Tag: lake home DIY

Living Beautifully: Easy Tips to Make Your Lake Home Feel Luxurious

Posted on Jeanne Delathouder
Photo courtesy of Beach Pretty

Making time to enjoy the simple things in life has taken on new meaning these days. For many of us, our lake homes have recently brought us a much-needed sense of refuge, tranquility, and, quite literally, a kind of shelter from the storm.  As we savor more moments with family and friends, we value the comforts of home now more than ever. Even life’s little luxuries have become front and center in our focus—and why not? After all, you only live once.

The best part is that luxury doesn’t have to be expensive. It might appear so, but then again, that’s the beauty of it. So, if you want to create an air of luxurious comfort in your lakeside interiors, here are some easy tips to get you started.

Adaptable Neutrals

Photo courtesy of My Domaine

If you’ve ever walked into an upscale furniture showroom, you’ve probably noticed that nearly all of them display an overall neutral color palette—and for good reason. An unassuming yet powerful neutral scheme instantly elevates the style of the space, making everything in the room look sleek, polished, and pulled together. It creates a cohesive look like no other and is also highly adaptable if you want to make seasonal changes with your accessories. For instance, adding a splash of color with sumptuous throws, pillows, and other decorative accents to warm up your interiors during fall and winter is quick and simple against a neutral backdrop. Nearly anything works within a monochromatic color scheme, and vibrant accessories, playful patterns, and elegant touches of black—used sparingly—always look crisp and impactful.

Think furniture, wall color, and even bed linens when building your serene and luxurious neutral palette. In this bedroom, white walls, curtains, roman shades, lamps, artwork, bedding, and plump, fluffy pillows work in harmony to create this tranquil and inviting space. The soft slate-blue bench cushion, along with the graphic patterns on the accent pillows, strikes a lovely counterbalance to the all-white palette while also creating a satisfying focal point. The nubby area rug underfoot adds texture and anchors the bedroom’s ethereal feel.   

Full-Length Curtains

Photo courtesy of Erica George Dines via Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles

Don’t skimp on this one if you really want your rooms to shine. Nothing creates more elegance than long and luxurious floor-length curtains. They dress your rooms in sumptuous layers of fabric and, if hung appropriately, bring an exquisite sense of height to your interior spaces. Make sure to measure correctly and take curtains all the way to the floor, even allowing for the fabric to puddle a bit at the bottom if you prefer. Another trick is to hang your curtain rods as close to the ceiling as you can to bring the eye upward and create more visual height.

In this beautifully rustic lake home with soaring ceilings, the designer takes the curtain rod to the top of the first beam so the curtains can block out the sun when needed and create a sense of privacy. The windows above are left bare to allow for optimum natural light. And again, the ivory curtain fabric here coordinates effortlessly with the soft, neutral palette of the overall space, creating a pleasing continuity throughout the home.

Quick Tip: If you can’t do full-length curtains, opt instead for simple woven blinds or roman shades for a clean look.

Large Mirrors & Artwork

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Incorporating a large mirror into your interiors will immediately create the illusion of having more space. It will also reflect light and illuminate your room with a dazzling effect—think natural sunlight, candlelight, and firelight. You can use a large full-length mirror as an accent piece that sits on the floor or hang a large mirror on the wall in place of artwork. Just make sure your mirror reflects something that is visually appealing and beautiful to look at.

When considering your artwork, the bigger, the better. Large statement pieces will instantly give your home a gallery vibe and create a dramatic effect. An over-size, museum-worthy work of art or even a pair of magnificent paintings or drawings bring powerful visual impact and interest to any room.

Vintage Rugs

Photo courtesy of Home Bunch

The floor offers an ideal opportunity to introduce pattern, so don’t be afraid to accent your rooms with vintage rugs. This will instantly upgrade your spaces and infuse them with a bit of antiquity and colorful personality in a truly luxurious way. If you don’t want to afford the expense of an authentic vintage rug, consider using a vintage-style rug or even a natural-fiber area rug to complement your space.

In this hallway and dining room, the homeowners created satisfying continuity with two plush vintage area rugs that befit the style and size of each space. These gorgeous rugs ensure softness underfoot and incorporate lavish texture into the décor.

Lighting & Hardware

Photo courtesy of Waunakee Remodeling

Upgrading your hardware can make a tremendous difference, especially in your kitchen and bathrooms. You can give these rooms an instant facelift simply by replacing faucets, cabinet handles, drawer pulls, doorknobs, and even electrical outlet covers and light switch plates. This easy fix can give your spaces a fresh modern update and transition your rooms to reflect any style you desire.   

