One of the things that helped me get through this particularly long, brutal winter was the thought of visiting my friends’ beach house when the weather warmed.
Their home was new—located on the shores of Lake Michigan—and they had invited us to come spend a few days. During all those months shoveling snow, I was dreaming of warm summer breezes and sipping lemonade by the water.
When we arrived a few weeks ago, their place was amazing—even more picturesque and relaxing than I had imagined. They had a nice lot near the beach, with a breathtaking view of the water.
The home itself had a distinctive “beach” feel. It was light and airy, and I felt the weight of the world lift from my shoulders as soon as I walked in.
As a hardwood floor professional, I was particularly impressed with the flooring choice they had made. The floors were wide-plank white oak with a wire-brushed surface, finished with a soft-linen look. They instantly reminded me of the waterfront.
I loved the carefree appearance they achieved. It’s a perfect look for a vacation home. Actually, it’s a great look for anyone who wants a casual, relaxed atmosphere. With a house like my friends’, I’d be tempted to vacation at home—no matter where I lived!
I’m really grateful that our friends invited us to share a few days with them at their new dream getaway. We had a great time. Neighbors came over for ice cream. We played on the beach.
And we spent hours just taking it easy and talking, gazing out over the sand-worn boardwalk (which made me think of their flooring!).
The whole time, my worry-free feeling was enhanced by the great job they had done with the house. It was warm, inviting, uncomplicated, and completely charming.
I still can’t get over how well their hardwood floors complimented and added to that feel.
Photo courtesy of Rachel Kramer and Kiwi Flickr. Available under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
