The rules of real estate are difficult enough to grasp, but the rules of lake real estate can get even trickier. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, shares why you need a lake expert, and how to tell if your agent meets the criteria of one.
History: Having general real estate knowledge is valuable, but the lake real estate market is a specific market that only lake experts can successfully navigate.
Water knowledge: Water levels can be affected by a variety of causes such as seasonal conditions, flood preparations, and location. It’s imperative that your lake agent is able to break down the habits of your prospective lake.
Regulations Knowledge: Regulations vary by lake and can have specific restrictions regarding motor crafts, dock additions, and other water activities. Rules like these should be communicated thoroughly by your agent before you make the commitment to live on a lake.
Generic Out-of-Area Marketing: Question if an agent lumps in lake listings with other generic real estate properties when marketing homes. Lake real estate is a unique market, and true lake experts take the extra step to ensure lake properties are reaching a targeted demographic, similarly to the Lake Homes website.
Dismisses Differences: Again, the rules of the lake real estate market set it apart from other generic property transactions. If your agent dismisses fundamental differences within this market, it’s a clear sign they are not a lake expert.
There are so many moving parts when you enter the lake real estate market. The only way to make the most out of your investment, as a buyer or seller, is by ensuring your agent is a lake expert!
Even as temperatures plummet, there’s still lots to love about winter at the lake. Whether it’s spending evenings by the fire, watching movies with friends, or savoring the sweet aromas of holiday baking wafting from the kitchen, there’s always something innately soothing about the cozy comforts of hearth and home.
Our desire to retreat indoors when the weather turns cold and cocoon ourselves in softness and warmth is perhaps one of the most essential elements of our well-being. We all know the feeling—so how can we bring more of that wonderfully calm and relaxed vibe into our lake homes? Here are some easy tips you can apply to any room in your house to instantly generate a sense of coziness that even your guests will notice.
The first step? Rethink your furniture arrangement, especially if you have a fireplace. Begin by pulling everything inward—closer to the fire—to create a relaxing and intimate oasis that immediately draws people in. If your sofa doesn’t face the fireplace already, move it either directly in front or perpendicular to the hearth so you and your guests can bask in the warmth and ambient glow of firelight. Pull in armchairs for extra seating that complements your new sofa arrangement and accent with occasional tables so that every seat has a surface within reach to hold drinks and snacks.
Nothing speaks of toasty winter warmth like plush throws, pillows, blankets, and rugs. Use them in abundance throughout your rooms, and layer them to your heart’s content to design lavish texture vignettes that comfort and invite. Toss a fluffy sheepskin rug on the floor or atop a leather bench or ottoman to create cozy areas for morning coffee and evening cocktails. Drape smaller pelts over benches and dining chairs for added cushion and warmth. Pile pillows high with a mix of cable knits, faux furs, and other snuggly-soft fabrics, and keep enough blankets on hand for family and guests to stave off winter’s chill.
Quick Tip:When layering, make sure your soft goods adhere to a harmonious color scheme to ensure eye-pleasing continuity throughout.
For instant gratification that requires little effort on your part, there’s nothing like the allure of candlelight to generate an instant cozy vibe. If you’re a scented candle connoisseur, even better. A seasonal fragrance—think cinnamon, clove, spiced apple, bourbon-vanilla, birchwood, pine—can lift your spirits and transform the mood of your spaces with the strike of a match.
Battery-operated candles offer a safe, mess-free option, and some come with timers so you can walk away and forget about them. For a more casual, Bohemian-chic look, string lights can illuminate windows, ceilings, and even artwork for an extra glint of glamor. And lastly, be sure to limit cold-temperature lights throughout your lake home and install warm light bulbs instead. Click here to learn more about lighting temperatures.
Celebrate the beauty of nature and bring it indoors. Despite frigid temps, this spectacular outdoor space blends seamlessly with the frosty winter landscape and exudes an enchanting sense of warmth and charm. Take inspiration from the simplicity of its design and bring similar elements inside your home to warm up your rooms. Think pine branches and pinecones to adorn a table setting or stunning potted plants and floral bouquets to integrate splashes of green, pink, red, or white into your winter décor. No matter the season, the simple beauty of nature is at once tranquil, lively, and uplifting.
