Interesting Lake Houses
I have a little something different to share with you today. It isn’t a DIY, but it is all about houses.
On Mother’s Day, the weather was so nice in South Carolina that Ed and I spent the day out on the lake. We took a picnic lunch out on the boat and just went cruising around the lake, slowing down to look at nature and a closer look at many waterfront houses that line the lake. It is one of my favorite pastimes, not only to enjoy being outdoors on the lake, but to pick up some ideas and inspiration on what I can do to the exterior of my house.
I have always loved looking at houses since I was a little kid when my mom would gather the family for a ride in the family station wagon to go on as she used to call them “a dream drive”. She did this when she needed ideas and sometimes just a reason to get out of the house. Most of these “dream drives” ended up at the local ice cream place which my siblings and I enjoyed even more.
A Few Unique Houses on the Lake
Lake Murray is a big lake, not as big as one of the Great Lakes, but a pretty big lake with about 600 miles of shoreline. The eastern part of the lake is very developed and the western sections, rural. It has been in existence since 1930.
I get to see a wide variety of houses. All are inspiring. Many of the houses around the lake are typical homes you would see in any suburban neighborhood.
I thought I would show you a few that really stand out to me – some are right near my house and others are at a distance. I give many of them names just for fun. I sometimes like to travel by car to see what the street side of the houses look like, too. Not to be nosy, just to get color and style inspiration. If you are a house lover, then I know you understand this. :-)
This house is out on the big part of the lake. I call it the “Lake Como Villa”.
Since it looks like it would be on a postcard sent from a vacation taken in Italy.
I call this house the “Turn House”. The name has nothing to do with the house, but when we are out on the big section of the lake it is our navigational point as to where we need to turn northward to get to our part of the lake.
This house was recently renovated.
It sits out further than any house on Lake Murray. It is on its own point of land with big water views on all 3 sides. I call it the “Location…Location…Location house.”
This one is an older home that sits out on a point of water, too. I actually met the owner at a fund-raiser for a nearby Opera House.
She told me it has been in her family for generations. It is small, but the water views are huge.
I have shown you this house before. It is “my favorite house on the lake” house. I love it because I love both the architecture of the house itself and the fact…
…that it sits out on point lot all by itself….. dreamy! It even has a boathouse. Not many houses on the lake have them.
The “Plantation House”.
Trees right along the shore are owned by the power company that manages the lake. You can’t remove them as they want to keep the shore line natural. If you do remove them you get a big fine. You can have the limbs removed to open a view, but the trees have to stay. These look like they are dead or dying. To add a dock, you need to get permission first and the power company has to approve your plans before you build.
This small house is near mine. It is old, but well-cared for.
It has big water views. If they ever sold this land, I am sure someone would tear this house down and build a big huge house in its place. It would make me a little sad as I like the “old lake” feel that the house adds to the lake and surrounding area.
Lake Houses in My Hood
As I mentioned Lake Murray is a large lake that incorporates different towns and counties around it. Some of the towns are more developed while many are very rural. I live right in-between the two. It is a rural area, but you can see houses going up all the time.
Like this one that was just built. I am guessing that someone bought it and will be moving in soon. It has a wonderful water view.
I watched it being built from my house that is across the water from it. See it in the distance…the house on the farthest left? They cut down trees to build it. It is a pretty house, but does not have any shade which will make it one hot house in the summer months.
This is another one of my favorite houses. Not too big with a classic presence and huge water views. The land far across the water from it is a state park that will never be developed. I call it the “Swimming Hole House” since the water is deep in front of it and out of the way of boat traffic. When we are out on the boat and want to go swimming, this is one of many places we go.
You can guess what I call this house…”The Blue Roof House”.
This one is simply the “white house” that stands out against the woodsy background.
This house I call the “Littlest House on the Lake”. It is more like a fishing shack and has probably been on the lake for decades.
Literally right around the curve of land from the “littlest house” sits the exact opposite… one of the largest houses on the lake.
I call it “Club Med”. I assume to the left of the main house where the roof line is lower, is a guest house. When I am out on my Mirage Eclipse, I can get close and can see all the details of the architecture and that there is a pool in the front behind the low wall.
Here is what it looks like from the street side. Club Med, right?
Right across from the “Club Med” house is the “Mountain House” which is probably just as big.
It looks much smaller from the street side, but you can see why I call it the “Mountain House”.
There are many other styles of houses around the lake, quite a few are red brick.
Or charming smaller homes…
…set among the trees.
This house we actually looked at when searching for houses two and half years ago. It has a great water view, but just didn’t feel right to us.
Almost every house has a dock, some with boat lifts.
So many houses, all of them loved and cared for with owners…
…who love living on the shores of a lake as much as I do.
Do you like going for dream drives in towns around you to get ideas and inspiration for your home? Have you done any of the ideas you saw on your drive to your own home?
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