When Sarah Barry and her husband, Tim, were looking for a new home three years ago, they had two “musts” on their list: expansive property and water. The couple, who have three sons, ages 8, 11, and 13, were living in Royal Oak, but yearned for space, woods, and water.
“We looked at all kinds of homes on water, but they seemed to be sort of on top of each other,” Sarah Barry recalls. And then, one day, boom! There it was. “The minute we pulled up to an old farmhouse on Lake Orion, we got the chills,” Sarah recalls. “The house had been on the market for a while because it wasn’t in the best of shape, but when we stepped foot on the property and saw an old red barn and the water, we went crazy. We knew it would be perfect for the boys for running around and playing.”
The landscaping, water, and the barn were the three most prominent selling features for the family. When the couple entered the home, which was built sometime in the 1920s or ’30s, they immediately noticed the current homeowners had been in the throes of renovating many spaces, and had even taken some areas down to the studs. “The work they did was beautiful, but I think they were ready to just move on.
“I could envision what the home could be,” says Sarah, an interior designer who launched Inspired Spaces by Sarah in 2019. Once the family had moved in, they started work on the kitchen, primary bath, and laundry room.
Sarah began pursuing her passion for interior design at Central Michigan University, but decided to major in broadcasting and Spanish. Years after graduation, she again was pulled toward design and her love of textiles, furnishings, and interiors, which led her to take online courses at the New York Institute of Art and Design. “I also joined a business group last year called Interior Design Business Bakery (a 12-month, business-coaching program) and that was very helpful in learning about client service and meeting other designers.”
The couple contracted out the work themselves. “That was scary,” Sarah admits. She says her husband, who’s the CEO of Troy-based Lit Financial, told her, “You’re an interior decorator and you can do this!” The couple hired a neighbor who’s also a carpenter to assist with the renovation.
Today, the Barry family enjoys meals in a beautifully renovated kitchen and dining space. Here, the designer shares her perspectives on the kitchen renovations.
Footprint finesse: The couple decided to alter the home’s footprint to create an open space between the kitchen and family room. “A doorwall overlooks the outdoors and the lake, and I wanted it to be open so you can see that from the kitchen.”
Set on stone: “I really wanted to have some sort of stone or brick in the kitchen,” Sarah says. The couple ended up selecting real stone (Heirloom Heritage Blend), which was installed in the kitchen and through a walkway that leads to a stairway and an empty back hallway that they use for extra seating when entertaining. “That stonework is a wow factor; it’s super heavy, so we had to add extra support in the basement.”
What’s old is new: “It’s an old farmhouse, so I wanted to keep it rustic, especially in the kitchen,” Sarah says.
Flooring flow: In keeping with the old look, distressed, dark, natural-wood flooring with wide planks works well.
Cabinet culture: Sarah worked with Acorn Kitchen & Bath (based in Pontiac) on the kitchen design. The cabinetry is vintage-looking but also more transitional and neutral. Sarah selected distressed gold-finished hardware from Top Knobs (myknobs.com).
Open to change: “We had so much cabinetry in the kitchen, because it’s so big. I thought, Let’s create open shelving to eliminate some of that cabinetry.” The family keeps their everyday dishes atop the shelves, which are made from old barnwood Sarah discovered at Reclaimed Michigan in Waterford.
Showstopper: Sarah put handmade Zellige tile (made in Morocco and purchased from ziatile.com) in the spotlight. “I splurged on that,” she says of the textural, shimmery addition that features natural imperfections and creams and grays, but seems to “change in color, depending on the light.” It covers the entire sink and open-shelving wall, as well as the bar wall and kids’ sink area above the microwave.
Straight from the Heart
Sarah Barry’s lake lifestyle
Living on the lake is truly a way of life.
Every weekend feels like a little getaway without ever leaving home. There’s just something about the water — the sound of boats in the distance, laughter echoing across the lake, the movement of the waves — that creates a feeling of peace that’s hard to describe.
My family takes full advantage of every moment on the lake. Early mornings are my favorite, when the water is perfectly still and the world is just waking up. My boys love to fish and will spend hours at the end of the dock, completely in their element. And I love getting my family out on the water — there’s nowhere else to be, nothing else to do, just time together, making memories.
Almost every room in our house has a view of the water, which is something we never take for granted. The family room is our favorite, with its large doorwall offering a picture-perfect scene that changes with the seasons. In the winter, when the trees are bare, the lake feels even more expansive; in the summer, it’s framed by lush greenery, creating the perfect retreat. We wake up to the sunrise over the water from our bedroom every morning. It’s pure magic.
Beyond the views, we love the space our property offers. It feels like we’re up north, surrounded by towering trees and nature. There’s plenty of space for the kids to run around and play, but there’s also enough privacy to relax and unwind. On days when we want to be social, the lake life keeps us connected. When we’re in the mood to escape with a good book, it’s easy to find a quiet spot to do just that.
We’ve created so many unforgettable memories here. One of our favorite traditions is ending the night with a bonfire by the water. There’s just something about the crackling flames, great conversation, and the peaceful glow of the lake that makes it the perfect way to close out the day.
What makes our lake even more unique is that it’s one of the few where you can take your boat right into town. Instead of driving, we love hopping in the boat and riding into town for brunch or shopping. It’s those little things that make life on Lake Orion so special.
— Sarah Barry