Don’t forget your bedrooms when cozying up your lake home this winter. Swapping out your bedding is the quickest way to make a seasonal statement, and it doesn’t have to be costly. Adding colorful quilts or coverlets can transform your bedrooms in an instant and create that snug winter feel that you—and your houseguests—will love sinking into at night. Rich reds—solids, stripes, and plaids—generate a warm vibe and wrap the room in luxurious comfort. If color isn’t your thing, layer your bed with an ethereal mix of soft whites, creams, grays, taupes, and browns in a heavenly blend of cottons, cable knits, faux furs, and fleece. A plush, neutral-hued rug underfoot will add extra warmth and ground the vibrant color palette.
When the hearth takes the spotlight in winter, now’s the perfect time to give your mantel an alluring new look. Dress it up with a large mirror overhead that reflects the light—both sunlight and candlelight—and creates a high-impact focal point for your seating area. Here, a fresh green garland and a sprinkling of candles bring effortless elegance to the rustic, rough-hewn plank walls and the decidedly masculine style of the space. Wrought-iron deer figurines and fireplace tools create a sculptural design and echo the mirror’s black metal frame. Remember to keep it simple and achieve a pleasing balance with both elements from nature and meaningful decorative accents that add visual beauty to your space.
It’s easy to make costly mistakes when selling your lake home, especially if it’s your first time. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, gives four tips you should know before selling!
Pricing Too Far Above Market: Pricing too high initially will cause your house to sit on the market. Eventually, you’ll cut the price, and may even get lowballed in the end.
Agent-Only on Friendship: Your selection of real estate agents shouldn’t be limited to your friends. You shouldn’t feel pressure to hire your friend, especially if they are not the right fit.
Agent-Only LOCAL Visibility: You need an agent who isn’t limited to local reach. There are potential, quality buyers across the country, not just the surrounding area.
Not Thinking Nationally: Consider how the price of your lake home competes with other lake homes nationally. Plenty of buyers want the lake lifestyle, no matter the location.
You need to look at the bigger picture before selling your lake home. Choosing the right price, the right agent, and understanding your market will help prevent you from making those costly mistakes!
In our first segment of Regional Lake Living, we explored the architectural styles of the South, where gracious Southern hospitality reigns supreme and shady verandas and breezy screened porches offer a charmed way of life. Today, we turn our focus to the Northeastern region of the country as we take a guided tour of some of the most notable architectural styles and how they came to be. So, grab your favorite cocktail and relax in your Adirondack chair as we relish life on the Cape and all areas in between.
Originating along the coast of New England in the late 1600s, the classic shingle-style Cape Cod is the quintessential architectural style of the region. These picturesque cottages—sporting wonderfully weathered wood-shingled facades, steeply pitched gabled roofs, and a single chimney on one end—stand prominently on the Massachusetts shoreline and conjure images of idyllic summer clambakes on the sand.
Typically rising one and a half stories tall, the classic cape cod is anchored by a center hall that runs the entire width of the home. The front door is usually centered and void of architectural embellishment, but modern interpretations of this iconic style can include breezy porticos and porches—perfect for waterfront living.
Greek Revival
Drawing inspiration from the architecture of ancient Greece, this visually appealing style found its place in American history during the mid-1800s. Pristinely poised with gleaming white-painted exteriors, Greek Revival homes embody a pleasing sense of symmetry accented with graceful columns or pilasters and front-facing gabled roofs. The popularity of this style—reminiscent of Greece’s famed Parthenon—emerged as American architects sought inspiration from Grecian architecture in the mid-1800s, a turn of events spurred by the country’s bitterness toward the British after the War of 1812.
This uplifting aesthetic celebrates the impeccable timeless beauty of Grecian design, which can be found in both grand public buildings and scenic city neighborhoods. In residential settings, Greek Revival homes connect seamlessly to their surroundings, often including large porches that invite effortless indoor-outdoor living.
Beloved for its quaint simplicity and airy open floor plan, the bungalow captures all the rustic charm of a lakeside cabin, yet with the efficiency of built-in shelving, cabinetry, and roomy double-hung windows. Originating in India by the British during the mid-nineteenth century, the first one-story bungalows offered shelter from the hot climate with roomy porches and wide overhanging eaves.