Installing new lighting is also a brilliant way to change the look and feel of any space quickly. With a good lighting scheme, you can create soft pools of light, crisp focal points, and dramatic areas of interest. Transform any room quickly with a large-scale pendant light hanging over a kitchen island, a dining room table, an entrance hallway, or even a bedroom. Wall sconces are a perfect solution if you want to make a stylish statement in your bedrooms and bathrooms.

Keep in mind the overall mood you want your interiors to emit and choose lighting accordingly with warm lightbulbs and dimmer switches. To create truly luxurious spaces, remember to layer your lighting with a mix of the following styles: recessed lights, strip lights, down-lighting, up-lighting, overhead lighting, ambient light, and task light. If you like to use smart lights, motion sensors can highlight focal points such as stair steps with a WOW-factor effect.

For more ideas, click here. We hope you enjoy bringing a touch of comfort and luxury to your lake home this season—cheers!

The Best Types of Ground Covers for Your Backyard

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Lowes

As anyone who owns a lake house knows, landscaping is hard work. Countless hours spent in the garden, mowing the lawn, and keeping pests out of your yard can be tiresome. Plus, it takes away from your time enjoying the lake. On the Lake Homes Realty blog, we’ve written about low-maintenance landscaping solutions to minimize your manual labor. Among these ideas, ground covers are a helpful yet often overlooked strategy. 

As the name suggests, a ground cover refers to any plant that covers some part of the ground in your backyard. Unlike grass, ground covers don’t need to be mowed, which will cut down drastically on your work in the garden. So, that slope in your yard that’s too steep for a lawnmower? Or patches of dirt underneath a shady tree where grass can’t grow? Ground covers are the ultimate solution. Not only do they solve your landscape problems, but they’re also beautiful. For clarity’s sake, a ground cover is different from a cover crop. While cover crops are annual plants designed to die and provide mulch for your plants, ground covers are flowery perennials made to last. 

If you’re looking to incorporate ground covers into your landscaping at your lake house, check out some of our favorite kinds.

Bugleweed

Photo courtesy of Gardenia.net

Members of the mint family, bugleweed plants are a common ground cover in zones 3-10. These fast-growing plants are known for filling in shady areas where grass is less likely to grow. Their ability to spread throughout a landscape is also reflected in their species name, reptans, which means “creeping.” In warm climates, bugleweeds are evergreen but are most beautiful in summer. This is when their purple blossoms stand out in your garden.

Creeping Phlox

Photo courtesy of Gardenia.net

These small ground covers, perennial in most regions (zones 3-9), are a popular evergreen choice. Most times during the year, the creeping phlox doesn’t draw much attention to itself. However, these small pink, blue, and white star-pointed flowers particularly shine in springtime. When planting these in your yard, be sure to cut them after flowering to promote a second bloom in the following year.

Hosta

Photo courtesy of Gardening Know How

Reliable perennials, hostas make excellent ground covers across a variety of gardening zones. These ground covers boast tall white and purple flowers during the warmer months. At colder times in the year, their leaves are still stunning. Today, there are over 2,500 variations of hosta plants, making these some of the most popular ground covers. When deciding how much sun exposure to give them, you can use the plant’s color as a rule of thumb. A darker hosta will adapt better in the shade, while those with lighter leaves enjoy the sun.

Sweet Woodruff

Photo courtesy of Mother Earth Living

Want a simple, timeless look for your garden? The sweet woodruff, which blossoms lacy white flowers in warmer months, is a popular ground cover for those in zones 4-8. Keep in mind that it can be an invasive plant in moist soil, which makes it harder to keep under control. However, the plus side to its invasiveness is that it’s very low maintenance. So if you don’t mind it overtaking an entire section of your backyard, this plant may be perfect for you.

Sedums

Photo courtesy of The Spruce

For lake homeowners looking to avoid high-maintenance ground covers, sedums are one of the more forgiving plants out there. Their thick, drought resistant qualities, typical of most succulents, make them quite hardy. It’s no wonder they’re often named among the best  evergreen ground covers. Sedums come in a variety of different species including dragon’s blood, blue spice, and lime twister. Typically found in climates with milder winters, these ground covers flourish best where it’s warm. 

From our backyard to yours, happy landscaping!

