Project overview - At SYH, we feel that a vacation home, like a basement, has to be designed so well that it compels you there. This simple, comfortable A-frame renovation certainly makes the hassle of packing the car and opening the boat and stocking the groceries all worth it.

Client description - With three puppies and three grown sons, not to mention a regular crew of grand-dogs, significant others and friends, this Indianapolis-based couple wanted their weekend lake retreat to be serene and inviting, and also relaxed and indestructible.

Design solutions - Our interior design and architecture team preserved the structure's quirky charm, connecting inhabitants inside and also drawing them outside; by design, togetherness and nature are the focus. A formerly dark and awkward kitchen is now bright and natural, with a new window to see the lake and a layout made for a crowd to work in and move through. White paint, a new stair rail system, and an overall neutral furniture scheme lighten and modernize the main spaces, highlighting the blues and greens outside. We pulled the soft lake palette into the reconfigured bath that serves the main floor and also has a door into the primary bedroom. As always, we balanced new and old, retaining the original pine ceiling and fireplace, as well as an heirloom dining set.

Outcomes & testimonials - It's hard to choose our favorite bit, but the custom reading nook that fits a full-sized mattress is a top contender. It’s a great place to curl up and catch the afternoon sun or make into a bed for extra visitors. This thoughtful vacation home design has been featured in Martha Stewart and Living Etc

​​"Susan and her staff are absolutely first-rate, and their design of our lake house was beyond our expectations," one of the homeowners shared. "They are highly responsive, detailed, and leave nothing to chance." The other owner added, "Susan and her team of designers and architects…turned our lakehouse into a beautiful home that we are SO proud of every time we walk through the door. Her team will make you feel so comfortable as you begin the process of transforming your home into the beautiful and functional place you have always dreamed it could be."