Client Brief:
The original client brief centered around transforming a dated 2000s lakefront home into a vibrant, highly functional space that felt deeply personal and uniquely theirs. The homeowners wanted the house to reflect their love of color, coastal living, and a laid-back yet elevated lifestyle—all while supporting the everyday needs of a busy family with kids and pets.

They weren’t looking for a cookie-cutter renovation. They wanted something bold, joyful, and timeless. Key requests included:

• A kitchen built for gathering and entertaining

• Comfortable, livable spaces with personality

• A cohesive layout with better flow and functionality

• Colorful and expressive details that felt meaningful, not trendy

• Plenty of storage and durable finishes that could stand up to real life

Our goal was to give them all of that and more—designing a home that balances beauty and practicality, feels luxurious but lived-in, and most importantly, feels like them.

inspiration for the project:

The true spark for this entire project came from wallpaper. Before we sourced a single piece of furniture or selected a paint color, we pulled together a curated stack of wallpapers that fit the color palette and vibe the client was drawn to—coastal, playful, and a little unexpected.

We invited her to choose the ones she felt most connected to, the ones she could truly imagine living with every day. That moment set the tone for everything else. From there, we built the entire design narrative—cabinet colors, tile selections, textiles, rugs, and even metal finishes—all inspired by the tones and patterns in those wallpapers.

It created a completely personalized and cohesive feel throughout the home. Each room tells its own story, but there’s a thread of consistency that makes the whole space feel elevated, thoughtful, and truly reflective of the family.

Unique Additions

One of the most impactful design decisions we made in this home was removing all of the pony walls that were left over from a previous renovation trend popular in the early 2000s. These half-walls were originally intended to offer visual separation between spaces—but in reality, they created unnecessary physical barriers that disrupted the natural flow of the home.

Instead of defining spaces, they ended up becoming awkward drop zones and prevented the family from using certain areas to their full potential. By eliminating them, we completely opened up the floor plan and allowed for more intentional space planning. The entryway became a welcoming moment with practical storage, the living and dining areas became more inviting and connected, and the kitchen now truly feels like the heart of the home.

This one change—removing the pony walls—transformed the way the family experiences their home every day. It’s a great example of how thoughtful architectural edits can have just as much impact as beautiful furnishings and finishes.