Rustic Elegance Overflows in This Beach House … on Pickwick Lake
With interior designer Cindy McCord's guidance, the Smiths created a "beach house" that sleeps 18 on their beloved Pickwick Lake, perfect for the whole family.
Nineteen years ago, CK and Morgan Smith bought their first big boat, a decision that changed their lives. In the nearly two decades since, theyβve slipped away anytime they could β summer weekends, mostly β to enjoy life on the water at Pickwick Lake. Their four kids grew up knowing Pickwick as a second home.
βWeβve been at Pickwick, but weβve been boaters,β Morgan says. For years, they docked their three-stateroom boat at Aqua Yacht Harbor and spent weekends living on the water. βAs the kids got older, they wanted to bring more friends and werenβt as satisfied anchoring out in the boat and swimming. And so we bought a ski boat. We got really active.β
Around two years ago, the Smiths decided to make Pickwickβs βsecond homeβ status official. Working with architect Carson Looney of LRK and interior designer Cindy McCord of Cindy McCord Interior Design, Inc., the family went all-in on a Pickwick dream house, whichΒ means they can now enjoy lake life year-round.
βThis will be our first complete summer in the house,β Morgan says. βWe have heaters on the screened porch, so we were able to really enjoy it this winter. Weβd build a big fire in the fireplace, turn on the heaters, and entertain and watch football games. Being able to enjoy the space in the winter was an added bonus.β
In many ways, the familyβs Pickwick house offers a complete transition from their everyday lives. βWhen I walk into the lake house, I feel the calmness immediately,β says Morgan, who told Cindy she wanted a beach house vibe. βThe house weβre in now in Germantown, which Cindy did 14 years ago, is more of your French country style. And so we just wanted something totally different.β
With Morganβs input, Cindy took inspiration from the sun-washed, laid-back, clean-lined homes of Floridaβs Rosemary Beach community, where the Smith family also enjoys spending time. βMorgan has always wanted a beach house, and her husband CK has always wanted a lake house,β Cindy says. βSo I laughed and said, βLetβs compromise.β Youβve got your beach house at the lake.β
The familyβs Germantown house has a warm palette β yellows and corals and browns. And so for the new house, they were drawn to cool grays, blues and whites. βItβs just a lot more of a transitional feel,β Cindy says. βNot contemporary and not traditional, just really transitional and clean lines and very cozy and warm and comfortable.β
Morgan envisioned β and received β a space where the family could kick back and put their feet up and invite friends and family to do the same. βWe seem to entertain more at Pickwick than we do in Memphis,β Morgan explains. βAnd so it was important to me to have a round table. That was a must.β The weathered wood pedestal table seats eight, and nearby doors open fully to connect the dining space to the screened porch, which features a long farmhouse table surrounded byΒ casual cane-seat chairs. βWe can have 20 people at both tables,β Morgan says. βWe had Thanksgiving here, and it was warm enough to sit outside, which was really nice. The outside screened porch is where we spend most of our time. That was really important, that a lot of people can sit out there.β
Along with the dining table, the spacious porch features an L-shaped wicker sofa and two side chairs oriented around the stone fireplace and mounted flat-screen TV, creating an ideal spot for family entertaining. An antique work bench takes advantage of the view. Itβs one of several pieces Morgan found with Cindy on buying trips in Atlanta.
βMorgan and I worked really well together on this project,β Cindy says. βShe was really involved, which made it go quicker and made it fun, since weβre good friends, too.β Cindy worked with the Smiths from the projectβs outset, and because theyβre friends, sheβs since visited the home as a guest. But she doesnβt have a favorite room. βEvery time I walk in a room, I say, βI love it. This is my favorite room,ββ Cindy says with a laugh. βThen I walk in another room and say, βMorgan, I love this room.β I feel like everything we did worked out perfectly. The stairwell is even one of my favorite spaces because itβs got neat architectural features on the walls. So honestly, I love every space, and I canβt always say that.β
Along with the screened porch and dining spaces, Morgan loves the wide open living area, which adjoins the dining room and kitchen via wide openings framed by rustic wood beams. The family worked with a Mississippi-based supplier to find the reclaimed wood used throughout the house.
In the kitchen, white cabinetry coupled with white shiplap walls and pale countertops are warmed by a rustic, custom wood vent hood. A pair of oversize pendant lights provides sparkle above the roomy island. The living roomβs stone fireplace extends to the peaked wood ceiling, which is whitewashed to give the space an airy, ethereal feel.
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The same soft, neutral color palette and homey, livable vibe extends to the bedrooms. In the master suite, an upholstered headboard features a subtle pattern, while white bedding and neutral draperies harmonize in the space, giving it a restful feel.
One guest room features pops of pattern in a nautical blue-and-white palette, and a spacious bunk room sleeps 10 in its artful and functional arrangement of built-in beds and loft-like sleeping spaces. Overall, the house sleeps 18 in beds alone, not includingΒ couches. One daughter, on a break from college, recently brought 15 friends over to spend a night at the lake. βSheβs a senior at NYU,β Morgan says. βShe says now that when she does come home, sheβd rather go to the lake house.β
The Smithsβ children range in age from 17 to 27, and the couple has one grandchild with a second on the way. As their family grows and changes, theyβre thrilled to have a space where everyone can come together and relax. On the bottom level, a spacious entertainment area features extra seating, a bar and a billiards room where the family also enjoys hanging out.
βBeing on the lake is my husbandβs happy place. It really is,β Morgan says. βHe works all the time and doesnβt relax much, but something about being on the lake, even if heβs piddling in the boat house, itβs fun for him. Thatβs why we compromised β thatβs why we have a beach house on the lake.β
Thank you to Julie Wage Ross for todayβs beautiful images!
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Want to peek inside some other stylish Memphis homes? Check out StyleBlueprintβs Memphis Home & DecorΒ page.
