French Lessons

Renovated home on Diamond Lake is the perfect escape
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The family room windows were reconfigured to reflect the roofline. A swivel chair, which can face the lake, complements a gorgeous vintage rug. Photo Courtesy of Jeffrey Johnson

Taking a cue from the exterior, Jamie Foley, interior designer and owner of Chicago-based Studio 1018, worked her magic on this Diamond Lake getaway for a Chicago couple. “The architecture made it feel a little French, and that resonated with the client. The French-inspired architecture and finishes blend with eclectic furnishings, creating a curated, collected aesthetic throughout the home,” Foley says.

The scenic location supports the clients’ active lifestyle. The family loves to partake in activities like waterskiing and sailing at Cass County’s popular recreational lake, which is said to be the largest in southwest Michigan.

Furnishings and adornments from the past add character to the home. “Every room has a piece of vintage furniture; they have a layering to them,” Foley explains. “This project was done during COVID, so we had to be really scrappy with sourcing from vintage and retail stores.

There are little details peppered throughout, like unlacquered brass that will patina,” the designer adds. “The clients are fine with (some of the pieces) being imperfect and changing over time.”

Cheerful art creates a welcoming feel in a daughter’s bedroom. Photo Courtesy of Jeffrey Johnson

The ILVE range in the kitchen, where custom cabinetry meets floating shelves that seamlessly integrate LED light strips, was color-matched to Nocturnal Gray from Benjamin Moore. “Every room has that color in it somewhere,” Foley says. “The interiors were mostly color-palette driven.”

Creative modifications to the layout included removing an extra staircase. “The house doesn’t need two staircases,” Foley says. “That gave us room to create a closet for a hidden office space that looks like an armoire. We sliced off the front for the doors and the pediment.”

A three-car garage was adapted to meet the family’s needs, as well. “We took the third bay for a laundry room and a mudroom,” Foley notes. “The extra space also gave them a powder room.”

Another clever transformation benefits overnight stays. “The clients had an enclosed dining room that felt very formal for a lake house, so it became a guest bedroom,” Foley says. “It’s a cozy little room with a wallpaper remnant from their home in the city.”

A curated, collected aesthetic runs throughout the home, including in the kitchen, where neutral tones allow the outdoors to take center stage. Photo Courtesy of Jeffrey Johnson

A new dormer features a 12-person bunkroom that looks like the hull of a ship, while an adjacent bathroom with a trough sink can handle two at a time. “The space has a great vinyl wallcovering that looks like grasscloth,” the designer notes.

Wood, metal, and soft blues and grays adorn the cozy primary bedroom. Photo Courtesy of Jeffrey Johnson

In the family room, where the windows were reconfigured to reflect the roofline, a coffee table from the couple’s Chicago home and a swivel chair that can face the lake complement a vintage rug. Nautical elements include a guest bathroom with a rope mirror. The luxurious primary bath has a vaulted ceiling, marble floors, and a clawfoot tub. “It was very intentionally designed to be their sanctuary,” Foley says.

The bunkroom is awash in Hale Navy paint from Benjamin Moore. Cubbies and drawers corral duffle bags. The adjacent bathroom features a trough sink. Photos Courtesy of Jeffrey Johnson

Foley is crazy about the wet bar. “It’s a favorite space,” she says. “I love the metal mesh doors, the backsplash, and the metal countertop edging.”

A reading nook provides the perfect hideaway. Photo Courtesy of Jeffrey Johnson
Removing an extra staircase provided room for a hidden office.
Photo Courtesy of Jeffery Johnson
The designer is crazy about the wet bar, especially its metal mesh doors and countertop edging. Photo Courtesy of Jeffrey Johnson.

The designer previously worked with the couple on their primary residence. “It was really nice to do their vacation home because I knew them and I knew what’s important to them,” she says. “There was a little bit of a looseness to it, so we could go outside their comfort zone with a slightly different vision. They’re now empty-nesters, and this is a nice transition for them.”

D E S I G N  S A M P L E R

A few of interior designer Jamie Foley’s favorite elements for
fashioning lakeside comfort

Photos Courtesy of Crate & Barrel, lumber2love, and southernkomfortbedswings.com/
  1. Daughter’s Bedroom Bed, Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com
  2. Dining Table, Lumber2Love, Grand Rapids, lumber2love.com
  3. Porch Swing/Bed, Southern Komfort Bed Swings, southernkomfortbedswings.com
    “I wanted a porch swing that could also function as a bed, to increase the sleeping capacity of the home and create a prime nap location with a view of the lake in the summer and the crackling fire in the winter.”
Photos Courtesy of Watermark Fixtures and Regina Andrew, Detroit

4. Trough Sink, Watermark Fixtures, watermarkfixtures.com
“We found a great faux grasscloth wall covering for this space and had Watermark match the exterior of the trough sink exactly, to give this bathroom off of the bunkroom style and function.”
5.  Guest Bedroom Sconces, Lumens, Bimini Single-Wall-Sconce, Regina Andrew, Detroit, reginaandrew.com

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