My In-Law’s Lake Den Makeover

Before & After, DIY PROJECT, Room Makeovers

My in-laws’ lake den is complete! I love working with family and this project was especially fun. This space is where Mr. Yolo and his brother grew up, played video games, and spent a lot of time hanging out. It hadn’t been updated since the house was built in the mid-90’s. I’ve always eyed this space, thinking about how much potential it had, so I was excited when we got the green light from my in-law’s to give it a makeover. I wanted to draw inspiration from the lake, so that was my starting point for the design. And Mr. Yolo really wanted to work on the layout to make the room function better. The couch was too far back, the TV was tucked away, and the shelving area was never fully utilized. So we both put our heads together to design a room that was beautiful AND functional!

My plan was to take the TV out of the shelving area, then trim it out to create a polished built-in to display treasures. Then, take the empty wall and cover it with stone veneer to create a faux fireplace. Eventually, my in-laws will put a TV above the fireplace, so that becomes the new focal point. I am SO HAPPY my in-laws trusted me, because I love how it came together, and it totally changes the entire feel of the room and makes it so comfortable and cozy down there now!

The stone veneer for the fireplace came from a local supplier, Halquist Stone. It was the first stone I fell in love with, and then I found out it fit our budget AND came from the local quarry, so we could get it quickly. It checked all the boxes! I loved that it had little hints of blue, which would draw out the wall color. This was our first time doing this kind of fireplace, so there was some trial and error. We started by replacing the drywall with cement board. Then, before installing the stone, we laid it out on the floor to ensure the layout. Once the layout was decided, we mortared each stone to the wall. As Mr. Yolo installed, he used 2x4s to brace the stones to the wall until the mortar cured. Once it was all up, we used extra mortar to build up the joints between the stones, creating a beautiful fireplace. I am beyond happy with the final result!

The completed built-in came together beautifully. It feels like this is what it always should’ve been. It’s a fun place to display art, tchotchkes, and lake-themed items. It’s painted the same color as the walls (we just used Ben Moore’s Advanced Cabinet paint in a glossier sheen). I tested a bunch of blues and initially thought about sage, but I wanted to draw in the blue of the lake, so ended up with Castle Walls from Benjamin Moore. This color is a chameleon; every wall looks different depending on the light! After filling the room with more items, I think the color is perfect. It’s a really lovely blue (but make sure you sample this one in your space, and on multiple walls!)

The flooring is LifeProof in Dusk Cherry. We love this product and have used it in so many spaces. It’s super durable, waterproof, and stain resistant. So perfect for this high traffic area! I wanted something warm to complement the oak closet doors. I don’t light matching a real and faux wood, so I chose a lighter color. My general rule is to go lighter, but pick a wood with variation. The flooring had hints of a darker warm color that tied in with the doors. We removed the base boards to install the flooring, and painted them before putting them back so they would not compete with the floors.

The beam is two pieces of wood we pulled from a barn. Mr. Yolo mitered the boards, glued them up and finished it with danish oil to match the oak trim, so they look like a solid beam. Such a fun detail thought up by my husband!

I love how it turned out, but even better, my in-laws love it so much. This was such a fun project to work on with them. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

Shopping Information

Flooring: Lifeproof Dusk Cherry
Paint: Ben Moore Castle Walls
Electric Fireplace
Brass/Wood Ceiling Fan
Stripe Blanket
Cori Elizabeth Vintage rug
Article Nirvana Couch
Lounge chair
Curtains
Vintage: Art, Built-in decor, stool, side tables, hat, lamp, vase, life preserver