Taking style cues from the Craftsman, the more petite American bungalow typically features a second story, dormered roofs, and a smaller-scale front porch at the entrance. Clad with stonework embellishments on the bottom—along with clapboard, shingle, or stucco siding—bungalows can be found all over the country and adapt to many different tastes and regions. First constructed in southern California between 1905 and 1930, American bungalow style rapidly became ubiquitous throughout the United States. Today, it is especially befitting in the Northeastern region, where laid-back lake living thrives.
The utmost antithesis of the buttoned-up attitude that typically characterizes the Victorians, these eclectic painted ladies or gingerbread houses celebrate whimsy and fanciful architecture like no other. These playful expressions, or so it seems, came across through the unexpected style of Victorian homes in what could be considered a joyful rebellion against the rigid symmetry, balance, and unadorned squareness depicting American architecture over the past 200 years.
Originating in England, Victorian style eventually flourished abroad, and its extensive reach soon spread to America. The style became most prominent during the 1900s when manufacturing developments paved the way for the mass production of materials used in these ornamental designs. Architectural embellishments indicative of Victorian style include turrets, multiple porches, steeply pitched roofs with many gables, scalloped shingles, patterned roofs, and a hodge-podge of expressive arches, hexagons, curves, and other lively shapes.
Some of the most exquisite examples can be seen along the seacoast of New England, and they are delightfully sprinkled throughout the Northeast as well.
Popular during the early 1800s and prominent throughout New England’s affluent port cities, this stately style was originally a symbol of wealth in urban settings. Inspired by eighteenth-century Greek and Roman architecture, Federal style is best known for its impeccable symmetry, brick facades, and grandiose double-hung windows. The front door is often capped with a semicircular fanlight and then crowned with elaborate molding atop regal columns. A pair of chimneys typically flank each side of the house, punctuating either a gabled or low-grade hip roof. Dentil moldings—or friezes sometimes displaying garlands, swags, urns, lotus buds, medallions, or wheat sheaves—accentuate the windows in ornate Federal-style fashion.
Named after the Adirondack Mountains and dating back to the 1800s, this rustic alpine style emits a cozy lodge-like warmth that speaks to all of us. It was amidst this glorious mountain setting that well-heeled East Coast families purchased acres of the breathtaking land within New York’s Adirondack region and built Great Camps—compounds comprising everything from luxury lodges and guest houses to stables and boathouses.
Colors, furnishings, materials, and other details of Adirondack style are always inspired by the surrounding nature and exude a relaxed mountain-getaway vibe. Capture the look with elements like rough-hewn wood ceiling beams, wainscoting, and furniture, twig work, burnished metals, bluestone or slate tiles, fieldstone fireplaces, supple leather upholstery, and sturdy Arts & Crafts décor. And let’s not forget the most iconic element—the Adirondack chair. A classic piece for patios, lawns, and decks, the wood-slatted, straight-backed, and angled-seat chair is perhaps the most recognizable component of Adirondack style.
Exterior hallmarks include rustic timber framing, poplar bark shingled siding, fieldstone foundations, pillars, and chimneys, cedar shake roofs, captivating towers, red window trim, screened sleeping porches, and breezy verandas and porches lined with rustic wood railings. These dreamy retreats offer a place to escape with family and friends—a place to commune with nature and take in the natural beauty of the nearby lakes.
If you’re eager to discover lake living options in the Northeastern region—or anywhere else across the country for that matter—visit Lakehomes.com, select your desired state, and explore to your heart’s content.
When it comes to lake living, the trend for cozy comfort has picked up speed since life as we know it changed suddenly in 2020. So, it comes as no surprise that the relaxed, no-fuss aesthetic of modern farmhouse style is on the rise everywhere—and especially at the lake. The perfect mix of minimal contemporary design blended effortlessly with traditional country charm, this look offers the warm and fuzzy feeling we crave yet with a fresh take that accommodates today’s streamlined lifestyle. Modern farmhouse style celebrates the beauty of serene color palettes, natural, rustic finishes, and a deep appreciation for the imperfect.
This spectacular waterfront home nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan illustrates an impeccable example of contemporary farmhouse style. Jodi Medina, lead designer at Benchmark Design Studio, together with Adam and Mike Schaap of Mike Schaap Builders, helped their clients step by step to achieve their family dream home on the lake.
If this look appeals to you, here are a few of their surefire tips on how you can create this contemporary take on rustic farmhouse style without sacrificing the ease of modern living.
