Through the Keyhole: Susanna Salk’s Connecticut Lake House

US design expert Susanna Salk knows how to make the most of a space, and that is exactly what she has done with her lakeside home in Connecticut, nestled next to Lake Wagamaug.

It is a far cry from the over-thought, pristine colour schemes that we Brits can often associate with Connecticut.
Susanna says, ‘It was a little old lady house filled with shag carpets, a run down porch and too many little rooms filled with shelves for unslightly knick knacks!’

Luckily she has cleverly dispensed with said knick knacks and what remains is a wonderfully open and colourful space channelling an eclectic mix of cultures and influences.

‘We bought it origianlly to flip it, and ended up loving the light and the new modern vibe we implemented so much that we ended up moving there permanently as of a few months ago!’

Bright citrus tones resonate throughout, subtly tempered by dark wood floors and crisp white walls – ‘we painted it all white and stained the wood floors chocolate brown’ – creating an exotic, if not Mediterranean, feel with a touch of laid back coastal chic emphasised by the large stretches of white.

We particularly like the Moroccan pouffes perching by the fireplace, bringing out the orange of the chairs and rug. Although each has its own individual hue, they work well together as a whole against the neutral fireplace and furniture.

Above, a well-balanced but seemingly haphazard mixture of aretfacts around the house point to Susanna’s far-reaching influences, with an emphasis on the natural world. She says, ‘you can’t beat the light and all the amazing things to do outdoors on the lake.’

In the bedroom, warm, dark wooden beams temper the pristine white walls, paired with injections of colour throughout. Susanna is not afraid to mix her tones and prints and the cushions on the bed work perfectly in their pairs. The mismatching lamp and vase on the desk create a sense of fun and irregularity, while the eye is drawn to the strong, bold lines of the chair.

But plans for improvement don’t stop here: ‘We are as we speak building an addition to give us some extra space, as it has been a little like living in a boat with 2 boys and my husband!’

We can’t think of a nicer boat to live on.