Transformed river home goes from Dated to Stunner

Interior Designer: Lynn Fleming Xact Interiors

What started as a kitchen update ended in a full-blown renovation that turned a 1990s kitschy rustic home into modern marvel.

“We did the kitchen, then the homeowners said ‘let’s talk about the rest of the house,’” said designer Lynn Fleming who worked with Marianne and Andy Friedman to turn their 3,500-square-foot riverfront house into a sleek summer get-away.

A passionate cook and a consum-mate entertainer, Marianne knew she wanted to overhaul the dated kitchen and create a stylish and high-functioning space, said Fleming of XACT Interiors in Coeur d’Alene. Marianne chose a black and white palette, which was in stark contrast to the home’s original woodsy theme. She wanted something different than rustic but didn’t want a full whitewash either, she said.

“This is a lake house. There are dogs and kids running in and out with wet feet and dirty hands,” she says of the home the couple bought in 2020. “I wanted it to look nice without sacrificing style.”

Black acrylic cabinets replaced pine. Gone went the moose curtains and metal pine tree lights. Drawers, cabinets and the walk-in pantry were reimagined and reorganized for ultimate efficiency.

After

This oversized walnut and glass front door replaces the original smaller door. The pivot approach supports a heavier door and creates an elegant movement.

The windows were expanded and a slider was put in to open up the view and add direct access to the deck. A five-sided pine and granite island was ripped out and replaced with one made of quartzite. A walnut ledge was added to warm up the sitting space.

“Lynn talked me into the walnut ledge because she wanted to break it up,” Marianne said. “I was hesitant about the durability of the wood. It was a little out of my comfort zone, but I love that aspect of it.”
It was Marianne’s dislike of the original island that kicked off the kitchen renovation.

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“It was very oddly shaped. It had a white oven and across from it was a black oven,” she said. “That sort of started it.”

Once work began in the kitchen, the couple started looking at other areas of the house they wanted to see updated.
The next big project was the enclosed staircase. It was blown out and replaced with steel and walnut in a floating design that dramatically opens the space.

After

“It made an amazing difference,” Marianne said. “Everyone loves the stairs.”

Fleming took the couple’s ideas and helped shape them. She also guided them to local artisans, whom Marianne appreciated for the unique touches they brought to the various projects.

“It was a very collaborative pairing of my skills and her dream,” Fleming said.
The work took about nine months to complete. But in the end, a star was born.

“Everything was pretty smooth. Lynn pushed me a little bit. I have ideas but sometimes she goes a little further,” Marianne said. “We love it. We love the look and ease of it all.” N