By Katie Vaughn | Tricia Shay Photography
Every beautiful lakefront home deserves a gorgeous kitchen, an appealing space to cook, gather and entertain. But the best ones? They forgo trends and instead concoct their own unique combination of style, function and character.
Deep and Soulful
After living in their Pewaukee Lake home for more than 30 years, a couple welcomed a refresh for their next stage of life. Anne Frentzel, principal designer at her namesake interior design firm, worked with Colby Construction to open up the kitchen and dining spaces for entertaining, while maintaining a timeless, luxurious feel.
1. The tongue-and-groove ceiling is slightly irregular, “and that was purposeful,” says Frentzel.
2. Similarly, the wide-plank knotty white oak floor has differing widths and depths to create a lived-in look.
3. The simple yet stunning PALECEK lights are textured ceramic accented with a leather band.
4. A star of the kitchen is the dark patterned quartzite island, which the homeowners requested for a “wow” moment. Frentzel sourced the handcrafted wood and rope chairs from Peter Dunham’s Hollywood at Home line. They complement the kitchen’s knotty white oak custom cabinetry.
1. The dining table is from Lily’s Living, while the chandelier and side chairs are from PALECEK. The two Lee Industries captain’s chairs covered in striped performance fabric add softness, and the vintage cabinet from France brings a sense of history.
2. Structural beams add architectural interest between the dining and kitchen spaces, as well as the ceiling, where beams are painted white to highlight the chevron wood ceiling. Nearby, the original fireplace was refaced with new stone.
3. The homeowners requested Benjamin Moore’s Dark Olive for the pantry. With an abundance of windows and open shelving, the space is inviting.
4. Frentzel chose a light quartzite countertop to offset the moody-hued walls and trim.
Light and Bright
For a couple looking toward hosting their growing family in the coming years, Kelly Guinaugh, founder of the Interior Enhancement Group, designed this kitchen in a Geneva National home to be comfortable yet elegant.
The home was a new build by Doomis Custom Builders, and the couple wanted to prioritize easy flow, lots of storage and welcoming spots for moments together — plus a few standout details.
1. “We wanted a light fixture that wows,” says Guinaugh. And she and the homeowners found it in this crystal and aged brass chandelier from Visual Comfort. Similar finishes are found in the Alora chandelier above the dining room table.
2. The custom range hood has iridescent tile, arranged in a herringbone pattern. “It’s the showpiece,” Guinaugh says. “It brings warmth and just the right amount of sparkle and shine.”
3. The pantry door is another statement moment in the kitchen. Made of black metal and opaque glass, it brings a subtle industrial touch to the space. It’s also a great place to tuck away countertop appliances and other kitchen essentials.
4. Seating had to be stylish yet durable, as the homeowners are expecting their first grandchild. They chose PALACEK bar stools in ash grey, with colorful seats and textured backs.
Guinaugh partnered with DEA Design Group on the cabinetry, which is in three different finishes throughout the kitchen. The wood dining table is by Old Biscayne Designs, with chairs by Lee Industries. 
The couple chose European oak for the flooring. They have a family member who uses a wheelchair, so ensuring that walkways were wide enough and storage was easily accessible was key. 
The light-hued countertops are Calacatta Nevasca quartzite, a natural stone. Guinagh continued it as a backsplash for continuity up to the range hood.
Instead of staining beams, the homeowners opted to paint them the same color as the ceiling to create visual interest without becoming a focal point. Similarly, recessed lighting adds brightness without competing visually with the chandeliers.
Sleek and Colorful
On the shores of Elizabeth Lake in Twin Lakes, a Chicago couple’s home marries clean lines with an airy sensibility.
“Open concept was the goal,” says Ed Glavin, a senior project manager at Scherrer Custom Homes, which built the house.
Light woods, white quartz and touches of black create a modern mood, while the cabinetry provides a colorful pop.
- To accommodate the quartz backsplash and Marvin windows, a Zephyr range hood — designed to go over a kitchen island — hangs just in front of the wall.
- The homeowners choose the minimalist flat-panel Lausanne style of Timberlake cabinetry, opting to paint the cherry wood a rich shade of blue. “The blue was chosen early on,” Glavin says. “We built everything off of that.”
- The Therma-Tru front door in an indigo finish floods the entryway with natural light, featuring five horizontal windows plus a vertical pane. It effortlessly echoes the sleek, modernist vibe of the home.
- Alpine Custom Stairs & Woodworking built the eye-pleasing white oak railings that feature horizontal iron balusters, which flow seamlessly up from the white oak engineered flooring.
