The Comfy Lake House Rule Book

I like lake houses that remind me of summer camp – just replace the trumpet wake-up call with the smell of bacon frying, substitute a TempurPedic mattress for the cot and swap in some sangria in lieu of the bug juice. Other than that, I'll take a bunk, a good spot for telling ghost stories and roasting marshmallows and a rustic vibe.

Make it a place where comfort will take the place of fancy-schmancy and views of the water will reign supreme. Here are 10 rules of creating a comfy lake camp that guests will never want to leave.

Lake House Rule No. 1: No decor is too lake-theme-y. Go nuts with your canoe coffee table, your oars hanging on the walls and your bass fish that sings "Take Me to the River."

Of course, this room is so crisp and white that the No Wake sign looks like some sort of modern art. It's cool to see a minimalistic design getting down with the theme.


Driving my point home, yes, go for those chairs that are made out of waterskis and hang a boat from the ceiling if you want. It's your lake house, do whatever strikes your fancy.


Lake House Rule No. 2: Leave no stone unturned, unstacked, or, oh you know what I mean. A fieldstone fireplace is the best kind of lake house fireplace. I love the organic shape of this one next to all of the clean contemporary lines of the house.


Here's a peek at this bad boy from the inside. Wowza! Yes, an artisan-built fireplace like this costs a small fortune to build, so if it's outside of your budget, any kind of fireplace will do.


Lake House Rule No. 3: Stock the bar. There is nothing like swizzling up a G&T or mocktail lakeside on a warm summer day.


This is the cocktail deck that goes with the aforementioned bar — it's celebrity designer Thom Filicia's former lake house.

Check out Thom's new lake house


Lake House Rule No. 4: You can never have too much wood, and said wood can never be too knotty. Likewise, no couch is too overstuffed.





Board and batten, tongue and groove paneling, shiplap and beadboard are also acceptable ceiling and wall choices.


The more exposed beams, the better.


Lake House Rule No. 5: Bunking up is fun. Cramming into a room that sleeps as many as possible will make you feel like a kid again. However, remember to pack earplugs.


Lake House Rule No. 6: Maximize your porch time. If your lake house has a lot of resident mosquitos around, you'll want a screened-in porch. Outfit it with rockers, wicker furniture and a swing.


Even better, add a fireplace and beds for stuffy nights. There is no air conditioning at camp, so do like our grandparents used to and set up for sleep wherever there's a good breeze.


Mosquito free or loaded up on citronellas? Add a patio or deck that makes the most of the lake view.


Lake House Rule No. 7: Have as many meals as possible al fresco. Preferably, said meals are prepared on the grill or over a campfire.


Lake House Rule No. 8: Maximize space. No closets, no room for a nightstand? Not an issue at a lake house. Make the most of the wall space by mounting reading sconces and hooks. Add drawers or boxes under the beds for undies, jeans, T-shirts and other folded clothing.


Lake House Rule No. 9: No antique is too rustic. All furniture and accessories are allowed to patina, age, weather and chip as much as they want to.


Lake House Rule No. 10: Keep your landscape low-maintenance. Rock gardens, herbs, woods and mulch make for easy-to-care-for camp surroundings. You don't want to spend your valuable weekend lake hours mowing and weeding.


What's your favorite element in a comfy lake house? Please share it with us in the Comments section.

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