Christine Schwalm Design

I was so impressed with the makeover featured in the Times today.  The owner purchased a house on a lake in the Catskills but wanted to stay true to her style.  But how do you have a more modern, clean-lined look in a setting that generally lends itself to a more rustic, country look?  Like this.

Here's the before shot.  Kind of scary, huh?  But if you take a close look, you'll see that the owner didn't rip out all of the paneling but instead painted it white (check the ceiling in the picture above).  The entire space looks so open and allows the beautiful lakefront view to take center stage.  Then she ebonized the floors to create contrast and add depth.  Don't those ceilings look enormous?

The fireplace is updated, but still looks perfect with both the decor and the setting.  Note the mix of materials used in the space and the hint of color in those orange trays.  And how about those hanging fixtures?  I remember seeing something similar in Room and Board--3 fixtures in slightly different shapes hung at varying heights--a while back and tucking that away in my idea file.  I actually have that same look now next to my bed done with hanging lanterns.  Here they do a great job creating a separate conversation area.  Overall, a perfect place to get away for the weekend.