Lake Life Refined: Smart Design Solutions That Enhance the Harmony of the Vacation Home

When envisioning a lake house, one might picture a quaint retreat with cozy quarters and rustic charm. But when Nashville-based interior designer Brad Ramsey was tapped to design a sprawling new-build on South Carolina’s expansive Lake Keowee, he challenged the traditional lake cottage aesthetic. Think modern architecture, layered textures, and intentional moments of calm.

Commissioned by longtime clients seeking a spacious, functional, high-design getaway for their family of seven—five children ranging in age from 14 to 23—Ramsey delivered a serene, sophisticated escape defined by soaring ceilings, sweeping views, and seamless indoor-outdoor living. Collaborating with architect Evan Cantrell of MHK Architecture, Ramsey worked to balance bold architectural lines with interiors that support a lifestyle of relaxation, recreation, and entertaining. A refined palette and natural finishes helped bridge form and function.

“The architecture is very inspiring—the way that it brings the outside in and is really situated in the trees with gorgeous water views,” says Ramsey. “Even though the lines of the house are very modern, all of the finishes and materials we chose were purposefully organic, natural, and earthy in tone to connect with nature.”

Specifically in the kitchen, Ramsey deftly employed smart design solutions to enhance the harmony of the home. “The kitchen was voluminous with a really high ceiling,” Ramsey explains. “I kept looking at the architectural drawings, and it just felt like a huge white box. So, we decided to cap the ceiling and a portion of the upper wall with wood to add warmth and break up the height, so it wasn’t just this soaring white ceiling. I feel like it’s made a big difference.”

As a nice complement to the natural wood tones, Cambria’s Inverness Frost quartz countertops in a matte finish offer crisp contrast and brightness. “It was important to select materials that were carefree and easy to maintain,” Ramsey explains. “Quartz was the logical choice for the countertops, and because of the extensive styles they offer in matte finish, we were able to get the right look with an organic feel.”

That thoughtful design language continues throughout the eight-bedroom, three-level, 7,400-square-foot home. A quiet palette of neutrals and textural elements like stone, wood, and woven accents echo the landscape. The main floor centers around an open-plan kitchen, dining area, and great room. Oversized windows remain unobstructed to frame the trees and lake beyond. In the dining room, a wall of foldaway glass doors opens fully to the upper porch, blurring the line between indoors and out and nearly doubling the entertaining space.

Ramsey also delineated spaces to support the family’s desire to gather as well as room for them to spread out. “We designed the layout around how the client wants to live in the space, how they entertain in the space, and how their family wants to break up into pods,” he says.

To that end, the primary and guest suites anchor opposite wings of the main floor for privacy, while the upper level is dedicated to the couple’s three daughters, each with their own en suite bath. 

Downstairs, their two sons claim their own domain, each with individual suites, along with a bunk room, a gym, and one of the home’s most clever features: a lake-access bathroom, which Ramsey equates to a big locker room that opens out to the lower patio, the pool, and the dock to the lake. “When you come in from the lake with all your gear, it functions as the main drop zone … without invading the peace of the rest of the house,” says Ramsey.

Having designed two beach homes for this family in the past, Ramsey welcomed the opportunity to create something distinct with this project. “It’s bright and airy,” the designer says. “And with it being a vacation home, they didn’t want it to look like their Nashville home. When they go there, they know the mood and the vibe they want.” It’s vacation mode and the epitome of lake life. Ramsey adds, “It really is a dreamy space!”