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This Cottage-Style Lake House Is the Vacation Home of Our Dreams
After a lifetime of trips to a charming Lake Michigan town, a Kentucky family finally took the plunge and built their dream summer retreat fit for all three generations.
Designer Chenault James knows better than almost anyone that the very best things in life involve family and come with age. Bourbon is in her blood after all—her father, Julian Van Winkle, founded Kentucky-based company Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery more than 30 years ago. And she and her sisters—they’re triplets!—Louise Breen and Carrie Greener co-own Pappy & Company, a heritage clothing and housewares company inspired by the iconic bourbon brand. That’s why she wanted her family’s new home to capture the look of the turn-of-the-century cottages in their favorite lake town, Harbor Springs, Michigan.
The Van Winkles have spent summers in Harbor Springs for more years than Chenault can count. “My dad's family started coming here when he was a kid as a way to escape the Kentucky heat,” she says. After years of renting, her parents, Julian and Sissy, finally decided to build a summer home of their own—a property large enough for the entire family, which, in addition to the three sisters and brother Preston, includes lots of grandchildren. So, Sissy joined forces with daughter Chenault to create a new build chock-full of charm and character. “Every time you get to town, it’s like stepping back in time—you walk everywhere. Kids stay out playing—on their own!—until dusk. We wanted the house to capture that feeling,” Chenault says.
Once they found a vacant lot—no small task in the historic village—the mother-daughter duo looked to the surrounding turn-of-the-century cottages for architectural inspiration and then they went to work figuring out how to expand on a cottage-size footprint. Next, they filled the new build home with antiques and made it a cozy place for their big family. The result: a three-story, eight-bedroom, eight-bathroom retreat that boasts all the trappings of an old-school Lake Michigan cottage. Take a look inside to see their perfect formula...
A Charming Exterior
Architectural details inspired by historic homes in the area—gingerbread trim, X-shaped window sashes—bring old-school cottage charm to the new build. Thanks to the water, an expansive fire pit area, and a wraparound porch, the family spends most of their time outdoors.
RELATED: For more ideas to decorate your front porch, check out 80+ Best Front Porch Decorating Ideas.
A “Feed an Army” Kitchen
In order to add more soul throughout the largely blank space, Sissy and Chenault brought in a smattering of reclaimed touches. Chenault's husband, Ed, owner of Four Board Woodworks, built all the kitchen cabinets out of weathered cypress. Diner-inspired barstools add retro charm to the light blue kitchen island topped with Vermont Danby honed marble countertops.
Get the Look:
Island Paint Color: Rhine River by Benjamin Moore
A Kid-Friendly Sitting Area
After dinner, the kids pile on the nearby cozy sofa covered in weatherproof (and childproof!) cotton duck fabric. Sissy found the nautical painting in Louisville at Barry Wooley Designs.
A Dining Room That Accommodates a Crowd
When it came time to furnish the home, the Van Winkles again looked to the past, relying on antiques to soften the edges of the mint-condition new construction. Chenault says the house took “no time” to pull together because she and Sissy had spent years shopping (and purchasing!) for a lake house long before they actually owned one. “My mom and I are the kind of people who, if we see something we like and the price is right, we buy it—regardless of whether or not we have a place for it,” she says. In the dining room, an iron chandelier hangs from a ceiling adorned with metal tiles from a beloved local diner. Sissy filled the antique walnut hutch with Blue Willow dishware she’s collected through the years.
Get the Look:
Blue & White Platters: Blue Willow Dishware from Replacements
Furniture-Like Built-Ins
Located just off the dining room, a cypress wet bar was crafted by Chenault’s husband, Ed, owner of Four Board Woodworks. It’s bun feet and recessed panel doors give it the appearance of a found antique cupboard. Chenault tucked in vintage landscapes above the, also cypress, countertops.
A Lofty, Yet Cozy Living Room
The home’s airy palette came together on the spot. Chenault says she found herself drawn to the reds, whites, and blues by accident. “It just sort of happened before I even knew it. Maybe it’s because we’re always here for the Fourth of July,’ she says. Blue obviously feels right here. You’re surrounded by it, from the sky to the water." She chose red pieces for the vintage, retro feel the color provides but also mixed in aqua, green, and coral touches to prevent the scene from getting too old-fashioned or theme-y. Cottage style reigns in the living room, with canvas cotton duck slipcovered furniture, flea-market-find side tables, and a coffee table that Chenault covered in burlap and painted. A bourbon barrel hoop on the mantel recalls the family business.
The Cutest Powder Room Ever
In the petite powder room, Chenault converted an old sideboard into a vanity and lined the space in vintage Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper.
Bedrooms With Old-School Charm
Wide-set board-and-batten walls in the bedroom mimic the look of old Lake Michigan cottages, which had no insulation and left wall joists exposed. “This room was the right place for that historic look,” says Chenault.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: White Dove by Benjamin Moore
Scalloped Shams: “Butterfield” by Matouk
RELATED: See more decorating ideas for creating a soothing white bedroom.
A Bathroom Filled With Vintage Style...
A collection of antique hand mirrors hangs above an old desk-turned-vanity.
...And Makes You Smile
In the same bathroom, a salvaged clawfoot tub—refreshed with a happy spring green—invites a relaxing soak. A set of vintage floral watercolors by M. LeClair in simple white frames adds graphic punch.
Get the Look:
Tub Paint Color: Basil Green by Benjamin Moore
Scallop-edged Towels: For similar, Cairo Scallop by Matouk
A Slumber Party Enticing Bunk Room
Like the kids’ personalities, no two headboards, sheet sets, or vintage quilts in the upstairs bunk room are alike. Originally planned as a third-story mechanical room, the steeply pitched space is a mismatch of beds placed anywhere (and everywhere!) they would fit. “We call it the bunk room, even though there aren’t really any bunks. It’s just a room full of beds—seven twins and a full,” says Chenault.
Related: Check Out These Decorating Ideas for Kids' Rooms Everyone Will Love
Outdoor Rooms With Indoor Style
The outdoor dining room is ready for family gatherings thanks to a 10-person table from local shop Don Kelly Antiques. Chenault’s husband, Ed, crafted the starburst mirror from old bourbon barrels.
Meet the Van Winkle Family
From left: Ed & Chenault James with Bo and Neal and Louise & Willy Breen with Van, Julian, and Mac.
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