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The Modern Cottage IDCO Lake House Exterior Reveal

The IDCO Lake House exterior is finally coming together and I could not be more excited to see my vision of a charming modern cottage come to life! Just as with the interior, a big part of this transformation was the paint palette from our partner, Sherwin-Williams. My inspiration for the house was an elevated camp: Simple, refined, and unfussy. I want our guests to feel comfortable enough to make themselves at home, but also to feel a sense of un-hurried luxury (my husband Quinn’s background is in luxury hospitality, after all!).

IDCO Lake House Exterior

Where We Started

For a neglected fixer-upper, we had a pretty good starting point. The lot is shaded with beautiful trees and slopes gently down to the shoreline. The house appears quaint from the street — which I learned is actually the back of a lake house! — and the lake side features wrap-around decking and a porch that we we screened in. The house had a partial stone facade that was kind of charming, but we learned that it was actually causing the house to sink (I know, right?!) and it all had to come down. It was a disappointing and expensive setback, but once we got over the initial shock, it was clear that maintaining the integrity of the foundation of the house was paramount.

The Inspiration

My main objective on the exterior was to maximize the views from indoors and make the outdoor spaces as inviting and easy-to-use as possible. Several existing exterior doors needed replacing, so we took that opportunity to replace all of them and add some to increase the flow from indoors to out. We also added a few windows to bring more natural light into the house and allow more places to enjoy the view out to the lake. Aesthetically, I wanted to keep it pretty simple with a white-on-white scheme punctuated by a deep, moody green.

More to see: The Exterior Design Plan

IDCO Lake House Exterior

Where We Are Now

Today, the exterior is a combination of horizontal lap siding and vertical board and batten with the existing standing-seam metal roof. Since we kept the original siding where we could, we used Sherwin-Williams Rejuvenate Siding Restoration to help smooth out the surface and then painted it all White Flour SW 7102. All of the siding, trim, and windows are the same shade for a really clean look, and the doors and shutters are Jasper SW 6216, a dark, almost-black green. Swapping the front door for this mahogany beauty with a larger window with a single mullion really brought the cozy, farmhouse-y vibe to the entrance, and we finished it off with matte black hardware.

Taking down the stone and replacing it with board and batten siding was one of the hardest but most rewarding parts of the renovation. Every time I pull into the driveway I feel such a sense of accomplishment that we actually made this with our own two hands! The landscaping around the house is still a work in progress, but we pulled out some of the overgrown plantings and the clean slate helps the entry feel more welcoming. I’ve added some colorful annuals for now and I love the way they really pop against the white siding.

The back of the house has a large deck and I wanted to furnish it with generous seating that invited lingering, but it needed to be super durable, of course. Since Serena & Lily is designed for the coast, I knew their pieces were up to the task. The fabric has been particularly impressive. We just take all of the cushions and pillows into the screened porch when we leave and it’s all been very easy to clean when we’re ready to use it. Even during pollen season! I chose a mix of rattan-look and teak pieces that echo the furnishings in the living room, which is inside the set of French doors. I love having continuity of design indoors and out and we achieved that here with both furnishings and the paint palette.

See the interior paint colors: The Sherwin-Williams Paint Palette

This brass dinner bell is one of my favorite features! It’s a nostalgic and kind of playful addition that adds to that campy feeling. The lighting here also exceeded my expectations. The copper finish and delicate gooseneck on these handmade sconces pops against the white siding — they are truly works of art!

The original plan for this section of the porch was to add a pair of French doors where the window is located, but we ended up keeping the window instead. That gave us more space for furnishings both on the narrow porch and inside the living room. We screened in this section and painted the railings White Flour SW 7102 and it feels like it was always supposed to be there. It’s my favorite spot to start or end the day while taking in the gorgeous view!