Inspired By: The Lake
To me the lake is a sacred place. My family has always had a cozy home on a beautiful lake in central New Hampshire. It is where I learned to swim, where I learned to love nature and fresh air and the big, beautiful night sky filled with stars and planets. The lake is not just a place but a feeling, one of relaxation, comfort, and familiarity. A place to breath deep and recharge, to wear the same pair of denim shorts for three days in a row, to crack open a beer and sit on the beach with deliciously chilly water lapping at your legs. The lake is a place where the scent of pine lingers in the air and inside the house, and whenever I smell the fresh scent of pine, no matter where I am, it takes me right back to the lake.
Achieving the look and feel of a lakeside cottage through furniture selection, color palette, and decor is fairly easy! It is all about rustic comfort and selecting pieces that are practical and meant to be used and lived with.
I’m partial to pieces that feel heirloom, as if they have always been in the house- think rich kilim rugs, knotty pine trays and weighty wooden chests. In general, my lake aesthetic can be described as warm, rustic, and naturally effortless. Try not to over-design, instead, take a cue from nature and let the design process flow organically!
When it comes to selecting paint colors, the best place to start is by pulling inspiration straight from nature! Mallard duck green and mossy sage are great places to start- both tones can stand on their own but they also pair well with a wide variety of other colors including terra cotta, dusty yellow and cream.
Clockwise from top left: Duck Green, Treron, Hay (all Farrow & Ball); Moccasin, Copper Rose, County Line (all Portola)
Materials and color palette are the most efficient ways to develop a rustic lake house aesthetic. Keep your base tones warm by layering shades of brown, gold, mauve, and sand with pops of burgundy, navy, olive, or mustard.
Having easily accessible (and cozy) outdoor entertainment at your fingertips is key! As a New Englander, Adirondack chairs are always in the lineup, along with comfy throw blankets, fire pits, and corn hole boards for spontaneous games. I prefer modern Adirondack chairs that are made from recycled plastic. They are more lightweight than their traditional wooden counterparts, and thus easier to move around as needed. A bonus is that they can also be spot-cleaned- for all those times you’ll spill your drink! Same goes for throw blankets- my preference always lies with items that can be thrown in the washer for ease and durability.
At the end of the day, a lake house aesthetic is all about ease, comfort, and filling your home with pieces that feel true to who you are. It may be cheesy, but the most successful design is a marriage between functionality and the personal aesthetic of the person or people inhabiting the space.