Serene Lakefront Hideaway
The Exterior
The 1,000 square foot structure stands atop a jagged rock cliff, 75 feet above the water's edge. Bierman limited his paint selection to Benjamin Moore's Bronzetone (60) for the exterior and the screened porch to contrast the greenery.
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The Porch
"Let plants be your pop of color," says Bierman. Dark paint blends nicely into wooded settings.
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The Kitchen
This palette feels light, but not too stark for a relaxing lake retreat. The walls and cabinets are Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream and Cream Froth. The Ann Sacks backsplash adds a whisper of pattern to the room.
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The Living Room
"Promise you'll never do popcorn ceilings," says Bierman. He sprang for real V-groove, but beaded board is cheaper and looks great too. It adds historic charm to any brand-new house. Ditto for chunky window casings.
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The Bedroom
Besides investing in quality Marvin windows, Bierman also shifted the placement of some. In each bedroom, a pair of slim windows—rather than a single one—creates wall space for a bed.
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The Bathroom
Because it's such a small space, it cost only $250 more to install marble herringbone tile, adding color and texture. If that exceeds your budget, you will never, ever go wrong with plain white 1-inch hexagonal floor tiles. Use dark gray grout to conceal dirt.
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The House Plan
Bierman made minor tweaks to The Bunkhouse, plan #1237, to create The New Bunkhouse, plan #1948.