Welcome to our annual Dans le Lakehouse summer home tour! As part of the delightful Seasonal Simplicity Summer Tour series, I’m thrilled to open our doors and share how we embrace the warmest season with a blend of coastal charm and serene simplicity. If you’ve just arrived from my friend Mansa’s gorgeous blog, This is Simplicite, a warm welcome! Summer is truly my favorite season, a time for sun-kissed days and tranquil evenings by the lake, and our home decor naturally reflects this joyous spirit.
While summer holds a special place in my heart, it’s also the season when I tend to decorate the least. Here by Lake Superior, the beautiful weather is fleeting, so our focus shifts to maximizing outdoor enjoyment. My summer home tour isn’t about elaborate makeovers, but rather about intentional paring back, infusing fresh color, and celebrating the natural beauty that surrounds us. This means saying goodbye to cozy winter blankets, welcoming vibrant hues with a new statement rug, and filling our spaces with free, fragrant flowers like the abundant lilacs that recently bloomed. This year, I even pulled out some beautiful aqua and white striped towels I bought last fall, anticipating the quintessential summery feel they would bring. My decor philosophy for summer is effortless; our natural aqua and white palette inherently radiates a summer vibe, making it feel like I subconsciously decorate for summer all year long!
Embracing the Outdoors: Our Summer Landscape Refresh
This spring, my primary focus was on enhancing our outdoor spaces. We undertook several exciting projects, including some much-needed coop landscaping and the construction of modern DIY cold frame garden beds. These beds are a fantastic addition, allowing us to extend our growing season and cultivate fresh produce right here at the lakehouse. I’m excited to share a detailed tutorial on these soon, but for now, here’s a sneak peek at our progress!
Before we step inside, let’s take a closer look at our beloved chicken coop. Please excuse the patches of dirt – we’re actively trying to get grass seed to grow and establish a lush lawn around it. My recent efforts concentrated on planting small shrubs and bushes to artfully conceal the cinder blocks beneath the deck block foundation on the right side. I’ve also planted some on the left, envisioning them filling out beautifully to completely hide these structural elements. Not being able to obscure them was a significant pet peeve when we initially built the coop, so achieving this aesthetic improvement brings immense relief and satisfaction!
We’ve kept our charming DIY egg wreaths adorning the coop, adding a whimsical touch. To usher in the summer vibrancy, I splurged a bit at a local nursery this spring, investing in an array of cheerful annuals. Sometimes, a little retail therapy in the form of colorful blooms is just what’s needed for a pick-me-up, and these flowers genuinely make me happy, brightening up the entire outdoor space.
The Bunkie & Deck: A Cozy Lakeside Retreat
Our charming bunkie, a beloved small cabin on our property, has also received its share of summer greenery. Four new planters bursting with vibrant blooms and leafy plants now grace its deck, creating an inviting oasis. My DIY hydrangea wreath continues to bring a smile to my face, offering a beautiful and truly summery welcome to this special spot. This bunkie deck is actually a highly utilized space for us, often serving as our go-to for morning coffee or casual lunches. It captures the sun beautifully, becoming wonderfully warm and cozy, making it our preferred, intimate escape even though we have a larger, equally lovely deck attached to the main house. There’s just something about the bunkie’s secluded comfort that draws us in.
Stepping Inside: Summer Radiance Throughout Our Lakehouse
Now, let’s head inside and experience the beautiful transformation our home undergoes during the summer months. While our bathrooms and bedrooms enjoy ample sunshine in winter, this time of year brings breathtaking sunsets that cast a soft, ethereal glow across our living and dining areas. I captured these moments slightly earlier than some of the other photos, but I simply had to share the magical light streaming through our windows – it truly encapsulates the serene beauty of lakeside living.
Living & Dining Area: Driftwood Tones and Fresh Blooms
In the main living space, I’ve repositioned my beloved driftwood stool, and it feels perfectly at home in its new spot. This move signifies my gradual journey towards incorporating more driftwood-inspired grays and weathered wood textures throughout the house. This aesthetic not only brings a sense of calm and natural beauty but also deeply connects our interiors to the rugged, serene landscape of Lake Superior just beyond our windows. It’s a subtle yet impactful way to invite the essence of the lake indoors.
As part of our summer refresh, I’ve carefully tucked away any wintry accessories in the living room. There’s a distinct urge in summer to declutter and lighten up, creating a more open and airy feel. To complement this, I’ve proudly displayed my “LIVE LOVE LAKE” pillow, a charming accent that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of our home and feels wonderfully summery and inviting. And, of course, lilacs. I promise I’m not moving the same bouquet from room to room like a mischievous realtor! Our home is literally bursting with these fragrant blooms – I’ve filled every available vase. The entire house smells absolutely incredible right now, a truly intoxicating aroma that signals the height of summer.
