The Lake House: The Bathroom Reveal and a Bedroom Full of Personality

A few months ago, we shared the downstairs bathroom renovation that resulted from a plumbing issue in the Lake house. That post covered the work itself: opening things up, fixing the problem, and rebuilding the space from scratch. We promised a follow-up once the bathroom had rugs, towels, and a little personality.

As promised, here it is, along with the changes we made to the downstairs back bedroom as part of the renovation. It's finished now, too. The wainscoting has been removed, it’s got a fresh coat of paint, and is newly decorated

The bathroom, decorated

Here’s a reminder of what the bathroom looked like before the renovation - very nice, but rustic and a bit outdated.

And here it is after the renovation, before we added the finishing touches. The bones of this bathroom were already strong once the renovation wrapped up. What it needed was warmth.

The finishing touches made all the difference in the final space below. We kept the palette soft and neutral, and the teak stool and teak bath mat add texture and bring in the feeling of the outdoors. The striped towels, a woven tray on the side cabinet, and a soap dispenser that matches the fixtures are small details, and help make a bathroom feel finished instead of just functional.

We love how it came together!

The bedroom, painted and full of personality

Right next to the bathroom is the downstairs bedroom. Before, it was yellow with cedar wainscoting and a couch that had seen better days. It felt dated and tired.

The renovation provided the opportunity to remove the wainscoting. We rebuilt with plain drywall, painted it a light tan, and laid a tan tile floor, and added furniture that made the room functional for a full house of guests.

The little touches are our favorite part. There are two papasan chairs by the window, a glass-front cabinet that holds extra towels and blankets, and an antique wooden chifforobe that’s a family heirloom. Near the bed, there’s a corkboard covered in wine labels we collected during our honeymoon, reflecting our longstanding love for wine.

With these changes, it's become one of our favorite corners of the house. Simple, warm, and ready for guests.

Both of these spaces started as problems we had to solve. Now they're rooms we actually want to spend time in. With all of the updates, the lake house truly feels like ours, and we love spending time here as a family. What more could we ask for?

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy reading about some of the other changes we made to the house to make it truly ours.

Thanks for joining us on this journey! Before you leave, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog and also check out our Facebook group, Finger Lakes Food and Wine Adventures.

Cheers from the lake,
Niki and Scott