LAKESIDE

SPLENDOR
THE lively interiors
of a lakefront
north carolina
retreat reflect
the joy of the family
and friends who
vacation here.
byElizabeth Bonner Czapski
Tracey MacMillan Runnion
styling by
photography by Mac Jamieson
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W
hen the Anderson family stumbled upon
this 1970s cottage on North Carolina’s
scenic Lake Norman, about an hour
from their Wilkesboro home, there was
an instant connection. “The view is
absolutely priceless,” homeowner and designer Erin Anderson
says. “The second we walked in, we knew we had to have it.”
Inside, they were struck by another view: a stunning two-story,
double-sided river rock fireplace that separates the living room
from the kitchen and soars into a vaulted ceiling, with prominent
wood beams stretching through both spaces.
With such a great foundation in place, the Andersons went
years without changing a thing, but the project never strayed
far from Erin’s mind. “I had been redesigning the house in my
head for several years and knew exactly what I wanted to do,”
she says. “It’s a small cottage, so every inch needs to be very
well thought out.” They eventually decided on a remodel to gain
space to entertain. They doubled the footprint of the kitchen and
Upon arrival, a personalized double-door mat offers guests
a grand welcome, and a dynamic entry display, arranged against
a vibrant Thibaut wallpaper, sets the tone for the rest of the
home’s décor. “Our main home is much more traditional, but
because this was a vacation space, I took the opportunity to play
with bright, whimsical color and patterns,” Erin says.
Classic fixtures ground the spaces while bold shades of
orange, pink, and blue mix with subtle pastels and plenty
of white. Contemporary patterns blend with Erin’s beloved
chinoiserie accents as well as distinctive artwork. “Filling our
spaces with art we love is always a priority,” she says. Every
piece in the home is by a Southern female artist.
Those charming works displayed in the heart of the home
represent exactly what this dwelling means to the Andersons:
a place to gather with loved ones. “It’s designed to be a space
to entertain, welcome friends, and spend time together as a
family,” Erin says. “We have had sixteen houseguests here at one
time. With this house, we made a leap of faith into a lifetime of

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converted a screened porch into a fanciful bunkroom for their memories for our family.”

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three daughters, freeing up more bedrooms for visitors.

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With a brilliant white vaulted ceiling and rich wood beams that draw the eye to the unobstructed view of Lake Norman, the living room makes
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a statement but still allows the water to remain the star of the scene. Vivid furnishings and curated accents intermingle, while an area rug
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subtly pulls in the room’s bold blending of colors.

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 The living room’s wood beams flow into the
kitchen, bringing depth to the smaller space
and coordinating with the open shelving just
below. “I knew immediately that is what I
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wanted and what would work best in the

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limited space we had,” Erin says. “I love

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that the open shelves make my antique dish

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collection look like art.”

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 Delightful color and décor that play into the joy of lakeside living
make for a vibrant dining and bar area. A cozy banquette in a
neutral contemporary fabric pairs well with more lively pillows and
chair cushions. Blue-and-white undertones flourish, hinting at the
waterfront locale. The bar was a part of the home’s remodel—as
was its icemaker, a must-have for Erin’s affinity for entertaining.
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 The renovation also freed
up rooms to designate
for guests like this serene
space with a crisp white
foundation, enlivened
with fun notes of color
that appear in bolder
fashion throughout the
home. Visitors can take
in the glorious view on
Adirondack chairs on the
porch or from the com-
fort of their room through
French doors.
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