“Modern farmhouse is a casual, relaxed, simple design that is so popular these days,” says Jodi. “Some of the details that our clients gravitated towards that we helped them incorporate in this home include black hardware and light fixtures, wide-plank white-washed white oak floors, and shiplap walls.”
A fusion of classic country style with rustic farmhouse elements, the modern farmhouse is polished with the sleek sophistication of crisp lines, soothing neutrals, lustrous metals, and a mix of smooth and weathered woods. Comfort is still key and can be achieved with a thoughtfully planned layering of color and pattern. In the living room and throughout, Jodi mixed playful patterns with subtle stripes and sumptuous solids in nubby tweed, supple leather, and even dog-friendly performance fabrics on some of the larger pieces. Patterned area rugs introduce plush softness underfoot and anchor the seating groups.
The modern farmhouse palette comprises a layering of neutrals—soft whites, creams, beiges, and grays. This will give your home a satisfying continuity and a contemporary fresh feel that defines this ever-popular style. To create contrast with a modern edge, Jodi added pops of black throughout with lighting fixtures and sleek kitchen countertops for the perfect juxtaposition to the home’s serene neutrals. Accent pillows in pale shades of blue, pale pink, and coral add visual interest and lend a soft touch to an otherwise modern scheme.
In addition to incorporating black into your color palette, don’t be afraid to use deeper shades—charcoal gray, dark blue, rich green—on accent walls, backsplashes, and cabinets to create visual balance and bring a sense of cozy warmth into your contemporary farmhouse home.
For this project, Jodi and her team made sure to combine sleek contemporary materials with weathered woods to create authentic farmhouse character. Natural and tactile textures such as a needle-point style area rug and intricately woven wicker-backed dining chairs nod to the traditional farmhouse aesthetic and pair perfectly with other textural accents, including a herringbone-patterned tile backsplash against built-in custom cabinets and a rustic barn beam atop a beachy pebble-stone fireplace surround.
“I think the style works well in this lakeside setting as it has a casual, laid-back feel to it,” says Jodi. “It also allows the family to live a more relaxed lifestyle with the finishes, which I think are easier to maintain than others. The homeowners live in this house full-time with their three children and the family dog. The white oak wood floors perform well at the lake, and the shiplap walls offer a low-maintenance, more forgiving option that also speaks to farmhouse style,” she sums.
The nerve center of almost every home, an inviting kitchen is the sweet spot for entertaining, family gatherings, and group cooking sessions. As with all the other rooms in the house, Jodi designed the plan and selected the architectural and trim details, cabinetry, furniture, and finishes. Her sister company Benchmark Wood Studio produced the custom cabinetry.
“Our three companies, including Mike Schaap Builders, are located in Holland, MI, under the same roof,” she says. “We work collectively to provide our clients with beautifully crafted and constructed, well-thought-out lake homes.”
Outfitted with white oak floors, honed black countertops accented with a shiny white subway-tile backsplash, and pendant lights wrapped elegantly with chicken-wire detailing, the kitchen aligns with the home’s modern farmhouse vibe. A roomy white island seats four and features extra pull-out stools tucked into each end.
Offering panoramic views of the lake, the master bathroom emits a spa-like ambiance with its sleek, minimalist style. Gray custom cabinetry connects visually with a beautiful herringbone-patterned tile floor, and a white soaking tub makes an elegant statement. Shiplap walls, brushed metal lighting fixtures, and a touch of black hardware on the door echo elements of modern farmhouse style seen throughout the home.
The exterior features for this home that embody modern farmhouse style include white board-and-batten siding, a black shingled roof with metal accents, and black-framed windows, doors, hardware, and light fixtures. In addition, a black Shaker-style bench creates a subtle hint of country charm that always befits this look.
“I loved how the homeowners trusted us with this project and allowed us to listen to their needs and wants,” recalls Jodi. “It is a highlight when our clients get to walk in their finished home and see the beautiful work our team envisioned and how our talented craftsmen implement it. It’s a blessing to us that we get to create these beautiful homes that people will live in and create amazing memories with their family and friends.”
For more tips on creating the modern farmhouse style in your own lake home, visit Homes & Gardens.
Bringing the outdoors in has been one of the top trends among lake home design for years. Interior decor ideas like driftwood art, warm green tones, and woven materials can create a seamless transition between your lake property and your living spaces. However, more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, this trend has now reversed. Instead of bringing the outdoors in, lake homeowners are looking to take the comfort of indoor living outside.
