See Why This Lakeside Retreat Was Love At First Sight

Thanks to a few twists of fate, a Texas architect found a getaway that couldn’t have been more perfect if she had designed it herself.

As a successful Texas-based architect, Christy Blumenfeld had long intended to draw up her own plans for a vacation home on the banks of Cedar Creek Reservoir, located about an hour from where she lives in Dallas. But years passed, and designing houses for clients kept getting in the way. Finally, her daughter took action and cold-called a real estate agent about touring a property. “She set up an appointment for us,” says Blumenfeld with a laugh. “I told her I’d go, but I wasn’t invested. I knew in my core that one day we would build a home for ourselves.”

True to her word, Blumenfeld was prepared to keep her nose in a book on the day of the tour. But as soon as the agent steered them through the gates of the ranch, the idea of constructing a new build from scratch suddenly lost all its luster.

While it was definitely love at first sight, two big coincidences made finding the property (which includes the spacious, guest-ready main house plus a boathouse and a barn) feel like kismet. “It turned out that Robbie Fusch, the architect who trained me for 10 years, designed this place,” she explains. And once they walked inside, some very special artwork caused a full-on triple take. A decade before, Blumenfeld’s husband had gifted her a Laura Wilson photograph of a cowboy’s hand holding spurs. “It looks like my dad’s hand. Laura printed only a dozen in that size,” she says. “And there, hanging over the fireplace, was another one. That’s when we knew this was meant to be.”

Creative Haven

Blumenfeld, pictured below with her dogs Brinkley and Madeline (who has since passed away), goes to the lake to recharge. “When I need to design something for a new client, I just look out at the water,” says the founder of Blume Architecture. “So many rooms in the house have a quiet but beautiful view of it.”

Game Stop

Canasta is the pastime of choice in the cardroom, where four vintage leather club chairs surround a custom ottoman by Cuellar Upholstery. The area is wrapped in Phillip Jeffries wallpaper, the light fixture is by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, and the large Noah’s ark-inspired ink-on-paper piece is from Blue Print Gallery in Dallas.

A Warm Welcome

With help from design firm Bonesteel Trout Hall and contractor Heidi Arwine Interiors, the couple updated and enlivened the home’s dark rooms. They accented the entry with a large mirror, a floor covering from Silk Road Rug Inc., and a console table embellished with a leather piece by March that reminds Blumenfeld of an old riding satchel.

Mellow Mood

“We brightened almost every room in the house except for the kitchen, where there’s so much natural light,” notes Blumenfeld. They kept the existing backsplash and hardware but updated the cabinetry with a coat of Farrow & Ball’s Railings (No. 31) and hung a grouping of ceramic lights by Philadelphia artist Natalie Page.

Relaxed Vibe

When a living room provides such stellar views, it has to feature some of the best seats in the house. Here, that means a custom sectional by Cuellar Upholstery (covered in a Rogers & Goffigon fabric) and a pair of armchairs by Lawson-Fenning.

Sleeping Beauty

Blumenfeld worked with Bonesteel Trout Hall to design the bed, and she added a Casamance paper to the walls. “It feels like blue jeans wrapping the room,” she says of its worn-in ambience. Extra touches include a pendant light from The Urban Electric Company and a vintage Moroccan floor covering from Silk Road Rug Inc.

A Cozy Corner

A desk inherited from the home’s original owners anchors this nook in the primary bedroom, which is made especially cheery with a yellow chair and a collage by artist Kate Rivers—a nod to Blumenfeld’s habit of leaving small fabric remnants outside for birds to use for their nests in spring.

Outside Counsel

Some of the outdoor furniture came with the home, including this custom dining set, which was crafted in nearby Athens, Texas. For additional casual seating and post-meal lounging, Blumenfeld replaced the terrace’s railing with a long cushioned bench.

Open-Air Lounge

The comfy hanging bed from The Porch Swing Company is piled high with pillows. It offers easy relaxation outside the property’s barn, which is situated just up the hill from the main house. Two textured rugs bridge indoors and out—each provides a soft landing place for bare feet and lazing pups.

Cocktail Hour

At 5 p.m., everyone heads to the boathouse’s second floor, which was converted into a lounge—complete with a glass-rail balcony that was added by Blumenfeld. “We go through lots of tequila, Topo Chico, and limes,” she says. The bar’s fiery hue (Farrow & Ball’s Charlotte’s Locks, No. 268) goes well with sunset views from the windows.

Easy Listening

The homeowners like to play music in the boathouse’s lounge area, which is outfitted with a vintage sofa, a custom rug by Miksi, and a pair of leather chairs that came with the home and can swivel to take in the scenery from all directions.

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