Traditional with a Twist

Lisa Hays knows how to put things together: patterns, colors, fixtures and furniture.

Having built three homes from scratch and finished two spec homes, she’s become quite good at interior decorating.

The Hays’ expansive balcony over looks Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Cougar Bay Preserve. “We watch the cruise boats,” Lisa says. “It’s really fun.”

Her new home in The Ridge at Cougar Bay is a reflection of her abilities but also of the life she and husband Ron have built over their 29 years together. They’ve been through seven big moves and a couple of small ones in between; amassing furnishings and décor from places such as Colorado, Atlanta, Missouri, Florida and even The Hays’ expansive balcony over looks as far away as Venezuela. Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Cougar Bay Preserve. “We watch the cruise boats,” Lisa says. “It’s really fun.”

“When we got here it was just a matter of merging everything,” Lisa says, modestly. Anyone who knows design knows it’s a bit more complicated than that. It takes creativity, imagination and a good eye among many other skills.

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Lisa’s preferred style is traditional, though she’s not a purist by any means. She blends antique and formal furniture along with unexpected bursts of color.

“I like traditional and I like color,” she says. “I was going for traditional with a twist.”

Lisa merged furnishings from several previous homes, creating an eclectic style.

From the hand-carved oversized palm frond ceiling fan the couple acquired in South Florida to the glass and wood art from Venezuela to the antique mirrors and funky lamps, the Hays’ 4,685-square-foot home is a curious mix of styles.

Lisa went with a variety of contrasting materials to create a more interesting look to her kitchen.

In her dining room is the furniture her husband bought her when they married nearly 30 years ago. Yet her powder room is decorated in iridescent animal print tiles. Pineapple lamps in the master bedroom. An old farm table in the laundry room. All of this and more fills this rustic-style home that overlooks Lake Coeur d’Alene and Cougar Bay Preserve.

Not your typical laundry room, this space featuring an old farm table and a hanging rod disguised as a mantel, has flair.

Lisa grew up in Ritzville, Wash. and Ron in Missouri. They met in Kansas City and because of Ron’s telecommunications career, they moved around a lot. When they had an opportunity to return to the Northwest, Lisa was sold. It didn’t take much to convince Ron.

“Once he saw Coeur d’Alene, we never ever looked back,” she says.

They kept two tractor trailers full of their belongings in storage in Florida and rented a place in Spokane Valley while they built their home. They were relieved to finally unload those trailers in a home they expect will be their last. They even had an elevator installed with that idea in mind.

“No more big moves,” Lisa says, with a laugh. “I’m done unpacking tractor trailers.” N