Best Materials for Creating a Backyard Walkway

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Swenson Granite Works

When designing your lake house’s backyard, low-maintenance landscaping strategies can help you cut down on manual labor and reduce water waste. One often overlooked tip for a stress-free backyard is incorporating hardscapes. In particular, walkways are an excellent choice. Not only do they minimize your grass maintenance workload, but they’re also beautiful. The contrast between grass and a material like brick or stone adds an element of visual interest to your lakeside curb. If you’re thinking about installing a backyard walkway into your landscape, check out these ideas for inspiration.

Stepping Stones

Photo courtesy of How to Build a House Blog

For anyone who prefers DIY over hiring a professional, this backyard walkway idea is for you. To make a stone walkway at your lake house, all you need is several large stones. Just arrange them over grass to form a simple yet beautiful pathway through your backyard. To create a more interesting, rustic look, pick stones of all different shapes. The DIY Network walks you through this easy process with their tutorial.

Gravel

Photo courtesy of GAP via This Old House

Gravel is an easy, inexpensive way to create a stunning walkway. These small stones come in all different colors and sizes so that you can customize the path to your liking. You can even add stone material alongside the path to evoke a more structured look. To ensure the gravel doesn’t wash away in bad weather, The Gardener of Good and Evil has instructions on creating a foolproof DIY gravel walkway.

Pallet Wood

Photo courtesy of Funky Junk Interiors

At a lake house, a rustic pathway through your lakeside garden is certainly fitting. If you want to lean into the natural look, use pallet wood to create your backyard walkway. Plus, if you incorporate space between the wide wooden boards, it allows room for plants to grow. Laura from Garden Answer demonstrates a budget-friendly way to create one of these charming pathways. For this DIY project, all you need are wooden planks and some basic power tools.

Brick

Photo courtesy of Family Handyman

A brick walkway is perfect if you prefer a more upscale, polished look. This design also allows for customization, so you can arrange these bricks however you’d like. While a herringbone pattern is classic, you could also organize these stones in many patterns, alternating between vertical and horizontal to create visual interest. As brick pathways are a bit harder to DIY, installing this yourself is possible, as demonstrated in this HGTV tutorial. Just be sure to take the time to level out the ground first.

Mulch

Photo courtesy of Bob Vila

With a backyard walkway made from mulch, you’ll immediately make your guests feel like they’re entering a botanical wonderland. DIY friendly, this material evokes a strong sense of natural beauty. It’s a perfect combination of rugged and sophisticated. Mulch is also easy to combine with other materials such as stone. The blog Pretty Handy Girl details instructions for creating mulch and stone walkway combinations. 

Mosaic

Photo courtesy of Fine Gardening

Want to invoke the same aesthetic as the Ancient Romans? Installing a mosaic walkway is a great way to impress all your guests. It immediately gives off an elegant, stately essence. Due to its complexity, many lake homeowners would have a mosaic walkway installed by a professional. However, if you’re interested in the DIY route, follow these instructions from This Old House. By creating a mosaic pathway yourself, you can incorporate your own creative designs into the mix.

Concrete

Photo courtesy of Home Talk via Pinterest

Concrete is one of the most popular choices because of its versatility. It comes in a variety of colors, so you can stick to a beige industrial look or opt for a darker gray tone for a faux-stone aesthetic. Concrete also gives off a striking impression when contrasted with grass, as its smooth surface stands out against textured greenery. If you want to use concrete for your backyard walkway, The Family Handyman has tips on how to DIY. 

No matter what material you choose, we wish you the best of luck with your backyard walkway DIY project!

DIY Dried-Flower Crafts

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Design Sponge

On the Lake Homes Realty blog, one of our most popular DIY posts is about brightening your lake home with dried flowers. Repurposing withered blooms can spruce up your home in a simple yet sophisticated way while adding a touch of biophilic design. Although hanging dried flowers create an elegant look (it’s incredible what you can do with a little twine and hairspray), it isn’t the only option for your lake home. This week, we’re thinking outside the box. There are many ways to incorporate dried flowers into your crafting projects, including decor, utilities, and accessories. From wall art to coasters, you can’t go wrong with these DIY dried-flower crafts.

Pressed-Flower Monograms

Photo courtesy of DIYS.com

Once flowers begin to dry, pressing them is a great idea to preserve the natural colors. This involves using a book or another heavy object to push the remaining moisture out of flowers so the flat pieces can be used to create a design. These framed monograms made from delicate dried flowers add an element of creativity to your lake home. Plus, they’re easy to DIY. Check out this video for the instructions.

Dried-Flower Terrarium

Photo courtesy of The Smart Local

Need a new centerpiece for your table? Or a flowery decoration for your mantle? This simple, DIY dried-flower craft is a perfect addition to your lake home. The geometric glass container with a stylish brushed metal accent will add a contemporary feel to your living room. All you need are dried flowers and sand to complete the look. At Afloral.com, you can get the full tutorial.

