This Cozy Lake House Is a Place of Joy

Text by Bethany Adams

Jason Turner and Robert Listerman bought their lake house on Smith Lake in Alabama as a weekend getaway for themselves and Robert’s then 92-year-old stepmother, whom they cared for. “She lived with us the last six years of her life . . . and she went with us to the lake house every weekend,” Jason says, noting that the lake house holds a lot of sentimental value.

Designed for family, the home is overflowing with rustic country charm, which was exactly what Jason and Robert envisioned when they made the purchase in 2012. They quickly got to work transforming the home, replacing carpet with pine flooring, changing out the hardware, and filling the space with repurposed vintage finds. As seen in the living area, plenty of windows showcase the beauty of the surrounding land, and an abundance of wooden paneling and leather furniture helps bring the natural beauty indoors.

The country-style interiors were crafted with care and creativity, with Jason and Robert scouring antiques stores and flea markets for anything that would make the lake house feel more like home. “We went all over and tried to get creative in that process,” Jason says. Their creativity is most clearly seen in many of the light fixtures—like those over the granite-topped kitchen island—which the two crafted themselves out of found items. 

Adding to the cherished, storied spirit found throughout the home, many of the pieces within were created from repurposed antique finds. But even more treasured are the plentiful items that hold sentimental value. A desk that belonged to Robert’s father sits by the stairs on the main level, a sewing machine table from Jason’s grandmother serves as a side table, and the carefully curated art collection contains nods to their roots. “They all mean something to us,” Jason says. “We never bought a piece of art to decorate—it always spoke to us.”

Although Robert recently passed, Jason continues to own the lake house, and he is quick to speak of the cherished memories that have been made there over the years. “It’s just always been a place of joy,” he says. “It’s been a place to entertain our friends that has made many joyous memories. It’s been a house full of love and happy times.”