It’s been a few months since we closed on our lake house and it feels like it’s just now clicking that it’s ours. It’s not another airbnb we’re renting. We have clothes and condiments and chargers there. It’s a new feeling for me to feel calm and comfortable away from home. It’s actually something I didn’t even clock I was feeling until our third time at the lake. Oh! When I say I’m a homebody, I mean traveling gives me a bit of anxiety…I chalked it up as excitement. I don’t get those nerve-y feelings being at the lake house which adds another layer of peace to my life I’m grateful for.
Last month, Chris and I both hosted our friends there, separately, a couple of weeks apart, and that was my first time driving to the lake house alone and kind of “running” it by myself. And it was easssyyyyy, and I felt super accomplished, too. I always say that having people over is the quickest way for a house to feel more like a home because of the memories it brings with it, and I was reminded of that again after my girls’ weekend.
There are several FAQs that I repeatedly get about Merrimore House and I wanted to address those, which will hopefully provide you all with a big update about what the future holds with our lake house. Feel free to ask others in the comments!
Which Lake Are you on?
Lake Gaston! We took a lot of weekend trips over the last couple of years, but loved the vibe and feel of Lake Gaston. It’s quiet and not as developed as other lake towns we looked at. It also reminds us of Idaho a little bit. :)
How Far Is the Lake House from Your Home?
90 minutes! We really didn’t want to be too much farther than this, which is another reason why Lake Gaston stood out to us.
How Did You Know This House Was “The One”?
I have a funny story about this. The day we found it, we were sharing each of the houses we looked at that day almost live. As we were driving to the next one, I’d post the previous one. Merrimore was actually the 3rd one we looked at that day, but I was SO certain in the moment that it was the one I didn’t want to post. I didn’t want anyone else seeing it and putting an offer in before we could. How did we know it was the one? We made a wish list (even posted it here) a couple of weeks before it even hit the market, and it checked everything off instantly. The gentle sloping yard to the double-decker dock sealed the deal for me, though. The girls would probably say the triple-bunk room.
How Did You Choose the Name Merrimore?
When we thought about what we wanted this house to be, the word merry kept coming up—joyful, lighthearted, full of gatherings. And more felt like the perfect companion—more time together, more sunsets, more memories. And so, Merrimore was born.
Are You Moving Here or Is This a Family Retreat?
We are not moving out of our home or to the lake house and have no plans to ever do so! Chris’s family grew up going to their grandparents’ place by the lake house in Idaho and always had the same dream for our family. We hope we have it forever and ever.
Do You Ever See Yourself Spending the Whole Summer Here?
We dream of doing something like that!! I’m trying to figure out if we could make it happen for even a few weeks at a time. Chris is dying to teach us all how to wake surf. I have church responsibilities that I need to be home for on Sundays, but coming home just for that, or finding a week that I’m not needed as much, would be the dream. I hope to do that next summer.
Did You Buy the House Furnished?
Yes! Well, kind of. It was being sold completely furnished. Down to the bedding and plates! I wouldn’t have asked to buy it furnished, but selling a second vacation home with everything in it is pretty common. It has actually been wonderful because it has allowed us to use it and enjoy it right away. We just bring some clothes and fresh food with us when we go ,which makes it easier for us to use it more often.
What’s Your Favorite Thing About/Spot In the House?
Right outside the living room doors, there are six rocking chairs on the upper deck. Sitting out there in the early mornings and watching the sunrise with a blanket and my tea has to be my favorite part of the house. Twice, I have ended up spending most of the morning out there talking about anything and everything with friends and family. It’s beautiful and peaceful.
What Do You Want to Do for Renovations?