In this season of 2021, outdoor living projects are forecasted to be the “new norm,” according to outdoor contractor company Belgard. One new element of these living room spaces is outdoor rugs. Since these items are increasing in popularity, we at Lake Homes are here to address all your questions.
Usually, we’re always raving about natural materials. However, when it comes to outdoor rugs, synthetic materials are best because they’re less likely to be impacted by traffic and the elements. Andra DelMonico, the lead interior designer at Trendey, says that synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester, and polypropylene that are both mold and mildew resistant are ideal for your outdoor rugs. If you prefer natural materials, jute, bamboo, hemp, and sisal are good options. However, these tend to last longer in covered spaces.
Unlike the rugs in your living room, outdoor rugs are subject to the elements — UV rays from sun exposure, wind, rain, and snow. Therefore, it’s essential to know what types of rugs can be used outdoors. The materials mentioned above are the most popular types of rugs that will withstand the unpredictability of the outdoors. But there are other features to consider as well. Andra says, “The rug should have a tight weave to make it impervious to spills and dirt.” She also adds that it’s best to choose a lightweight rug because “you’ll be able to roll them up and easily clean your patio.” This will help you keep your space clean from fallen leaves, pollen, and other factors that affect your outdoor area.
The way you care for an outdoor rug all depends on the season. When it’s a long winter, roll up the rug and keep it in storage. When it’s in use during the warmer months, spot clean stains as needed. “For larger cleaning tasks,” Andra notes, “use a mixture of dish soap and water with a nylon brush to clean the entire rug. Rinse the rug when done. Make sure your rug dries well to prevent mold growth.” Also, be sure to avoid harsh chemicals to keep the colors intact.
fWhen using an outdoor rug at your lake house, there’s a couple of considerations to keep in mind. First, using a pad under your rug isn’t necessary, but it’s a good idea to allow circulation underneath. “Apply the same principles that you would use when buying an indoor rug. This will help your outdoor space feel more like a living area. The right rug can make your patio feel larger, more welcoming, and professionally styled,” says Andra.
Whether you prefer a tiny lakeside cabin tucked far away from it all, or an expansive modern-style haven with a sweeping wall of windows that captures your stunning shoreline view, lake homes across the country are as unique as the dwellers within. But no matter where you live, a lake residence offers this in common—a peaceful sense of sanctuary, a place to unwind and connect with nature, and a place to enjoy family and friends.
If you’ve ever traveled across the country, you can’t help but notice certain architectural styles that reflect the area’s overall aesthetic and climate conditions. Like regional cuisine, lake homes embody the quaint characteristics of their location and reveal a charming sense of place. Today, we turn our focus to the South/Southeastern region of the country as we take a guided tour of some of the most notable architectural styles and how they came to be.
Originating along the coast of South Carolina—a region known as the Lowcountry—this beloved Southern style radiates an air of refined simplicity and elegance. Developed in the 1700s, Lowcountry-style architecture was intentionally designed to invite natural airflow and ventilation for residents of this subtropical climate. A regional favorite deeply rooted in tradition and Southern hospitality, Lowcountry style exudes comfort and practicality with its spacious open-concept rooms, shady verandas, and breezy screened porches.
Other features quintessential to Lowcountry design—and well-suited for warmer lake climates—include high ceilings, shutters, and double-hung windows with top openings to allow hot air out and bottom openings to let in cool evening breezes. Transoms help create more ventilation and natural light, and durable metal roofing reflects the hot sun and protects against harsh winds and tropical rain.
Colonial plantation-style homes typically feature stately columns and an expansive porch with a balcony above it. Like traditional colonial-style homes, these symmetrical structures include regal front entries usually accented with pediments, a quaint balance of windows with shutters, and clapboard or brick siding. Built initially on cotton plantations, these exquisite homes also embody characteristics of French colonial style.
This modern take on the iconic Southern style still honors the symmetrical attributes associated with the plantation home aesthetic. Built for warm and humid climates, these homes boast tall ceilings, grand central entryways, elegant stairways, and spacious rooms where the air can flow freely. The timeless appeal of this traditional Southern style makes it perfect for families who appreciate gracious lakeside living.
