Primary houses are typically designed to showcase homeowners' true style and accommodate their everyday lives. Vacation homes, on the other hand, are outfitted to feel like a relaxing getaway — but with all the comforts of home.
Kristin Pawlak, owner and interior designer at KP Designs/ Decorating Den Interiors , shares the approach she took when designing a Louisville family’s vacation space in Nolin Lake.
“First of all, you want to honor what type of home it is,” she said. “(This) is a lake home, so you (already) have a little bit of that vibe going in.”
Downsized for downtime
Pawlak says that when designing a part-time dwelling, “You need just enough, but not too much. … It’s not like your everyday space that houses everything you own. You want it more open and visually free of clutter and other things.”
This means planning for just the right amount of space to store clothes and other essentials that one might need for a short period of time. Pawlak explains that this calls for a much lighter look in terms of furniture and accessories.
A typical bedroom, for example, might have a dresser, a chest of drawers, and two nightstands. A vacation home will have about half that amount of storage.
“You don’t need as much as you need in a home you’re living in 100% of the time,” Pawlak said.
Having minimal furniture in a part-time abode, however, doesn’t mean sacrificing aesthetics.
“We aim, in a vacation or part-time home, to do a little bit of art in every room,” Pawlak explained, adding that not incorporating any artwork can lead to an unfinished look that lacks comfort and coziness.
Picking the right pieces
Pawlak says that when it came to choosing which hues to use throughout this home, she drew inspiration from its lake and forest surroundings, opting for lots of blues, greens, and neutral tones.
“Of course, like any design we approve, the client shares their aesthetic and their palette,” she said, “(and) they didn’t want (this house) to look like their home in a subdivision in Louisville.”
The homeowners joked that they wanted a Cracker Barrel-like feel on the front porch, and Pawlak was happy to oblige with a rustic, outdoorsy vibe. She incorporated white outdoor rocking chairs and blue-and-white ceramic garden tables, which offer a nice contrast against the moss-green exterior.
In the living room, blue swivel chairs flank either side of the white sofa, outfitted with fun throw pillows. The blue kitchen island set against white cabinetry complements the color scheme, as does the artwork along the living room and hallway walls.
“And we (included a) beautiful, artisan-made metal sailboat,” Pawlak said of the piece that’s sitting upon the landing between the first and second floors. “It’s … a patinated metal. … As soon as you come in, you see that piece, and it’s really neat.”
This nautical theme can be seen throughout the home, such as on the roped table in the entryway, on the throw pillows, and in little accessories sprinkled in each room. In places where the nautical motif is less obvious, Pawlak made sure to incorporate the blue and green color palette.
Built for entertaining
In addition to being aesthetically pleasing and functional for vacation days, the home needed to be built for hosting guests.
“(The homeowners) are big entertainers, and they have big groups there,” Pawlak explained, “so they needed lots of seating and casual vibes (for) having fun, eating, drinking, and running around in shorts and swimsuits.”
To accommodate this need, Pawlak included ample seating options with outdoor furniture as well as indoor pieces outfitted with performance fabric. She also incorporated rugs made for indoor/outdoor use.
One of the big entertainment-ready spaces is the screened-in porch, which boasts sofas, chairs, a fireplace, and a flat-screen TV — in addition to a 360-degree view of the surrounding trees.
“We used outdoor furniture there (that’s) suitable to be under cover but exposed to outdoor temperatures,” Pawlak said. “It’s a faux wicker look, and again, we kept it nice and neutral with lots of blues (with) some fun, vacation, and nautically inspired pillows.”
The screened-in porch also features a dining area, which adds additional seating and is perfect for al fresco meals during warm summer nights. Pawlak exclaimed, “This is their little lake getaway.”
Know a house that would make a great Home of the Week? Email writer Lennie Omalza at aloha@lennieomalza.com or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@gannett.com.
nuts & bolts
Home : This is a three-bed, four-bath, 2,200-square-foot, two-story walkout home in Nolin Lake, Kentucky. It was built in 2022.
Distinctive elements : Quartz countertops; wood floors; high-vault ceilings/loft; basement bar area; screened-in porch.
Applause! Applause! KP Designs/Decorating Den Interiors
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: A summer getaway: Step inside this picture-perfect Nolin Lake vacation home
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