That’s the big question, isn’t it!? The bones of the house are really great, so I don’t see us having to move any walls or do any major demo in that sense. (Except the light switches are in really odd places, so that will have to be addressed and may require some drywall removal.) But I DO want to add a ton of trim and wallpaper and lighting and charm and personality to every room. The house doesn’t feel cozy to me at night, and I think it’s the lack of good lighting, so I’m excited to plan that out. The kitchen needs reworking (I’d like to eliminate the soffits and trim down the island), and I want to change the tile in the bathrooms. We are starting with a beautiful before (I think our current house was the same), so I’m excited to put our touch on it! (see before photos here!)
How Are You Going to Make this Place Moody, Modern, Traditional?
I made a Lakehouse inspiration Pinterest board here so you can take a peek!
Are there furniture or decor pieces there that you will keep? What Will You Do with the Furniture and Decor You Don’t Keep?
I’m sure there will be pieces we keep! There’s some cool stuff that was left behind. The stuff we don’t want after the renovation, we’ll probably sell on marketplace.
Are You Going to Change Anything on the Exterior?
I LOVE the exterior. The only thing I can see us doing is painting. Feels like it should be a creamy white, honestly. (But me!? Paint a house white?!) We’ll see.
When Do You Want to Start Renovations, and what’s the timeline?
I have this idea of planning out and designing the entire house and renovating it all at once, over a few months. So we wouldn’t be renovating it over years and years. I’ve never done that before, and the idea excites and scares me at the same time. Obviously, if we did this, it would be best to do it before peak season (summer), but I don’t know if there’s time to do it by next summer. So now we’re wondering if we plan the renovation through next summer and then start late next fall/winter? It feels so far away, and there are things I want to do NOW. I’m going to see how much I can plan before the end of the year. ;) Alternatively, we can just renovate it bit by bit like we always do. :)
Are you planning to Rent Out the House?
I’m not sure! It kind of feels like we JUST got a brand new pair of shoes, and my sister asked to wear them before I did. I would tell her no. But, in a few wears/years, the answer might change. If we did, it wouldn’t be until much later. After all the renovations are done and we’re settled into it. It’s definitely a home that we also plan to use a lot as a family.
Was the Boat Included? What Kind of boat is it?
There was a boat included! Again, it was so fun to use it right away and get out on the water the latter half of the summer. It worked okay, but it was pretty old, and a few things had stopped working. We ended up selling it to the local marina at the end of the season and found a used 2023 Malibu on Boat Trader in Jackson Hole for a steal! It can practically park itself.
Did you have to take boating lessons and get certified?
Yes, there’s a state boat safety program we had to take online.
Which Holiday Are You Most Excited to Spend Here?
Is it weird that it’s still hard for me to imagine not being home for the holidays? I think it may be because the lake house doesn’t feel like us yet, and we’ve spent the last 4 years making our home exactly what we want. But ABSOLUTELY the 4th of July will be magical at Merrimore. And in the future, I can see us hosting Thanksgiving there, too. :)
I know a lot of you were hoping for more immediate renovation updates, and the biggest update is that we’re planning it. Every time we go up feels so relaxing, and also, we get more clarity on how we will use the spaces. We’re coming up with a lot of ideas, and I can barely wait to get started. Like I have said, I’ve never done a whole house renovation all at once, but that’s where we’re leaning now. :)
I may have missed the lake house flooring discussion – is it reclaimed wood? What species? Gorgeous!
Excited to see what you do with this beautiful property!
The Merrimore house is soo dreamy! I have no doubt that you will make everything look absolutely stunning, as you always do! As an Interior Designer myself, you are my absolute favorite person/family to follow! Can’t wait to see what Merrimore will become with your touch on it! :)
What a dream! I love your Pinterest mood board and can’t wait to see how you make it your own. However (did you guess there’s a ‘but’ coming?), please don’t paint it white, even a creamy white. With the beautiful background of trees and the foreground of the lake, I think it needs to blend into the setting more, instead of sticking out. You can keep the white trim for an accent to articulate those beautiful details and windows.
I know all your ideas for this house will be perfection; we all are living vicariously through you, and are excited to see each update…remember, rome was not built in a day, lol.
May God continue to bless you and your family, especially at this Christmas season.