Just last week, the delicate lily of the valley flowered, confirming our transplanting efforts were a resounding success! This was particularly special because it bloomed right around my birthday. As my favorite flower, their timely appearance felt like a personal, magical gift from Mother Nature herself, adding an extra layer of joy to the season.
Powder Room: A Splash of Aqua and Coastal Stripes
Next, we move into the powder room, a space that already exudes a summery charm thanks to its vibrant aqua wallpaper. This stunning powder room transformation laid the perfect foundation for a coastal-inspired look. For summer, I’ve introduced one of my much-anticipated stripey hand towels – the same collection I mentioned earlier! To further enhance the fresh aesthetic, I’ve added a delicate leaf-shaped dish and, of course, a small vase of freshly cut lilacs. The final touch was swapping out the existing floor mat for a lighter, cream-colored one, which instantly brightened the overall appearance and completed the serene, summery feel.
Main Bathroom: Continuing the Beachy Vibe
Carrying the serene coastal theme into the main bathroom, I’ve introduced striped towels that perfectly complement the hand towel in the powder room. There’s something so inherently summery and beachy about stripes, and I truly feel I need more of them in my life! The consistent use of this pattern creates a cohesive and tranquil atmosphere, transforming the bathroom into a refreshing retreat reminiscent of seaside escapes. It’s a simple yet effective way to reinforce the relaxed, lake-inspired ambiance throughout our home.
Bedroom: Comfort and Coastal Color by Lake Superior
In the bedroom, I’ve recently introduced a cheery teal rug, which serves a wonderfully practical purpose while also enhancing our summer decor. Even in the midst of summer, mornings and nights by Lake Superior can be surprisingly chilly. Waking up to something warm and soft underfoot is an absolute luxury, and it’s a quintessential part of summer decorating here at the lake! Beyond its comfort, the vibrant teal color imbues the room with a beautiful, summery coastal vibe, perfectly echoing the expansive waters just outside. Although this rug was added with summer in mind, it’s definitely a piece that will stay year-round, seamlessly integrating into our enduring lakehouse aesthetic.
Lake Life Adventures: Projects, Sunsets & A Little Rescue Story
Truth be told, even with all our delightful indoor summer touches, much of our summer decor is often ‘lost’ on us because we spend every possible moment outdoors! We’ve been diligently working on various projects around the property, savoring delicious meals on the deck, and, of course, soaking in the truly spectacular lake sunsets that paint the sky each evening. It’s these moments of connection with nature and each other that truly define our summer at the lakehouse.
This year brought another memorable lakeside adventure when I had the opportunity to save a gosling. He had managed to get himself stuck in our stone shore erosion structure, a perilous situation that required my immediate intervention. Carefully, I worked to free him from the rocks. He was incredibly soft to the touch, much like our little chicks, but surprisingly dense and, I must admit, completely unwilling to snuggle! I even took a playful wing to the face during the rescue, but it was all worth it. The best part was watching him happily reunite with his relieved family, a heartwarming end to a tense moment.
There’s nothing quite like the sight of the sunset reflecting brilliantly on the house and its windows, creating a breathtaking spectacle that changes with every passing minute. It’s a daily reminder of the unparalleled beauty of living here by the lake.
Join the Summer Home Tour & Pin for Inspiration!
I hope you thoroughly enjoyed this simple yet inspiring summer lakehouse tour! It’s a joy to share our tranquil corner of the world and how we bring the essence of summer into every space. If you’re following along with the Seasonal Simplicity Summer Tour blog hop, your next stop is Amber Tysl’s beautiful blog, where you’ll find even more stunning summer decorating ideas to inspire your own home.
This entire week, my talented blogging friends have been sharing their exquisite summer home tours, offering a wealth of creative ideas and beautiful inspiration. Don’t miss out on exploring their unique styles! Simply click on the links below to discover their full posts and gather endless ideas for making your home summer-ready.
Sharing with me today…
Friday
She Gave it a Go // Taryn Whiteaker // Rooms FOR Rent
This is Simplicite // Dans le Lakehouse//Amber Tysl
And sharing the rest of this week…
Monday
The Happy Housie // Maison de Pax // Cuckoo4Design
Modern Glam // My 100 Year Old Home // Inspiration for Moms
Tuesday
Sincerely, Marie Designs // Cassie Bustamante // Life is Better at Home
Lemon Thistle // Grace in My Space // Maison de Cinq
Wednesday
Setting for Four // Clean & Scentsible // Life is a Party
My Sweet Savannah // All Things With Purpose // Tatertots & Jello
Thursday
Craftberry Bush // Finding Silver Pennies // The Tattered Pew
Rambling Renovators // Zevy Joy // Two Twenty One
P.S. Don’t Forget to Pin for Later!