Dried-Flower Sachets

Photo courtesy of DIYS.com

While driving to your remote lake house, you’re spending plenty of time in the car. And nothing is worse than an unpleasant smell on a long road trip. Rather than buying an air freshener from the gas station, try using some leftover dried flowers to create these beautifully scented sachets. You’ll need a few other materials, such as wax molds, but this elegant end product is well worth the effort. Hearth & Vine’s blog features more detailed instructions on these DIY dried-flower sachets.

Dried-Flower Bath Salts

Photo courtesy of Almost Makes Perfect

Looking to repurpose those dried roses you’ve been saving? Mix in some Epsom salts, sea salt, baking soda, and essential oils for a decadent bath-salt mixture. Using this tutorial from Almost Makes Perfect, you’ll be able to make dozens of batches at once. Besides treating yourself to a bubble bath at the lake, these bath salts also make excellent gifts!

Floral Phone Case

Photo courtesy of LotusWei

For this craft, all you need is a clear phone case. You can even coordinate the color of your phone to compliment the flowers you choose. To create this easy DIY phone case, as outlined by LouisWei, just take a few dried flowers and press them on the inside of a clear phone case. Then, snap it onto your phone and — voila! For a more involved version, check out these instructions that incorporate a clear resin to hold the dried flowers in place.

Dried-Flower Coasters

Photo courtesy of Frankie Magazine

When dining at your lake house, these coasters are the perfect accessory to showcase your connection to nature. Plus, the brushed metal and glass look is fresh and stylish. Ideal for a friend who loves the lake, they make an easy and thoughtful gift. You can even pick their favorite flowers to use in your coaster creation.

Pressed-Flower Lanterns

Photo courtesy of A Practical Wedding

During the pandemic, we’ve become experts at hosting guests outdoors. When gathering friends around a fire pit, this collection of DIY dried-flower lanterns evokes an elegant ambiance. Especially around dusk, this soft lighting will bring out a sense of warmth at your lake house. To create them, you need pressed flowers and greenery, wax paper, a cutting board, and an iron. These instructions from A Practical Wedding will help guide you! 

We hope these crafts inspire you to put those dried flowers to use this spring!

Lake Home Renovations that Add the Most Value

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of BUILD

If you’re thinking of selling your lake house now or in the distant future, you’re probably wondering what renovations might provide the best return on investment. After all, you don’t want to invest thousands of dollars in renovations that won’t pay off in the end. Some upgrades can backfire on sellers, such as downsizing bedrooms. However, there are some guaranteed ways to add value to your home. Many of these solutions can be DIY rather than professional, lowering the cost. Check out these top four home renovations that add the most value to your lake home.

Kitchen

Photo courtesy of West of Main Design

According to HGTV, a kitchen and bath remodel is a “sure-fire investment.” This is because these spaces are often the messiest once they’ve been lived in, so seeing them polished and refurbished is a huge plus. Erik Kobielnik, a project manager of Marquis Fine Cabinetry, a company that specializes in kitchen and bath renovations, recommends kitchen renovations as the top way to increase your home’s value. He describes the kitchen as the “heart of the home” and says that he has worked on several projects in which a beautiful kitchen design is a primary factor that sold the house. 

To create a more open kitchen, remodel it by knocking down walls and adding an island. April Morse from Weber Company notes that although kitchens are usually the most expensive renovation ($30-50K for an average-sized kitchen), they’re well worth it for the ROI. She says, “Lake homeowners should stick to a natural wood theme in the house with painted touches throughout. This will keep your home in style for a longer period of time.”

Bathroom

Photo courtesy of David M. Banks

Besides the kitchen, the bathroom is a key home renovation that will provide a solid return on investment for your lake home. It’s also a room that will meet any buyer’s scrutiny if it takes on a fresh, updated look. A broken faucet or a rusty bathtub can change a buyer’s mind quickly, so upkeep is paramount for future selling. However, you don’t have to break the bank doing this. You can take specific shortcuts, such as replacing the toilet seat lid without replacing the entire toilet and replacing cracked floor tiles instead of installing a brand new tile. Think of it as a “spot cleaning” for your home. Even simple design changes such as adjusting the lighting or buying a new mirror can make a huge difference.

