just a half hour north of Charlotte, full of waterways, coves, flora, fauna and amazing natural views. Next, I fell into what I call highly conditional love with a circa 1990’s home of undetermined architectural provenance. Overall, the maximalist home was structurally sound with out-of-this-world lake views. I saw amazing potential, simply awaiting my touch – and a wrecking ball. I bought the house.
Now, I am a bit of a house whisperer. I’m never at a loss for ideas and inspiration. With years of design experience, I also know my way around a floor plan and a job site. The best professional resources are in my rolodex (a.k.a. I-phone). In short, I love to deconstruct and reconstruct. I’m entirely prepared for a renovation. It’s a great day when the walls come down and the light comes in.
You’re invited to walk through the lake house with me on the latest Designers Home Tour, and the full lake house home tour is just a click away. Today, I’m also excited to share an at-a-glance peek at the process. Here's what I did and why...
FIND THE SPACE'S SUPERPOWER
My new lake house had a superpower that was apparently invisible to most everyone else. The home has breathtaking lake views. However, a misguided floor plan, a surplus of walls and claustrophobic window moldings obscured nature. To begin, I recognized the true greatness of the space and acted accordingly.
DON'T GET BOXED IN BY WHAT IS
Access to nature became the guiding theme of the lake house renovation. I tore down walls and did away with tiny windows. I even claimed a coveted tertiary bedroom into the main living area so the views could be a feast for all, and not just occasional visitors.
LOOK FORWARD
As a designer, I love to mix periods and styles. Yet my overall design aesthetic is clean, unfussy and modern with classic nods. Thus, crown moulding, excessive window mullions, arches, carpet and narrow-plank flooring met the crowbar. I believe homes are meant to change and evolve.
GO TOWARD THE LIGHT
Today, windows – not walls – dominate the southern exposure of the lake house. As it should be. The first-floor interior is bathed in Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White, a clean bright white to reflect the outdoors. The living, dining and kitchen areas are all one, united by the harmony of nature, color and beautiful furniture and accessory selections.
GO DARK
I love ying-yang juxtapositions. I decided to embrace my dark side on the lower level of the lake house. A long narrow staircase leads to an open game room, glistening bar, media space and two en-suite guest rooms, painted in a dark dramatic hue from Benjamin Moore.
SEEK UNIQUE
My design aesthetic is honed and refined, represented by the modern classic vibe of my firm, Lisa Sherry Interieurs. I know what I like, what speaks to me. Yet, I love to beautifully upset the apple cart with unexpected finds, generally antique or vintage and often sourced at the High Point Market’s one-of-a-kind showrooms. The Market is a biannual trade-only event. I trust my instincts and quickly snap up items that speak to me, knowing they’ll find a place in a client project – or even one of my my own homes.
ADD AND SUBTRACT
As an interior designer, I see items and designs of beauty and grace on a daily basis. It’s a feast of riches. Choicefulness is key. This means curating the best, whether it’s a fab sofa or an organic found object. Great design is about adding (that’s the easy part) and then subtracting (that’s the fun part) to strike the right balance.
Have you noticed? Most of my alleged lake house makeover tips have a lot to do with life itself. I have. I don't think I’m unusual. For many of us, the journey of renovating a home is very much an inside job. After all, shouldn’t we all tap into our superpower, look to the future, seek clarity, slow down to rest and balance past and present? I know I do – in design and in life. It’s the way to live beautifully.
DESIGN CREDITS
Interior Design: Lisa Sherry Interieurs
CREATIVE CREDITS WITH THANKS
Photography: Brie Williams
Video: Designer Home Tours
Videographer: Mark Licea