Chenault James Lake Cottage Decorating Ideas

Designer Chenault James, the daughter of Julian Van Winkle, the founder of Kentucky-based company Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, knows that the very best things in life involve family and come with age. That’s why she wanted her family’s new home to capture the look of the turn-of-the-century cottages in their favorite lake town, Harbor Springs, Michigan.

After years of renting, her parents, Julian and Sissy, finally decided to build a summer home of their own—a property large enough for the entire family, which, in addition to the three sisters and brother Preston, includes lots of grandchildren ranging in ages from 3 to 7 years old. So, Sissy joined forces with daughter Chenault to create a new build chock-full of charm and character. “Every time you get to town, it’s like stepping back in time—you walk everywhere. Kids stay out playing— on their own!—until dusk. We wanted the house to capture that feeling,” Chenault says.

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Once their new home was built and ready, they filled it with antiques and made it a cozy place for their big family. The result: a three-story, eight-bedroom, eight-bathroom retreat that boasts all the trappings of an old-school Lake Michigan home.