Dwellings: How We Live at the Lake

July 2, 2024

Easy & Breezy

Just like a summer’s day on the water

It’s summer on Lake Norman, and while it's understanding to wish summer could last more than a few months, we all know what happens when the calendar flips to fall and the leaves start to change. So what better way to keep that easy and breezy summer vibe to your day through the chillier months than by bringing the season’s colors and sensations inside?

That’s what Lori Savio’s clients decide to do with their second home on the waterfront in Cornelius. For the summer, they actually retreat north, but Savio says when they come back around the beginning of September each year to escape the eventual New York winters, summer just keeps going when your interior reflects a nice, soft lake feel to it.

Savio, or Home, Heart & Soul design center in Cornelius, says she has worked with these clients over the last few years to transform their townhome into a tranquil lakefront retreat. Lake Norman may have emptied of its summertime hustle and bustle by the time her clients return to Cornelius each fall, but when you bring the look and feel of summer indoors, it’s always 75 and sunny.

“They wanted a lake feel, but they also love Kiawah Island,” Savio says of her clients’ preferences. “So they love that whole coastal and lakefront appeal. They said they just wanted to be very comfortable and they wanted it to function for them and their family.” And Savio says it begins – and ends – with the blue hues and comforts of a livable, waterfront home. She incorporated lots of high-performance fabrics and rugs that will withstand lots of visitors, as the homeowners love to entertain.

“It’s a perfect retreat that they come to,” Savio says, “to spend the winters away from New York.”

It’s been a transition in phases – it began a few years ago with the living/dining space and entry, then progressed to the kitchen (complete with a textured wallpaper ceiling), then moved on to an upstairs guest bedroom. Savio is now working on a design for the primary bedroom and another guest room. Regardless of the space, Savio has brought the light and airy feel of the waterfront indoors, using lots of creamy white walls and trim work in conjunction with the blues and greens that resonate everywhere from the kitchen glass tile backsplash to artwork to lighting fixtures.

In the kitchen, Savio designed a banquette that can seat at least eight people. Add in the island barstools, and it’s her clients’ favorite area to gather.

“They love to cook,” she says, “so there is room for everyone to be in the kitchen.” In addition, she added a raised, pub-height table and chairs in the dining area to make the most of the view of the marina and lake. There’s also a cocktail table made by East Bay Woodworks in Mooresville, with a royal blue resin running through it to coordinated with a huge piece of art over the sofa. Add all this to a revamped bar area near the kitchen and a great patio for grilling and entertaining, and it’s always summer at this Lake Norman townhome.

“It’s a very livable house,” Savio says, “It’s a wonderful second home for sure.”