This Texas Lakeside Retreat Calls for a Big Exhale

Big-city living comes with plenty of perks, but postage-size plots, nonstop traffic, and hour-long waits at restaurants aren’t among them. That’s why a Dallas couple jumps in their car for the hour-and-20-minute drive to Lake Athens most weekends. Upon arrival at their 2,200-square-foot house, they immediately experience a wave of peace, followed by excitement for upcoming boat rides and catfish dinners at the local Boathouse Bar & Grill.

When the couple purchased the 1980s property back in 2017 for their family of five (and, hopefully, future grandkids), they recruited Dallas-based designer Shannon Bowers to turn the dated farmhouse into a beautiful lakeside retreat packed with modern-day amenities. While the husband loves spending time outdoors—playing tennis, going out on the boat, and taking in the views from the porches—his wife is much more interested in the great indoors. “That’s why the interiors needed to feel feminine and collected—that’s who she is,” says Shannon.

Before she could assemble her signature mix of one-of-a-kind finds scored from endless online searches and out-and-about hunts, Shannon turned to the rest of the design team to bring old-school charm to the well-built but lackluster structure. Architect Daniel Heath designed a Lueders Roughback limestone foundation, added ample porch space, and devised a better—and brighter—layout inside, including new dormer windows and a wall of windows lining the great room. “We basically flooded the house with natural light and views of the lake,” says Daniel.

Shannon worked with builder Matt Cain of Tatum Brown Custom Homes and a number of skilled craftsmen to then layer in an abundance of timeless materials, including antique oak floors and freshly milled shiplap for cabinets, walls, and ceilings. “The craftsmanship makes this place a jewel box,” says Matt.