Lake Living at the Ozarks
Moving Mountains
A ‘Colorado rustic’ home captures the view and captivates the people who inhabit it.
BY
Jennifer Bondurant
PHOTOGRAPHY
Justin Highfill

The view from Dan and Kerry Becker’s Lake of the Ozarks home isn’t of the Rockies, but it’s nevertheless awe-inspiring. Architect Jim Sulewsky used the home’s architectural elements to literally frame the view of the water for family and guests entering the home.

“The columns and hall create the frame,” says Jim, commenting on the natural perspective he captured when looking through the home toward the lake from the vantage point of the front entrance. He also kept the view in mind as he designed every room, gracing the residence with inspiring views at every turn. Stone veneer columns, soaring wood ceilings and lodge-inspired decor unify the interior with the natural surroundings.

Kerry describes the style as “Colorado rustic,” which is casually elegant, lacking a typical motif of moose and deer. The residence includes a main building with three bedrooms and a guesthouse that provides sleeping accommodations, a kitchenette and additional space for visiting family and guests to relax. In total, the Beckers can accommodate up to 30 people.

A main truss extends from the main house — bringing the ceiling to a height of 33 feet in the great room — to the guesthouse, which maintains its own views of the lake via a triangular window in the loft.

Every Labor Day, Kerry’s large extended family travels from Wisconsin to gather at the Beckers’ home for a lakeside, end-of-summer celebration. The lower level of the home is perfect for entertaining all ages, from the poker table and bar tucked neatly underneath the split staircase, maximizing use of that space, to   arcade-style pinball and two island gaming stations.

But where is everyone once they’ve worked up an appetite? The kitchen, of course.

On the main level of the main home, an open floor plan keeps conversation flowing with ease. The kitchen stands out with a double island — a trend growing in popularity, according to Shawn McCune, certified kitchen designer and president of Kitchen Design Gallery in Lenexa, Kan. Shawn worked with the Beckers to maximize the functionality of the most-used space in the house. 
“A lot of people are doing two islands,” he says. “But there are very few cases where two-island kitchens actually work. This is one that does work.” The two islands function like one main island but “don’t trap you in,” Shawn explains. A butler’s pantry borders one side of the kitchen, but three sides remain open. This plan makes the space work during times of high activity. With guests visiting regularly, the plan also necessitated an entrance to the patio from the kitchen, keeping the outdoor living area easily accessible.

Having the right appliances and plenty of storage also was a priority for the Beckers. “When we come down to the Lake, we don’t want to be at the store every day,” says Kerry, who buys in bulk.
Hidden behind pocket doors, the Sub-Zero refrigerator, Miele oven, dishwasher and ice maker blend with black Bentwood cabinetry. Kerry appreciates the speed of her Kuppersbusch induction stovetop, set in stone on one of the islands. The river-rock granite adds texture, bringing the pebble rock-like bottom of a Colorado stream to the kitchen.

With every design element well thought out, the home meets form and function for a perfect family retreat. “We enjoy just hanging out with the kids and relaxing, no worries,” Kerry says.

Resources
Architect: James Sulewsky, James Sulewsky & Associates
Interior Design: Alaire McCune
Kitchen Design: Shawn McCune, Kitchen Design Gallery
Furniture: Seville Home, Nebraska Furniture Mart
Landscaping: Naturescapes
Tile: Sunderlands
Granite: Kitchen Design Gallery
Games and Electronics: Amini’s Galleria
Artwork: Seville Home