The Best Way to Afford a Lake House: Split It With Friends
For months, Heidi Caillier, her husband, and their close friends Rachel and Jeff Krause had been searching for a joint vacation home when they stumbled upon a small cabin and half acre of property on secluded Anderson Island. The best part? It was just an hour-long ferry ride from their hometown of Tacoma, Washington.
The house’s interior was a slightly different story: “It was a 1970s special,” laughs the designer. “We pretty much gutted it and started over.” Working closely with Rachel, Caillier devised a cozy cabin getaway that’s equally perfect for dinner parties and raucous playtime for the two couples’ combined three children—plus the kids of all their frequent visitors.
“We really wanted it to feel like a place that had been there and would be there forever,” Caillier explains. “Nothing fancy, just lived in and very comfortable.”
To do that, Caillier incorporated elements of summertime nostalgia—bunk beds, a nautical theme, cabin-like paneling—without going full “camp,” and then created a layout that lends itself to relaxing weekends for adults and kids alike.
Instead of splurging on refinishing all the home’s dated paneled walls, Caillier just repainted them. Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe, a rich slate blue, instantly modernized the
space. In the open kitchen, it’s paired with Off-Black, another dark shade, on the cabinets. Adding a series of sliding doors, meanwhile, connected the cabin—both visually and literally—to its surroundings.
When it came to furnishings, “Budget was always a consideration,” Caillier says. She and Rachel trawled flea markets and online auction sites for vintage art and accessories, and sourced much of the furniture from big-box stores—including bunk beds from Ikea, which the duo re-stained themselves. “We spent a whole weekend on just that,” Caillier recalls.
The designer selected upholstery in plaids and stripes to lend a sense of coziness. “I love to layer things and I really just wanted the cabin to have that collected feel,” she says. “I want you to feel like you can just sit down and grab a blanket and be comfortable.”
Dining Room
“When you paint the walls dark, it makes the view pop,” says homeowner and designer Heidi Caillier of her decision to use Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball all over her family’s Anderson Island, Washington, vacation home. Doors: Milgard. Table: RH. Chairs: Ton. Light: Isamu Noguchi.
Breakfast Nook
A map of the Puget Sound is fitting decor for a room with a view of it. Table: Rove Concepts. Chairs: One Kings Lane. Art and pendant: vintage. Pillows: custom, in Carolina Irving (pink floral), Michael S Smith (blue check, green floral), and Holland & Sherry (brown tweeds) fabrics.
Kitchen
“It’s open, so we needed a color that worked with the rest of the space, but we didn’t want it to be all the same,” says Caillier, who chose Farrow & Ball Off-Black for the cabinetry. Range: GE Appliances. Stool and art: vintage.
Bathroom
With the addition of a stone top and brass fixtures, this vintage chest got new life as a custom vanity. Sconces: vintage. Curtain: RH.
Family Room
Painted the same color as the walls, existing bookshelves look seamlessly bespoke. Sofa: Interior Define. Table: Jayson Home. Armchairs: Rejuvenation, upholstered in Ralph Lauren plaid. Art: vintage.
Bedroom
Throughout the house, Caillier upgraded big-box pieces with custom and vintage accessories for a more lived-in feel. Bed frame: West Elm, with custom headboard in Sandersen fabric. Pendant: West Elm. Nightstand: vintage. Art: Liana Steinmetz.
Thinking of Buying a Vacation Home?
Read our full guide to planning your purchase—or just take Caillier's advice before you start your search.
1. Look Nearby Just an hour-long ferry ride from their hometown of Tacoma, this house is easy for the two families to get to—so the Cailliers and Krauses go nearly every weekend.
2. Consider Accessibility A hideaway that’s too hidden could be tough. Caillier says the hardest part of the reno was getting materials and labor to the secluded isle. Be advised.
3. Don’t Over-Renovate Existing ’70s wood paneling didn’t appeal to either family at first, but once covered in a rich Farrow & Ball blue, it took on a modern look.
4. Shop Your Neighbors A bonus of sourcing vintage furniture, art, and accessories from shops in the area? No shipping costs! Plus, you might make some new friends.
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