Lake Cabin Kitchen With a Light and Cozy Feel
In a vacation home, a designer creates a relaxed space for cooking and entertaining
Conceived as a gathering place for family and friends, this lake cabin in Northern California was redesigned around a kitchen built for entertaining. “She is the hostess with the mostest,” interior designer Wendy Glaister says of her client. “She loves to gather lots of loved ones together and cook big Italian meals.”
After finding a cabin with outstanding lake views and a workable layout, the owners sought to transform it into a relaxed, welcoming space that felt like it had evolved over decades. To bring their vision to life, they found Glaister on Houzz and enlisted her help.
After finding a cabin with outstanding lake views and a workable layout, the owners sought to transform it into a relaxed, welcoming space that felt like it had evolved over decades. To bring their vision to life, they found Glaister on Houzz and enlisted her help.
Before Photo
After: To preserve the kitchen’s architectural integrity and character, they kept the wood beams but painted the rest of the kitchen’s dated woodwork. “Some people might not like that we painted the ceiling,” Glaister says. “But the wood was so old, orange and heavy-looking. We needed it to look clean and light. However, the V-groove paneling was very helpful for adding texture and rustic charm, and we were glad it was there.
The ceiling, painted in Sherwin-Williams’ Natural Tan, lightens the space and highlights the texture of the wood and paneling.
The ceiling, painted in Sherwin-Williams’ Natural Tan, lightens the space and highlights the texture of the wood and paneling.
For the new material palette, the jumping-off point was the Mont Blanc quartzite countertops. “This is an absolutely gorgeous stone,” Glaister says. Her clients wanted the island to stand out from the rest of the kitchen. To achieve this, they selected an island countertop with a thick, ornate edge. Stained alder distinguishes the island base from the surrounding cabinetry.
The updated flooring is hickory luxury vinyl planks, a durable material that has the look of wood but is waterproof and can withstand heavy foot traffic. “Our clients wanted their guests to be able to relax here, which meant they did not want anyone to worry about damaging anything,” the designer says.
Throughout the project, Glaister used Houzz Pro software for time tracking and billing. She also used Houzz ideabooks to collaborate with her clients on design concepts.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
The updated flooring is hickory luxury vinyl planks, a durable material that has the look of wood but is waterproof and can withstand heavy foot traffic. “Our clients wanted their guests to be able to relax here, which meant they did not want anyone to worry about damaging anything,” the designer says.
Throughout the project, Glaister used Houzz Pro software for time tracking and billing. She also used Houzz ideabooks to collaborate with her clients on design concepts.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Before Photo
Before: The knotty cabinetry, black appliances and tile countertops and backsplash were tired.
After: The new quartzite countertops were paired with a light moss green range to add vintage charm.
Glaister topped off the range with a hood that has a tadelakt finish and an alder accent. “Tadelakt is an ancient material that’s truly a living finish,” she says of the traditional lime plaster. “You clean it with an olive-oil-based bar soap, and the oil in the soap penetrates and seals it. It gets an earthy and warm patina over time that reinforces the evolved-over-time look we wanted.” The alder trim on the bottom is knotty and full of character, completing the old-world look. It also connects the range wall to the stained wood of the island.
36-inch range: KitchenAid; tadelakt: Ace Tile & Tadelakt
Glaister topped off the range with a hood that has a tadelakt finish and an alder accent. “Tadelakt is an ancient material that’s truly a living finish,” she says of the traditional lime plaster. “You clean it with an olive-oil-based bar soap, and the oil in the soap penetrates and seals it. It gets an earthy and warm patina over time that reinforces the evolved-over-time look we wanted.” The alder trim on the bottom is knotty and full of character, completing the old-world look. It also connects the range wall to the stained wood of the island.
36-inch range: KitchenAid; tadelakt: Ace Tile & Tadelakt
The backsplash tile was the next selection for the room’s palette. “My clients totally fell in love with this tile that ties in the colors of the quartzite, the range and the tadelakt,” Glaister says. The tile colors mirror the hues of the lake and trees outside, enhancing the kitchen’s cheery atmosphere.
Backsplash tile: Casablanca 5-by-5-inch matte ceramic tile in Kenzi, Bedrosians
Find a kitchen remodeler on Houzz
Backsplash tile: Casablanca 5-by-5-inch matte ceramic tile in Kenzi, Bedrosians
Find a kitchen remodeler on Houzz
Glaister looked to the tile for cabinet colors, contrasting the upper and lower cabinetry. The lower cabinets, painted Starless Night by Behr, bring out the blue in the backsplash. The upper and pantry cabinets, painted in Cargo Pants by Sherwin-Williams, add a warm cream tone. The grooved cabinet doors and drawers are a throwback to lake cabin style of another era.
