By Katie Vaughn | Photography by Erin Konrath Collective | Styling by Natalie Marotta
When Amy and Joel Brodsky began considering lake living, they envisioned a relaxed, beautiful home where they could unwind and gather with friends and family. And when it came to design their new Lake Beulah house, Amy knew just where to start — with color.
“Amy wanted to bring in the water tones,” says Katie Wozniak, founder and principal at KED Interiors, who worked with the Brodskys and Thelen Total Construction on the three-story, 16-bed home. “She picked out this perfect baby blue for her kitchen island cabinetry. All the colors throughout the main spaces were built off that color.”
Throughout the home, thoughtful touches of blue combine with soft neutral hues, organic materials and layers of texture to create a sense of ease. The main living area boasts incredible flow, from the open kitchen and dining area to the great room to the deck overlooking the lake.
Having spaces that melded seamlessly was important to Joel, who wanted 20 people to be able to sit together indoors and out.
Builder Randy Thelen agrees that the gracious entertaining area is a highlight of the home.
“The wow moments are the transition from the great room to the deck,” he says, “and the lower-level terrace that’s so close to the water it makes you feel connected. We’re always trying to blur the line between inside and outside.”
Thanks to the wall of windows and glass doors, the Brodskys and their guests can enjoy expansive lake views all year long. And the cathedral ceilings — accented with shiplap and beams — do more than simply make the rooms feel airier.
“The peak was an important moment,” says KED Interiors Lead Designer Yvette Bass, “to draw your eye up to where the lake meets the sky.”
On a more private section of the main floor sits the couple’s primary suite, with a light- filled bedroom, bathroom, closet, office and fitness space. Meanwhile, both upstairs and downstairs levels have additional bedrooms, including two bunk rooms, to accommodate guests, especially their young-adult son and daughter.
Down on the lake level, the focus is all on fun. The Brodskys added a golf simulator, and ping pong and game tables, accenting those spaces in deeper tones of blues and neutrals.
The area also offers direct access out to the water, where 200 feet of lake frontage awaits with a pier, pontoon boat and jet skis.
Located a little over an hour away from their primary residence and busy life in Illinois, the lake house has become an easy and welcome getaway for the couple. And it’s proven to be all that Amy and Joel dreamed it could be — and more.
“It’s just peaceful,” Amy says.
“I feel like everything slows down at the lake,” Joel adds.
