Step Inside a Georgia Lake Cottage Filled with Summer Camp Nostalgia

Text by Bethany Adams

Overlooking an idyllic lake view just minutes from a charming small town community in central Georgia, Kelly and Walter Gray’s lake home is the culmination of decades’ worth of dreams. “In 1986, my husband and I built our first home on a street a half mile from here, and we would often walk down this lake road,” Kelly recalls. “He would look at the lake, and I would look at the houses.” But they both noticed one home on the water, which stood out for its traditional details, such as exposed rafter tails.

“I said I wanted to live in this house every time we passed it,” Kelly says—and when the home showed up in a real estate listing 30 years later, the couple wasted no time. In a little over a month, they had sold their current home to friends and closed on the lake house. “It was definitely a big Godwink how everything fell into place,” Kelly says.

In the years since, the Grays have been shaping the house into a space that reflects them in every detail, starting by removing carpet and tiles to uncover oak floors and wood ceilings. “In the rooms that didn’t have the original ceilings, [Walter] installed pine boards and stained them to match,” Kelly says. “I removed layers of wallpaper and cleaned the old wood floors, and my husband installed battens on the walls over the old paneling.”

From adding fresh paint and new fixtures to installing closets and bookcases, the projects ranged from simple to extensive, but the result is a one-of-a-kind lake house with thoughtful details and endless character. “I have loved old houses forever,” Kelly says, and that preference shows in the timeless, vintage-style selections that make the summer camp aesthetic feel authentic and grounded rather than kitschy.

“My husband is like a big kid, and summer camp just seemed to fit with our casual lifestyle—and all our canoes, kayaks, and grandsons,” Kelly says. In addition, Kelly’s favorite movies and an affinity for both the original lake houses on Lake Rabun in North Georgia and Camp Wandawega in Wisconsin played into the choice. “This old house with its summer camp vibe allowed me to pull in elements from all of those things I love,” she adds.

While the theme shines in every space, it’s perhaps at its most charming in the light-filled area off the primary bedroom. “My favorite room is our sunroom with its old wicker furniture, bookshelves full of National Geographic magazines, and windows on two sides looking out at the lake,” Kelly says. “The sun comes in in the early morning, so it’s a bright space.” The Grays’ grandsons, Jax and Finn, also enjoy playing in the space, and evenings often see visiting family gathered to watch movies or play games.

“From what we have been able to find out, this lake house was built for entertaining in 1949,” Kelly says. “I wanted to stay true to that original purpose—keeping it a place to relax and have fun at the lake for our family and friends.” And although the Grays are constantly adding to and adjusting the design, it’s clear they’re enjoying every moment of life in this gorgeous getaway of a home.

For more information, visit @talkofthehouse on Instagram.