Landscaping

Photo courtesy of Carvajal Group

Although landscaping is an essential renovation in most traditional homes, it’s even more critical at the lake. Cristina Miguelez, remodeling specialist at Fixr.com says, “This, combined with your home’s exterior, is what makes up your curb appeal.” She mentions a couple of possible renovation directions depending on the state of your landscape. If your landscape is overgrown, cut it back to showcase your home. If your landscape is sparse, consider updating your walkways or adding more plants to the outdoor space. Try adding native plants specifically, as they’ll require less maintenance and are more likely to flourish. Also relevant to landscaping is updating your boat dock, if you have one. If your boat dock is unkempt or looks like you’d be uncomfortable hosting friends on it, it needs to be redone.

Paint

Photo courtesy of @ilona.shorokhova via Twenty20

This one might go unnoticed, but paint provides a high return on investment. Kevin McGuire, the owner of Metro Precision Painting, says, “Interior and exterior painting provides a great ROI because the color and the quality of the paint on your home is typically the first thing a buyer is going to notice. On the contrary, if you have ugly colors, peeling or fading paint, most people will not be able to look past that; thus, it can significantly decrease the value of your home.” Plus, it’s also cheaper than other renovations like remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. In contrast to these rooms, paint is a smaller investment that can yield big returns. For example, an exterior paint job on a 2000 square foot home would usually cost $2.00 for every square foot. You also have the opportunity to customize the paint to your lake house. “Most clients want a beachy feel and would like to bring the outdoors in,” he says. “This is something that you can create if you use the right color scheme.”

If you’re looking to sell your lake home, now is a great time. Be sure to consider these renovation projects to increase your home’s value before putting it on the market!

 

Flexible and Functional: Lake Home Design 2021

Posted on Jeanne Delathouder
Photo courtesy of UrbanGrace.com

Over the past year, vacation homes—particularly lake homes—have become much more than just a place to escape for a relaxing weekend. Since the pandemic took hold, more and more homeowners have decided to give up city living and retreat to a lake home full-time or make their existing lakeside vacation property their co-primary residence.

Tranquil, comforting, and connected to nature, these soothing lake-based sanctuaries offer a peaceful alternative where families and empty-nesters alike can safely work, learn, entertain, and embrace life to the fullest during these challenging times. In turn, this new movement has inspired lake-home owners to re-invent their spaces to meet the functionality demands of our “new normal.”

What do we need now? Chicago interior designer Michelle Rohrer-Lauer, founder of Michelle’s Interiors and owner of her own lake home retreat in Wisconsin on Lake Camelot, shares her wisdom, innate sense of style, and conviction that every home should embrace the spirit of the people who live there.

Here are her tips on how you can amp up the functionality of your interior—and exterior—lake spaces:

Optimize Your Home Office

Photo courtesy of Lillian August

“Our homes have always been our safe places away from the stresses of the day, but COVID has eroded some of that sanctuary feeling,” says Michelle. “More than ever, our homes are where we work, which brings that stress in through the front door. Yes, we need home offices—and learning spaces for our children—and those must be carefully designed to make long sessions comfortable, organized, and productive,” she notes.

Aesthetically, your home office style and its furnishings should always reflect the design incorporated throughout your home. For instance, if your home embodies a rustic farmhouse vibe, consider implementing knotty and imperfect repurposed wood flooring and dramatic ceiling beams. Pair this look with the rich patina of elegantly finished custom cabinetry, desks, and storage units for a visually satisfying contrast.

Next, make sure your office is Zoom-ready with the right equipment and lighting. Since video conferencing is now our primary connection to clients and co-workers, we—as well as our home offices—need to be dressed for success.

Beyond a great camera, microphone, and a comfortable chair, we want our workspace to look appealing, professional, and uncluttered. “Task lighting is important for reading, and your computer monitor should be positioned to avoid glare from a window or overhead light,” Michelle recommends.

Soundproofing, storage, and concealing all your cords are other factors to consider when planning your personal home office. For more tips and home office eye candy, visit Michelle’s Interiors.

Jump Start Your Home Gym

Photo courtesy of MiddleForkLuxury.com

With all the time we spend sheltering in place these days, working out at home has become necessary for burning off stress and staying fit. While we love to exercise outdoors, a home gym is often the easiest option when we’re super busy, or the weather is bad.

What are the must-haves for an aesthetically pleasing and inspiring home gym? “Bright lighting is number one,” says Michelle. “Evenly spaced recessed lighting and lots of natural light can make us feel more energetic—which equals a better workout.”

Other key essentials include a wall of mirrors to magnify the light and make a space look larger, an interlocking rubber floor, mats, or other cushioned surface for comfortable floor workouts and noise suppression, plus acoustical tiles and sound-proofed walls to create a quieter workout.

