Northshore Home magazine highlights the best in architectural design, new construction and renovations, interiors, and landscape design.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1142011
century estate. "The house has a magnificent presence, and inside, the new addition of color and texture offer an unpredicted contrast," says Kennerknecht. "It is truly unexpected. Lighting was a crucial element to making the great room warm and inviting. There is no recessed light- ing in the space, and while the designers incorporated some floor lamps, they wanted to depend on some eye- catching hanging fixtures for the bulk of the illumina- tion. They chose hollow globe-shaped bead-and-rattan fixtures that seem to float above the main living space. "The light fixtures were very important," says Dana. "We wanted to see through the fixtures. We didn't want them to feel heavy in the space, but to give off a lot of light. Lighting in this room became crucial." The overall effect of the décor in the great room is to entice guests to sit and relax. The previous owners had used the central part of the space as a large-scale foyer, creating a much more formal feel and giving up valu- able living space. The new homeowners and designers immediately decided to recapture that room to help create a home where every space is useful and begs one to stay awhile. "One of my goals was to make the great room a center of gravity for the house and to make it a space that everyone would be drawn to," says Clement. "And that's exactly what's happened. We probably use The greens and blues in the home's four bedrooms are a nod to nature, fitting for a lake house. 81 that more than any other common space." And there are plenty of common spaces to go around. There are many spots where a guest can feel comfort- able sitting down to chat, play a game, or work on a computer. Clement calls those spots "little moments around the house where you can be part of the action and also be apart." They are key to creating a space that can comfortably accommodate a large, multigenera- tional family group. This type of functionality combined with the bright and varied design elements makes for a home that is profoundly welcoming and enlivening. "It's just so fresh," says Dana. "Something about being there—it's really airy and playful, and it just immediately puts you at ease. I walk into that house and feel like I can put my feet up onto the furniture and be at home there." For contact information, see Resources on page 106.