We were so happy to renovate this house on Beaver Lake for Debbie Nieman. She and her husband, Greg, had bought the house a few years ago with plans to renovate, but when they were just five weeks away from starting, her husband unexpectedly passed away, and the project was put on hold for a while.

Once Debbie was ready to move forward with her and her husband’s dreams, we were honored to dive into this project with her, knowing this home would be a place to bring her closer to her son Gates, daughter-in-law Robbie, and her sweet grandchildren.

BEFORE

The house hadn’t been touched since the 1970s and was very understated compared to the inside and the view beyond. Debbie wished the house were a little taller, and she didn’t like the brick color. We decided to add a faux dormer to give the house more dimension, and instead of painting the brick, we went with a stone façade. We updated the windows and shutters, added flower boxes, and installed a new front door and new lighting. Now it looks like a sweet lakehouse cottage. Debbie loved the Dutch door Dave and the guys built; she said she had always wanted one.

AFTER

SOURCES

Flag | Allegiance Flag Supply

Exterior Lanterns | Kichler

Front Door Hardware | Emtek

Windows | Plygem Mira Series by Cornerstone – Simonton

Siding | Plygem by Cornerstone

Stone | Diamond Petra Stone

Bird Feeder | Amazon

Shutter Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Uncertain Gray

BEFORE

This area hadn’t been touched since the house was built. It still had old, outdated yellow cabinets and white tile countertops. Debbie’s vision was to have lower cabinets with large windows above, which I agreed with wholeheartedly. With lake houses especially, you absolutely want to maximize the view every chance you get.

We installed the same flooring here as in the rest of the house and added all-new cabinets, countertops, and a gigantic island. The white tones, gold hardware, and bamboo window treatments give this kitchen a classic, timeless look.

Gates requested a sign for the kitchen that would say “DeDe’s Camp,” and I thought that was such a cute idea that we ran with it. Around the corner from the kitchen, we created a large walk-in pantry, complete with a custom-made vending machine. It’s so cute! The pink shade looks especially sweet against the pantry color.

AFTER

SOURCES

Sconces | Capital Lighting

Can Lights | Kichler

Countertops | Santa Margherita

Cabinet Knobs | Amazon

Cabinet Pulls | Amazon

Cabinets | Premiere Wood Concepts

Cabinets | Walnut

Blinds | Amazon

Vending Machine | Custom Vending

Art | Meghan Story 

Art | Krista Kim

Camp DeDe Logo | Kim Brown

Pantry Art | Juniper Print Shop

Runner | Turkish Trunk

Wall & Hood Vent Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

Cabinet Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter

Pantry Cabinet Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Dead Salmon

BEFORE

We had an extra space off the living room that was the perfect size for a bar. I had some tile left over from renovating Sylvie’s bathroom, and I knew the rich green tone would make the perfect backsplash to pair beautifully with the arched doorway and the style of this little spot.

AFTER

SOURCES

Sconces | CB2 

Countertops | Santa Margherita

Cabinet Knobs | Amazon

Tile | Tiles of Ezra

Art | Juniper Print Shop

Cabinets | Premiere Wood Concepts

Cabinets | Walnut

BEFORE

Another area just off the kitchen and living room turned out to be the perfect spot for a cozy game nook. We placed a large, round table here that was handmade by Dave and Austin, creating a place where Debbie and her family can gather for card games and board games. I love how the rich, dark wood of the table plays off the moody green walls, making the space feel both inviting and special.

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Chandelier | Bed Bath & Beyond

Curtain Rod | Amazon

Curtains | Amazon

Art | Buddy Whitlock

Wall, Trim & Ceiling Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Salon Drab

BEFORE

This room felt very outdated, and the screened-in back porch was blocking the beautiful lake view from the main part of the house. We tore down the wall that separated the two spaces so we could bring that magnificent view right into the living room.

We removed the old carpet and installed wood flooring throughout the house, along with added can lighting to brighten everything up. We also scaled back the fireplace and switched it from gas to electric, making it much safer for the grandchildren. On cold winter days, it is also so much easier to flip a switch and instantly have a cozy fire going. By bringing in the same stone used on the exterior of the home and carrying it onto the fireplace, we were able to keep everything feeling cohesive while giving this lakeside cottage a fresh, updated feel.

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Fireplace | Dynasty

Stone | Diamond Petra Stone

Ceiling Fan | Kichler

Cabinets | Premiere Wood Concepts

Cabinet Knobs | Amazon

Countertops | Santa Margherita

Art | Buddy Whitlock

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

Cabinet Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Drop Cloth

This space had once been the back patio, but with a 30-foot drop, Debbie did not feel it was safe for her grandchildren. She wanted to close it in and turn it into a dining space where she could gather with family. Debbie loves to host Thanksgiving dinners and other special occasions, so creating a place for those moments felt especially important.

Dave and I also wanted to do something meaningful to honor Greg, so we came up with the idea for Dave to create a custom stained glass piece. We visited a local stained glass shop together and selected individual pieces for him to set into a peaceful landscape design. My hope was that it would bring a sense of calm and serve as a beautiful reminder of what matters most.

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Curtain Rods | Amazon

Curtain Rings | Amazon

Curtains | Amazon

Chandelier | West Elm

Art | Buddy Whitlock

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove

The bedroom had a strange layout where you had to walk through the closet to reach the bed, which made the space feel awkward and closed off. We moved the bedroom entrance to a different wall to create better flow. By closing off the walk-through closet, we were able to give Debbie a much larger and more functional closet.

We also closed in an old slider, updated the flooring, and added can lighting along with a modern ceiling fan. The large new window we installed brings in an abundance of natural light and beautifully frames the lake view below. With soft blue walls and fresh window treatments, this room now feels like a peaceful retreat made just for Debbie.

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Ceiling Fan | Kichler

Can Lights | Kichler

Curtain Rod | Amazon

Curtain Rings | Amazon

Curtains | Amazon

Art | Juniper Print Shop

Runner | Turkish Trunk

Wall Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Uncertain Gray

The bathroom was still holding onto its 1970s look and layout, so we gutted it completely and reimagined the space. We gave Debbie a modern shower, a soaking tub, a double vanity, and a separate water closet. The combination of traditional walnut cabinetry paired with modern marble-style flooring and tile creates a beautiful, updated space that feels both timeless and fresh.

SOURCES

Sconce | Lulu & Georgia

Mirrors | Amazon

Cabinets | Walnut

Cabinets | Premiere Wood Concepts

Cabinet Knobs | Amazon

Countertops | Santa Margherita

Blinds | Amazon

Shower Floor Tile | Daltile

Shower Wall Tile | Daltile

Shower Wall Tile | Daltile

Floor Tile | Daltile

Bathtub Table | Wayfair

Art | Kelly Ventura

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore White Dove