A TV monitor creates a great distraction while you burn calories and brings an element of luxury and value to your home gym. You can listen to your favorite music, binge-watch a Netflix series, or live-stream a motivating fitness program.

Plenty of smart storage solutions will ensure exercise equipment and towels are conveniently stowed away yet still within easy reach. “An eco-friendly water dispenser is also handy and cuts down on plastic bottles,” notes Michelle. “Everyone can fill up their reusable bottles—and you know how important that is to me! I am always thinking of ways to help people live greener lives at home.”

Take It Outside! — Design Your Alfresco Dream Kitchen

Photo courtesy of subzero-wolf.com via Michelle’s Interiors

We all love to cook and dine outdoors these days—especially while enjoying the beautiful scenery surrounding our lake homes. After spending more time in open-air environments than ever before, we now crave the same luxuries and amenities outside as we do indoors. “An outdoor kitchen extends your food prep and dining space substantially—and it requires careful planning,” says Michelle.

Key considerations to discuss before launching a project include lifestyle, location, the traffic pattern between your indoor and outdoor kitchen, layout, and the type of appliances desired and placement.

When designing outdoor spaces for her clients, Michelle approaches it the same way she would for the interiors. How will you use the space, and what is your preferred aesthetic? Do you want to incorporate comfy seating and cozy focal points such as a built-in fireplace or firepit? “Regardless of your style and how you use your backyard, the exterior should be a natural extension of your interior style so that it flows effortlessly in both directions,” she sums.

For more stylish outdoor kitchen inspiration, visit houzz.com.

Perfectly Pet-Friendly

Photo courtesy of Metropolitan Custom Homes via Michelle’s Interiors

Not surprisingly, pet adoption has been on the rise since COVID-19, as many of us are feeling isolated and in need of a comforting companion. Integrating pet-friendly design into your lake house not only benefits our furry friends but also makes care and maintenance easier and less time-consuming—which ultimately makes us happier, right?

“Pet design, particularly organizational solutions, makes your home more functional and enjoyable for you and your new best friend—or friends,” says Michelle. “The way you plan a house influences a dog’s behavior and spirit, and good design makes pets feel cared for and content,” she adds.

Some of her go-to solutions? Multi-purpose pet showers are perfect for your laundry area or mudroom. Having your dog wash near an exterior door is the ideal location—no more muddy or snowy paws tracking all over the house! Whether you choose a floor-level or counter-level shower, a flexible goose-neck faucet will help direct the flow of water wherever you need it.

Plenty of storage is also key. Pull-out bins for pet food, treats, and built-in bowls are easy to access—and hide—and other essentials such as leashes, medications, and brushes can be stashed inside designated drawers in the same area.

“Pet doors are a great way to give your cat or dog the freedom to go outside for business or pleasure, or to access a litter box in the basement,” shares Michelle. “Some can be monitored remotely via a smartphone, and others work in sync with a sensor attached to your pet’s collar so they only open for your pet—not the neighborhood skunk or raccoon,” she laughs.

Want to dive into some lake home updates of your own? Start by reimagining your rooms, considering your individual lifestyle, family needs, and how you want to live in your space. After all, your surroundings are the backdrop of your life—and your home is a personal expression of who you are and the place where you feel your best.

5 Tips for Boosting Your Curb Appeal This Fall

Posted on Camille Smith

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Aesthetics aren’t everything at a lake house. Your special vacation home is about what’s on the inside where memories are made with friends and family. It’s about unwinding, relaxing, and embracing imperfection. However, when it comes to selling your lake home, looks are important. It’s what your sellers first see when they arrive at your home. According to Homelight, a home with an attractive, well-maintained landscape will attract 5.5-12.7% more than those with no landscaping. At off-lake homes, the curb is the home’s front exterior. But at a lake house, there’s a second curb to consider — your shoreline. As a lake homeowner, it’s important to devote equal attention to improving both curbs. At Lake Homes Realty, we have some advice for you.

Lawn Maintenance

Taking the time to manicure your lawn is the first, most essential rule for boosting curb appeal. A well-kept lawn is an immediate sign to prospective buyers that your home is in good shape. But it doesn’t have to be a daunting task. There are plenty of low-maintenance strategies for landscape maintenance. Even cutting the grass doesn’t have to be demanding — check out this tool that mows your lawn automatically. However, during the fall, one piece of manual labor required is picking up leaves. In the winter, this means taking care of the snow. A lawn that’s overcrowded by the elements will look unappealing.

Pressure Washers

Photo courtesy of Country Living Magazine.

