Lake houses are ideal for entertaining, and this upscale custom home in the desirable Long Cove community on Cedar Creek Lake is no exception. Designed for weekend getaways with family and friends, the newly built residence features six bedrooms to accommodate the homeowners and their four children, with plenty of room for overnight guests.
“[The wife] really wanted it to feel like a home you would have in Dallas,” says designer Mary Beth Wagner, who worked with the builder and project manager to create a welcome and livable space that was more elevated than a typical lakefront property. To balance a traditional aesthetic with transitional elements, the designer incorporated blues and greens and textural elements inspired by nature throughout the interior.
The dining room is one of the more formal spaces, since the owners plan to host large holiday gatherings at the lake. Ross side chairs from Serena & Lily provide comfortable seating to linger around the durable burlwood dining table, which was custom made for the space. “We used a natural grass cloth on the walls to make it feel a little warmer,” notes Wagner, who also brought in color and texture with drapery on the floor-to-ceiling windows. A large mirror from Restoration Hardware over a custom credenza reflects the natural sunlight, while a Talia bubble chandelier from Visual Comfort and two Athens ceramic table lamps by Dallas lighting designer Paul Schneider keep the space bright in the evening.
Wagner took the cabinetry all the way to the ceiling in the adjacent kitchen and added wood beams to make the open floor plan to the living room feel more cohesive. “They have a big family, so the space called for a large island,” illuminated with a modern pendant light from Urban Electric, says the designer. The barstools are upholstered in pleather so kids can sit in the kitchen when they come in from the lake, and both the counter and backsplash are marble.
Wagner incorporated the same trim on the Roman shades as on the living room curtains, which play off cheerful blue of the custom living room sofas. “We covered all the upholstery in indoor-outdoor fabric, and the ottomans are also covered in pleather to be more durable for four kids and lake life,” she says. Two Capitola rattan frame lounge chairs from Palecek and a Willem banana bark table from Made Goods further echo the natural surroundings.
Each of the three upstairs guest rooms has a light and airy feel, with lake views the obvious focal point. A teal bolster and teal stone lamp on the nightstand add a subtle pop of color to the sandy-toned headboard and rug in one of the guest rooms, which features a glass door that looks out to the water. “We added grass cloth on the walls to help it feel cozier, since the ceilings are vaulted,” Wagner says.
A fourth bedroom upstairs serves as the girls’ bunk room, with four sets of queen bunkbeds perfect for sleepovers. A sitting room with wall art by local Dallas artist Shelby Flaten above a pink sofa connects the sleeping quarters to a spacious bathroom with vibrant pink cabinets and playful pink-and-blue wallpaper. “It’s quite fabulous,” quips the designer with a laugh.
Downstairs, the statelier master bedroom is all about texture, with crisp white bedding, grass cloth walls, Roman shades and tall drapes featuring a subtle zigzag pattern with muted tones. The master bath plays off the colors in the master bedroom; it includes a marble-clad soaker tub and brass wall sconces flanking brass-framed mirrors above a double vanity. “The tile was sourced at Floor & Decor,” notes Wagner, who installed a Roman shade to give the large window above the bathtub more interest. “We added the valance and the inverted scallop at the bottom and trim on the sides,” she says.
A boys’ bunk room and bathroom also are located downstairs, as well as an additional bathroom for guests. “We wanted it to feel more like a powder room and have a little fun with it,” Wagner states. The floating vanity includes an integrated marble sink and two drawers that appear to attach to the wall, which is covered in Chambra Crown Sisal wallpaper from Schumacher that draws from the greens and blues in the main living space.
Of course, with the magnificent view, the design team also prioritized the outdoor living area as a spot to escape and entertain. “We wanted to bring the inside out, making it feel like an extension of the home,” says Wagner, adding that the handwoven rope furniture by John Himmel on the covered patio exemplified this approach. “I use the indoor versions [of the rope furniture] all the time in my projects and would consider the chairs as one of my signatures. They have an outdoor weave that is perfect for bringing that look outside.”
Green patterned pillows on the John Himmel seating coordinate with indoor hues and the trees beyond. At the edge of the lake, the homeowners can relax on loungers in a shallow-water sun shelf. Statement Janus et Cie patio chairs arranged around a fire pit provide another spot to enjoy the outdoors in the evenings.
“Overall, it was a fantastic project,” says Wagner, who notes that Long Cove is a perfect getaway at less than 90 minutes from downtown Dallas. “The house is a place you’d want to spend a lot of time.”
Love homes, design and real estate? Get more good stuff from Abode by following us on Instagram and Facebook.