Squam Lake Escape

Year 2020 Location Sandwich, NH Size 2400 sq ft

General Contractor K-Mac Builders Interior Designers Sam and Maggie Kachmar Photographer Matthew Delphenich

In search of a cabin they could escape to in their down time and challenged with finding rentals that would accommodate a dog and children, our clients sought out this split-level on Squam Lake in New Hampshire. Blanketed in once-plush 1970s carpeting and filled with sun-stained artwork of wildlife, the property felt stale and more like a tear down than a rehab, but the view was special. 

With the help of SKA, our clients began peeling back the layers of carpeting and linoleum and pruning the overgrown landscape, and they discovered a well-designed home that simply needed some TLC and cosmetic improvements. With the addition of mid-century décor and light fixtures, we leaned into the 1970s paneling and designed around it. The kitchen received a facelift, while the bathrooms were gutted and refitted with modern finishes. We cleaned up the mid-century lines of the railings and windows and repainted the exterior. The home now maintains the warmth of an heirloom lake house but benefits from modern upgrades and more polished finishes.