When removing leaves from your lawn, the rake and garbage bag routine can get old and arduous. For a quick solution, a pressure washer can help. You can spray these leaves off your walkway, driveway, or even lawn with a high-power hose. This technique also works for plastic porch furniture, outdoor patios, and stone or concrete that needs a quick and powerful cleansing.

Paint Upgrade

Painting house exterior
Photo courtesy of HGTV.

Most illustrations of haunted, abandoned houses all share one trait in common — chipped paint. To avoid your lake home looking like a ghost town, make sure to give the front of your home a fresh, new coat if needed. It’s an easy and often fun DIY task that makes a big difference for curb appeal. It’s also worth considering changing up the original color. For example, if your house is gray or white, a red door might be charming. Kristine Ginsberg, a home designer in New Jersey, told HGTV “make sure there is a contrast between the front door and the facade of the home.”

Update Outdoor Furniture

Photo courtesy of Apricity Outdoor.

When visiting your lake house, potential buyers want to imagine themselves relaxing on the front porch. Showcasing attractive furniture will help those buyers bring their vision to life. An essential piece of outdoor furniture maintenance is removing mold, mildew, and pollen from the cushions and furniture frames. Thankfully there’s plenty of DIY solutions for making your furniture shiny and new — it’s easy to create a simple mixture of ammonia, vinegar, baking soda, and water. If your outdoor furniture is truly beyond repair, you may also want to consider buying entirely new porch furniture. Brands like Summer Classics, Polywood, and Brown Jordan are excellent, high-quality choices for lake living. When choosing furniture, you may also want to consider this year’s furniture trends.

Tend to the Shoreline

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

As we previously mentioned, your shoreline is your second curb! It may even be more integral to increasing your curb appeal than the traditional homefront. After all, potential buyers are most interested in the lakefront. Ensure that you’re maintaining the landscape, paint, furniture, and overall aesthetics of your backyard just like you would for the front. 

Throughout the selling process, keep in mind that lake homes sell year-round. The idea that spring is the best time to sell is simply a myth. With the right curb appeal and the right agent, you’ll be able to sell your lake home this season!

Screened In Porch Technology in 2020

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Phifer.

The demand for screened-in porches keeps increasing — especially for lake houses. There are countless ways to use it. “It doesn’t have to be nice weather to enjoy it,” homeowner Barb Kurz told the Washington Post in an article about screened porch popularity. “Let’s face it; there’s a limited time to be completely outside.” During the fall, these systems are especially appealing. A screened porch setting exposes you to crisp, autumn air while maintaining a semblance of cozy indoor privacy. Essentially, it’s the best of both worlds. 

But screened in porches have come a long way since their early days of wooden planks and staples. We chatted with Gregg Terry, marketing director of Phifer Inc., and Guerry Green, founder of Screen Tight, to learn the latest technology and trends. If you’re looking to build or remodel a screened-in porch at your lake house, check out these popular innovations in 2020. 

Watershed Technology

Photo courtesy of Phifer.

If you’re a car owner, you might use Rain-X for your windshield to protect your car against the elements. Now, a similar technology exists for porches. As the largest screening company in the world, Phifer is a pioneer in this technological development. “We’ve taken two of our products, BetterVue and UltraVue, and treated them with a hydrophobic coating,” says Gregg. “When it rains, it sheds water without giving a ‘window paning effect’ in which screen holes fill with water.” This watershed technology has been a beloved product for a good reason. Aesthetically, it doesn’t leave rain residue, and functionally, it assists in keeping the screens cleaner for longer. 

Variety of Functions

Photo courtesy of Phifer.

Many years ago, almost every screened in porch was identical. Now, you can choose among a wide variety of screen types. At Phifer, the three primary materials are fiberglass (most common), aluminum wire (most classic), and polyester (for specialty products like pet screening). Within those subgroups, you can pick your favorite style. Ultimately, your screened-in porch depends on what you prioritize. “You can’t have airflow and sun control at the same time,” explains Gregg. “When choosing your screen, the most important thing to decide is what’s important to you. Do you want sun blockage, pet control, or visibility?” To help you decide, check out Phifer’s screening quiz designed to help consumers pick their ideal screen based on their priorities.

Material Alternatives

Photo courtesy of Screen Tight.

For 30 years, Screen Tight’s best selling system, Original System, could be found in three million homes. While their original style is still popular, buyers have become interested in alternatives to the traditional wooden frame over time. In turn, Screen Tight has continued to innovate new products to cater to their customers. Guerry adds, “Aluminum and vinyl systems have been popular recently, and these styles are also low maintenance. A hot trend this year is a black border around the screen.” This way, homeowners can customize the material to their personal lake house aesthetic. 

