Thoughts of retiring by the lake with time to golf, read, and relax were on the minds of these homeowners when they built their dream lakeside getaway.
John and Carolyn Hartman had been going to their favorite lake for years, and when a lot became available within shouting distance of the golf course, John was enamored with the idea of building their own lake house. They wanted to keep the floor plan open so their four grown children and their spouses and all 10 grandkids could gather together. Carolyn’s design background helped her accomplish this goal with one large room housing the kitchen, dining, and family areas and using furniture placement to define the spaces.
A large cast-iron farmhouse sink comes with a view. Few upper kitchen cabinets were included, but two islands were added to make up for the missing storage. “I can be cooking at one island while someone sits at the other, and we can talk without getting in each other’s way,” Carolyn says.
One of Carolyn’s favorite pieces, this cupboard is hand painted with images of roosters.
They also kept hallways throughout the house to a minimum, which meant less wasted space. From the kitchen you can see into the family room and foyer.
The walls of the house are cypress, eliminating the need for drywall. And the salvaged beams used in the kitchen hood, front door, and across the fireplace are at least 100 years old and were reclaimed from an old warehouse.
Small children’s chairs with woven seats and painted backs are a welcoming nod to little visitors.
The couple wanted a house big enough to sleep their four grown children and their spouses and all 10 grandkids, so they needed plenty of bedrooms.
To furnish the upstairs guest bedrooms, Carolyn gathered wrought-iron beds and other family treasures. Painted chests and tables are utilized as nightstands.
The house that they jokingly call the “golf cabin” has been enjoyed by the family for several years now, but life for the Hartmans is not close to slowing down.
John is still busy with his work, and Carolyn and her daughter-in-law, Kate, have opened their own decorating shop called Chickadee. Carolyn says she’s still not sure what happened to the idea of slowing down.