An all-time favorite, cottage style has a wonderfully relaxed and inviting appeal that makes it ideal for lake home retreats. Colorful and comfortable, the look is often characterized by airy porches that connect visually to the great outdoors. Worn and weathered finishes, charming beadboard walls, a delightful texture mix of wicker and natural-fiber rugs, and a lovely color palette inspired by nature create an unmistakable sense of warmth that speaks of home.
Rustic surfaces show their rich patinas and the imperfections of age while combining effortlessly with the sheen of modern appliances and quartz countertops. This no-fuss look emulates the easy-living mindset of those who embrace the lake life. Kids, dogs, wet bathing suits, and bare feet are always welcome here.
The ease and practicality of coastal style make it a beloved favorite for many Southern lake home dwellers. Often referred to as beach style—no matter if you reside on a lake or a coast—this style incorporates high ceilings and large windows to invite breezes throughout the home while forcing the heat to rise far above the living spaces. In addition, expansive covered porches, verandas, and other exterior spaces extend the living areas outside—the place to be when you’re relaxing at the lake.
Some coastal-style homes are raised to help prevent flood damage that comes with tropical storms and driving rains. Durable roofing and siding, shutters, and impact-resistant windows also protect against high winds and heavy rainfall.
Interiors bathed in shades of white, vibrant accent colors, and plenty of comfy slip-covered seating create a casual coastal vibe like no other. This style is all about connecting with the outdoors and enjoying water views from nearly every vantage point.
But no matter your architectural tastes, a sense of charm, comfort, and hospitality are the common threads intrinsic to Southern style. Within the walls of the Southern home, there is a palpable feeling of warmth, welcome, and timelessness that celebrates the beauty of gracious living. For this stunning waterfront property on Georgia’s Lake Oconee, award-winning Atlanta interior designer Melanie Turner put her talents to work to transform what was once a bachelor pad into a cozy retreat for the homeowner and his new bride.
“The house was bought and owned by a bachelor, and the design had changed multiple times over the years,” says Melanie. “Once he married, his gift to his new wife was to renovate and redesign the house to fit their new lifestyle.”
The couple found they never really used the living room, so they decided to move the pool table out there to capture the beautiful lake view and add four comfy slip-covered chairs for drinks and socializing.
Melanie divided the family room into two sections. In front of the fireplace, she incorporated big “man chairs” for watching TV. “For a surprise feature, I incorporated dog beds into the bases of a pair of console tables flanking the fireplace,” says the designer.
Here, Melanie added a sofa facing the kitchen to keep the chef company. “The overall color palette was based on the lake setting itself—rich greens, weathered and rustic textures, and soft neutral-hued linens,” she says. “The homeowners are big dog lovers, so we added a playful composition of dog portraits for a personal touch,” she sums.
There’s nothing like having a breezy screened-in porch at the lake. The soft upholstered seating makes it feel like an outdoor living room. “We used monochromatic, calming colors throughout to infuse the interiors with the surrounding colors of nature,” says Melanie. “This place has an easy lake lifestyle feel to it, so our plan for this house was to bring life into the spaces without making them too formal.”
Outdoor living is one of the joys of lake life—so now that summer is here, let’s make the best of it. A well-balanced landscape design should complement your lifestyle and add value to your lake property. It’s typically made up of two main elements that define outdoor living spaces—hardscapes and softscapes. In simple terms, think of softscapes as the living things in your yard and hardscapes as the hard stuff like bricks, wood, stone, and concrete. For part one of our two-part feature, we’re going to first focus on hardscapes.
Retaining Walls & Steps
Photo courtesy of Mom’s Design Build via Turf Magazine
If your lakeside landscape sits on a slope, you might benefit from a retaining wall. Creating a hillside terrace adds visual interest and more usable land and reduces soil erosion and water runoff by slowing down the flow of rainwater and diverting it to a drainage system. Low retaining walls can even double as extra seating for outdoor entertaining. Incorporate a cascading stairway into your retaining wall, and you now have an elegant pathway down to the shore. Say the experts at Gardenista, “Think of retaining walls as support hose for sloped terrain: they hold everything in place—discreetly.”
When considering material options, select those that will complement your lake home’s surrounding natural landscape and architectural style. Building material choices are abundant and range from brick and stone to poured concrete to treated and stained woods.