Larger Screen Openings

Photo courtesy of Screen Tight.

Especially at the lake, buyers want an unobstructed view from their back porch. While a screened-in porch is effective at insect prevention and providing some privacy, it, unfortunately, meddles with the lake view. To remedy this, lake homeowners have invested in heavy-duty screens with larger openings. Guerry says, “A design trend that we see is larger openings of 12 to 15 feet in the screened porch. It’s popular in Florida, but now we see it everywhere. It all goes back to having an unobstructed view.” For example, a product like MeshGuard eliminates the need for pickets or other visual blocks between you and your landscape.

Whether your home is old or new, a screened porch is part of the lake lifestyle. There’s nothing more relaxing than time spent on your screened-in porch with family and friends, protected from biting and annoying insects. We hope these new screen technologies and trends inspire you to create your dream porch! 

A Guide to Plant Hardiness at Your Lake Home: Zones 1-3

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Country Gardens Magazine.

If you have a garden at your lake house, you’re probably familiar with the Plant Hardiness Zones. Designed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this guide separates the country into zones based on average annual minimum winter temperature. Each zone is split by 10 degrees and has its unique features, such as the first and last frost date and length of seasons. This helpful tool clarifies which plants will thrive in your garden. For example, if you’re a gardener in zones 1-3, the Plant Hardiness Zones will warn you against planting a peach tree in your garden, which wouldn’t flourish outside the southernmost zones.

Image courtesy of Gilmour.com.

If you’ve been browsing the Lake Homes blog in the last few months, you may have caught the first two articles in our series on gardening zones. While the first two covered zones 7-9 and zones 4-6, we’re now turning the spotlight on the coldest areas of the U.S. — zones 1-3.

Region Characteristics

In zones 1-3, the average annual minimum temperature is between -60 degrees and -30 degrees Fahrenheit with zone 1 being the coldest. Most of zone 1 is located in Alaska, where the tundra climate can be especially harsh for gardening. In zones 2 and 3, which include the northernmost United States and high altitude areas, these low temperatures also present a challenge for gardeners. Due to the unforgiving weather, it’s crucial to consult the Plant Hardiness Zones to determine which plants are most likely to survive the winter in your garden. Aside from temperature, these regions also tend to have low moisture and high winds, creating more barriers to plant survival.

Main Takeaways

Due to the harsh features of these regions, northern gardeners’ planting window is shorter than those in other zones. Kevin Espiritu, the founder of Epic Gardening, clarifies, “Gardeners in zones 1-3 have about 2 months to plant, and that’s it.” If you’re living in these zones, it’s crucial to take advantage of this brief time. Luckily, certain types of gardening can help. Scott Fanello, a writer for Total Gardener, advises those in zones 1-3 to master cold-frame gardening. With this simple structure that utilizes insulation and solar energy, you can create a microclimate for your plants. He also recommends building a greenhouse at your lake home if you have the money and time. Despite these challenges, life in zones 1-3 isn’t all bad. Espiritu notes that one advantage to growing plants in Alaska is their long summers (almost 20 hours per day of sunlight), causing gardeners in this region to break records in terms of large vegetables. 

Plants to Pick

Due to the harsh weather conditions, the best plants to choose in zones 1-3 are tough ones that can survive droughts. It’s also best to select native plants that are already adapted to the climate. Thankfully, several plants are hardy enough to thrive in this cold, dry weather. Nikki McAteer, marketing director of Perfect Plants Nursery, comments, “Only a handful of perennial plants will grow outside and come back year after year. Planting annuals is a great solution to these punishing temperatures.”

In contrast to perennials that need more maintenance, annuals are less of a commitment. Most vegetables are grown as annuals, so plants like beans, broccoli, potatoes, and tomatoes have a good chance of survival in zones 1-3. Fanello recommends focusing on fast-growing annuals in particular. Some examples include salad greens and herbs like basil, oregano, and rosemary. Overall, it’s helpful to pick plants with a short growing season so they’ll mature and be ready for harvest in the 2-month window that these zones offer.

Despite the harsh weather in zones 1-3, northern gardeners are quite savvy when it comes to working with what they have. If you own a lake house in these zones, we hope these tips help your garden flourish. It’s also a great idea to connect with other gardeners in your zone through meetups, Facebook groups, and local farmer’s markets. Plus, with all the available vegetable options in these northern zones, you’ll always have something to add to your homemade salad!