The cabinet hardware is an eclectic mix of traditional round knobs and branch-shaped pulls, hinting at a kitchen that’s been refined over decades.
The cabinet hardware is an eclectic mix of traditional round knobs and branch-shaped pulls, hinting at a kitchen that’s been refined over decades.
Before Photo
Before: One smart element in the existing kitchen was the glass-front cabinet doors that flank the window.
After: The new cabinets in this spot have seeded glass doors. “We wanted to keep things light in here. The glass helped do that,” Glaister says. “The seeded glass has an antique look that helps evoke that nostalgic feeling we were going for.”
The champagne-colored granite composite sink coordinates with the quartzite countertops. Like the tadelakt range hood, it adds an old-world patina to the kitchen.
Sink: Maris in Champagne, Franke; faucet: Odin, Brizo
The champagne-colored granite composite sink coordinates with the quartzite countertops. Like the tadelakt range hood, it adds an old-world patina to the kitchen.
Sink: Maris in Champagne, Franke; faucet: Odin, Brizo
A matte black chandelier over the island has candle-shaped lights and a traditional silhouette, evoking nostalgia. The sink light fixture lends an industrial touch to the eclectic room.
The leather-upholstered counter stools are traditional yet comfortable. “These are mostly for the kids,” Glaister says. “We didn’t want stools with backs because we wanted to show off that countertop edge. But these swoop-shaped seats are very comfortable.” Painted blue legs reflect the backsplash tile, and the nailhead trim adds a rustic touch.
Custom stools: Norwalk Furniture
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The leather-upholstered counter stools are traditional yet comfortable. “These are mostly for the kids,” Glaister says. “We didn’t want stools with backs because we wanted to show off that countertop edge. But these swoop-shaped seats are very comfortable.” Painted blue legs reflect the backsplash tile, and the nailhead trim adds a rustic touch.
Custom stools: Norwalk Furniture
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
At 165 square feet, the kitchen’s footprint is compact yet offers abundant storage. The cabinets on the left side are pantry cabinets, and the tall cabinet also serves as a utility closet. Everything is specially outfitted, including deep drawers for pots and pans, a KitchenAid mixer lift, and inserts for dishes, utensils, storage containers and lids.
The dining room is adjacent to the kitchen, with windows that showcase expansive views of the lake. Glaister tied the two rooms together with blue and green tones, and the chandelier matches the kitchen island fixture with its matte black finish and candle-style lights.
As for those big Italian family dinners, the dining room’s copper table seats up to 12. The copper underscores the home’s theme of living finishes that patina over time. The patterns on the end chairs and rug were inspired by traditional Native American textiles. “The homeowners appreciate and are very respectful of the Native American history in this region,” Glaister says.
As for those big Italian family dinners, the dining room’s copper table seats up to 12. The copper underscores the home’s theme of living finishes that patina over time. The patterns on the end chairs and rug were inspired by traditional Native American textiles. “The homeowners appreciate and are very respectful of the Native American history in this region,” Glaister says.
Before Photo
Before: The family room, on the opposite side of the kitchen island, was another dark, heavy-feeling space.
After: The updated family room is lighter and brighter. The tadelakt fireplace surround matches the range hood, creating cohesion across the space. The colors in the furniture, area rug, fireplace surround, walls and ceiling match those in the kitchen.
This lake house story wouldn’t be complete without a view of the water, whose hues inspired the interior palette.
Now the homeowners have a welcoming lake house in the Sierra Nevada foothills where they love to gather with family and friends, complete with a spacious kitchen for hosting their signature Italian dinners.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos for ideas
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Now the homeowners have a welcoming lake house in the Sierra Nevada foothills where they love to gather with family and friends, complete with a spacious kitchen for hosting their signature Italian dinners.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos for ideas
Find design and remodeling pros
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a couple’s second home
Location: Just outside Oroville, California, about 70 miles north of Sacramento
Size: 165 square feet (15 square meters); 15 by 11 feet
Designer: Wendy Glaister
Contractor: Rui Esteves of RE Construction
Before: Though the open-plan kitchen was ideal for family gatherings, it felt dark and heavy. The homeowners wanted it to be a comfortable space with a sense of nostalgia. “The goal was for it to be light, cozy and cheery,” Glaister says.
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