Explore How This Lake Martin Home Makes 'Rustic Luxury' Actually Family-Friendly
If you think you can't do pale colors and kids then take a look at this relaxed yet neutral family home designed by Christopher Architecture & Interiors
There are few more idyllic places than Lake Martin, the vast reservoir that stretches across Tallapoosa, Elmore, and Coosa counties in Alabama. With 750 miles of wooded shoreline, it’s such a desirable spot that it turned the heads of a family who had planned to relocate to Hawaii, instead choosing this destination over the golden sunshine and sands of the Pacific.
‘The family wanted a place where the children could enjoy long summer weekends and fell in love with the relaxed way of life this area offers,’ says Mack Braden, VP at Christopher Architecture & Interiors, who oversaw this house design and fit-out. ‘So we designed it around the concept of family time off – with bunk rooms, rec rooms, and a place to jump off the rooftop straight into the lake.’
But despite the hedonistic approach, the decorative ambiance is very calm, very soft, very neutral, and very restrained. ‘The whole idea was to speak to the vernacular of the lake and the home’s rural setting, and how you’d naturally find rougher materials like stone and hand-hewn wood around here,’ Mack says. ‘So with that philosophy of bringing the outdoors in – and having continuity between the materials and palette – the result is a very unified aesthetic. As you move from space to space, you get an overall sense of it being both refined and rustic – of warmth and comfort.’
Living room: Walls painted in York Gray, Benjamin Moore. Anza Table Lamp, McGee and Co. Blayne Coffee Table, Sarreid. Swivel Chairs and Sectional Sofa, all Lee. Bakari Rug, Temple Studio.
Designed for comfort – with big, squashy sofas for the family to hunker down on together – the living room is the heart of the home. It also isn't actually as neutral as it first appears. Despite the decor being all white and gray, there is the warm red of the brick on the fireplace breast, the dark wood of the ceiling beams, and the enriching chevron pattern on the rug.
‘Living rooms are actually the heart of a home like this,’ Mack says. ‘It’s where you gather, and it’s the one space that every single guest sees. So we spent a lot of time thinking about what we could do to utilize exterior materials like brick and wood and embrace their authenticity. By having them so prominently featured here, you create an impression of substance – of a room that is cozy even if the furniture itself is white and gray.’
Kitchen: The colors might be neutral, but it's the details in this kitchen that give it the depth and interest.
The detailing in the kitchen is a prime example of how much interest Mack has found ways to add despite keeping his palette so tight. The sides of the island are curved, with a cross pattern carved in, and the tiles above the range feature a chevron pattern similar to the rug in the adjoining living room.
‘A lot of our projects will have references to things seen elsewhere within them,’ Mack says. ‘So everything in the kitchen is informed by other elements – the tiles above the range cooker were a focal point, so they needed a bit of playfulness that went beyond just function. This is a big family gathering space too, so while it has to work as a kitchen, it also has to have some personality.’
Dining room: Chandelier, Low Country. Oxford Double Pedestal Table, Sea Green Designs. For similar dining chairs, try ABC Carpet & Home. Antique Bleached Buffet, Christopher Collection.
Even in the ‘formal’ dining room, the vibe here is relaxed, ambient, and soft. ‘This is one of my favorite rooms,’ Mack says. ‘From the contours of the walls and windows to the ceiling treatment and its wood beams, it just has amazing bones.’
As a space most often used in the evening, Mack paid special attention to the lighting, choosing a chandelier that has the same subtle glow as a candelabra. ‘It’s so interesting,’ he says. ‘And so cohesive. Nothing here jars the experience – built for gatherings and to help the family come together, you just want to be able to enter, be comfortable, and settle in.’
Entryway: Morris Lantern and Fasano Table Lamp, both Visual Comfort. Parat Mirror, vintage. 19th Century Danish Solid Oak Writing Table, from Christopher Collection
The entryway sets the tone for the decor scheme of the entire house – it’s pared back in palette but warm and welcoming, with plenty of texture, too.
‘That speaks to the preferences of our team, who like the idea of a design being steeped in history,’ Mack says of this classically rustic scheme. Working on the build as well as the decor, Christopher Architecture & Interiors saw an opportunity to ensure the home was all about the lake right from the get-go.
‘We wanted to create something that allows you to pull into the driveway and find yourself centered on the front door which, when opened, immediately creates a sightline through the house to the lake,’ Mack says. ‘Having an open-plan element provides an inviting atmosphere. You open the door and walk in, and all the light pours in from the windows behind you, and the lake is right in front of you – it just feels like you’ve come home.’
Main bedroom: Lunae Accent Table, Christopher Collection. Caroline Swivel Chair, Lee. Beatrix Lamp, Arteriors. Anderkit Tufted Headboard King Bed, Vanguard Furniture. Carlow Pendant Light (above bath), Visual Comfort.
The relaxed yet luxe vibe continues upstairs, as the main bedroom features an impressive canopy bed, while the adjoining bathroom has a freestanding bath positioned in front of large windows.
‘There is a lot to be said for the scale of the rooms and the height we have in each one,’ Mack says. ‘It gave us the chance to fill the upper reaches of the space, and the tall ceilings meant we could include this statement bed while still sticking to our tight color palette.’
Just as eye-catching is the bath connected to this bedroom. ‘It’s a real focal point,’ Mack says of his decision to place it front and center with the large windows behind it, creating a complete spa-hotel vibe.
Bunk rooms: Left: Curtains made from Pheasant Camo Fabric, Barneby Gates
Right: Callaway Flush Mount Light, Visual Comfort.
Being the sort of home the family wants to treat like a vacation space, bunk rooms felt like the best way to imbue that vibe. For cousins, grandchildren, and the friends of visiting guests, it gives the kids the opportunity to have sleepovers.
Right next door to each other, Mack felt the best way to distinguish them was to ensure one was dark – the only dark room in the whole house – while the other was a lighter blue. ‘It was to create contrast, which you need when you have two rooms that are similar in function,’ Mack says. ‘We liked the idea of creating something that differentiated them and set them apart from each other, so the kids could pick their favorite.’
This home comes alive in the summer, when you don’t want to be anywhere but outside enjoying the lake. Adjoining the exterior is a large, 500-square-foot covered outdoor kitchen, which Mack says is where the family gathers most.
‘Outdoor living is such a key component of lake life,’ he says. ‘So we integrated a TV that drops down from the ceiling. The idea was that this is where people would hang out – cooking on the grill, watching sports or movies, just enjoying all the things this home has to offer.’
By sticking to a classically rustic palette and letting the texture of natural materials do the talking, Mack has created a home that manages to be both relaxed and soothing – a place to play and a place to entertain. It’s a home where the edit is key, and the ambiance is perfectly suited to good times.