Before getting started, it’s best to consult a landscape architect or gardening professional to guide you. Click here for more inspiring ideas.
Alluring pathways and driveways lend instant visual appeal and create a welcoming first impression for visitors. A dynamic driveway or walkway to your front door adds pleasing curb appeal and can even increase the resale value of your lake home.
Whether you decide to go with solid pavers for a sleek, contemporary vibe, or charming steppingstones that lend an English cottage feel, your options are virtually endless. A good rule of thumb to follow? Always choose surfaces that complement the style of your lake-dwelling and the surrounding environment.
If you’re not a DIY enthusiast, start by calling in a landscape professional to help you find the best design for your property. They can also guide you through the array of material choices that include brick, concrete, bluestone, granite, gravel, limestone, and more. If your lake home is in a colder climate, consider options that can stand up to freezing temperature, such as terracotta, travertine, and slate. Click here for more creative ideas for walkway designs.
There is nothing more blissful than sitting by a fire while relaxing at the lake. Firelight creates an ambiance like no other and brings warmth, a soft romantic glow, and an inviting interactive experience. So, whether you want to incorporate an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, there are a few things first to consider:
When placed on the edge of a patio or pavilion, a fireplace takes up less space and can be used in inclement weather if it’s under cover. This architectural element can also bring a graceful focal point to your outdoor entertainment space. The benefits of a chimney direct the smoke upward and outward, ensuring a pleasant, fresh-air environment.
On the other hand, a fire pit is a bit more like having a cozy bonfire or campfire. You can place seating all around it for fun family gatherings, like roasting marshmallows with the kids and making s’mores. If you’re looking to design a custom immovable firepit, make sure you choose the perfect spot with the desired view and have a landscape professional guide you on its placement—where lake breezes can move the smoke away from your other outdoor areas. For more fireside inspiration, visit HGTV.
Pools—and the lavish, lounge-like seating areas that surround them—can create a splendid oasis for your lake landscape. Crisp and cool, the refreshing element of water always provides a calming visual connection to your lakeside environment.
First, decide what type of pool best suits your needs, budget, and lifestyle. Pools are costly to install, and the upkeep may not be for everyone. Consider pool shapes and styles, such as a seamless infinity pool spilling over a vanishing edge, a long narrow lap pool, a therapeutic spa feature, or even a non-chlorine natural swimming pool. You’ll definitely want to consult with a landscape architect or pool specialist to discuss material options, cost, and maintenance.
Other considerations include lighting and underwater lights, poolside landscape plant materials, seating areas, furniture arrangements, and outdoor furniture options, including luxurious poolside loungers, chaises, patio sets, and plush water-resistant cushions and upholsteries. For more inspiration, check out these dreamy pool design ideas.
A deck or patio added to your lake property will instantly create an additional room and expand your living space to the outdoors.
Typically made of wood, decks float above the ground—from a few inches to many feet—and are framed with support structures. If your lake setting sits on a slope, then a deck might be the perfect choice for you. Deck flooring materials include natural wood—cedar, redwood, mahogany, teak, ipe, bamboo—and other options such as pressure-treated lumber and sustainable composite decking.
Patios are constructed on a flat surface at ground level with hard materials like brick, concrete, stone tiles, and pavers. Ideal for poolside areas or level outdoor spaces where you want to enhance the architectural appeal of your home, patios are a durable and aesthetically pleasing choice. For more ideas on creating spectacular outdoor spaces, click here.
In an upcoming post, we’ll show you how to balance your lakeside hardscape designs with lush, green softscapes. In the meantime, happy hardscaping!
Are you torn between buying a lake home or a beach home? Here are five reasons to buy a lake home instead of a beach home.
Sand. Most lakes don’t have sand so if you’re not a fan of having to clean up sand from your home or property, then a home at the lake is perfect for you.
Salt water. With the exception of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, the Dead Sea in Jordan and Israel, and a few others located in various parts of the world, the majority of lakes in the United States are fresh water. Therefore, one of the benefits of having a lake home is not having to worry about corrosion of your home or furniture as you would if you owned a beach home.
Sharks. There are no sharks at the lake.
Docks. With a lake home, you’re able to have your own personal dock to enjoy making personal watercrafts easily accessible at your home or property.
Shoreline. The option of finding a lake home is far greater than a beach home because there is more lake shoreline than beach shoreline.
