A Home in the Ozarks

This is a home that reflects the people who live in it. Nothing feels overly styled or chosen simply for show. The furniture, materials and collected objects tell a story, revealing a couple with a deep appreciation for design, craftsmanship and the life they have built together.

When they bought their home in the Ozarks, USA, they weren't looking to create a typical lake house. They wanted a place that felt connected to its surroundings and suited the way they wanted to live. Set among beautiful lakes, dense forests and the rugged limestone landscape that defines the region, the house brings together their urban sensibility with a more relaxed way of life.

Who Lives Here?

She is a Creative Director with a growing passion for cooking, while he works as a food and beverage consultant and has a lifelong love of skateboarding. It's still part of who he is, expressed in a quieter, more considered way. Together, they share a curiosity about the world, a strong sense of personal style and a genuine appreciation for good food, interesting objects and time spent with family and friends.

Both are vegan, a choice rooted in their values rather than a particular lifestyle or aesthetic. This carries through to their approach to the home, from the materials they select to the way they consider where things come from and how they're made. For them, good design should look beautiful, last well and align with what they believe in.

Chicago was home for many years, and its influence remains. There's an urban edge, an appreciation for art and culture, and an eye for pieces with character. Life in the Ozarks has introduced a different rhythm, shaped by the water, the surrounding forests and the quieter beauty of the landscape.

“We wanted a home that felt like us. Somewhere we could cook, collect things we love, have people over and enjoy the landscape around us.”

What The Space Holds

Spread across three levels, the house has five bedrooms and a lower level that opens onto a pool and the lake beyond. There's plenty of room for family and friends, but the scale never overwhelms the more personal details.

Many of the furnishings have been collected over time. Some were kept in storage near their former home in Chicago, waiting for the right place. Others were found along the way, including a midcentury credenza and a pair of dining chairs reupholstered after being brought home from a flea market in Mexico City. These are pieces chosen for their character and personal significance, rather than to complete a particular look.

The design draws on the character of traditional Ozarks lake houses. There's warmth in the wood, an emphasis on natural materials and an easy relationship between indoors and out. But the house avoids feeling nostalgic. A lighter palette, thoughtful contrasts and a mix of vintage and contemporary pieces give it a distinctly personal identity.

The surrounding landscape is an essential part of the design. The lakes bring the water close, the dense forests provide a sense of seclusion, and the region's limestone formations offer a reminder of the geology that has shaped the Ozarks. Rather than compete with the setting, the interiors complement it through natural textures, considered materials and an understated palette.

How They Live

The house is designed around the things the couple enjoy most: cooking, entertaining, spending time outdoors and bringing people together.

The kitchen and dining areas play a central role, reflecting their shared interest in food and hospitality. Living spaces connect naturally with the outdoor areas, where the pool, deck and lake provide a backdrop for long afternoons and evenings with friends.

Their adult children return regularly, as do friends and neighbours. Hosting isn't an occasional event but an important part of their lives, and the house accommodates it without feeling formal or overdesigned. It works equally well for a dinner party of twelve or an ordinary day spent together with their two dogs nearby.

The Design Approach

Every decision reflects the couple's priorities: thoughtful sourcing, lasting quality and a strong sense of character. Their commitment to vegan living extends into the home, informing their choices of materials and finishes without defining the aesthetic.

The palette is warm and restrained, the forms familiar without being predictable, and the furnishings gathered rather than bought as a set. Vintage pieces sit alongside contemporary elements, allowing the house to evolve naturally rather than adhere to a single design moment.

The result is layered and individual, with a sense of permanence but little formality. Chicago's influence remains in the art, objects and considered mix of styles, while the Ozarks provide the setting and a different pace of life.

Ultimately, this is a home shaped by two people who know what they value. Their history, their ethics and their shared interests are woven into the details, while the lakes, forests and limestone beyond the windows give the house a strong sense of place.

It's a considered, personal home that feels inseparable from both its owners and the landscape they've chosen to call home.