Step Inside a Small Cottage Transformed into a Cozy Southern Lake House Retreat with Stephanie Sabbe

Video Description

Join Caroline as she tours interior designer Stephanie Sabbe’s newly rebuilt lake house in northern Alabama that turned a tiny 1950s cottage (700 sq ft) into a 1,600‑sq‑ft guest‑ready retreat. Stephanie walks us through the full story — finding the property during COVID, discovering structural damage and termites, deciding to start fresh, and designing a compact, hospitable home that still feels timeless and lived‑in. ** Featured Products from this House Tour are linked at the bottom of this video description ** What You’ll Learn from Stephanie’s Lake House Renovation: ∙ Smart space planning and hospitality: open, hall‑free flow, bunk‑landing, two guest suites, clever eave/closet storage and upstairs laundry/office for seamless hosting. ∙ Lake‑house practicality and materials: outdoor shower, durable indoor/outdoor fabrics, compact efficient bathrooms, plus real wood, wallpaper, and trim to make new construction feel authentically aged. ∙ Timeless aesthetic and sourcing: earthy, restrained palette and patterns; layered art and frames; vintage and Facebook Marketplace finds for a collected, comfortable look. Skip Ahead: 00:00 Welcome to Stephanie Sabbe’s Lake House 00:27 Finding the Cottage During COVID 01:09 Challenges with the Original Structure 02:13 Tear Down and New Construction Decisions 04:13 Kitchen: Layout, Banquette & Lake Views 07:19 Living Room Flow & Lake‑Forward Sightlines 14:36 Pattern, Textiles & Indoor/Outdoor Fabrics 17:26 Hunting Vintage & Facebook Marketplace Finds 18:26 Stephanie’s Design Philosophy for Guest Spaces 20:34 Bedroom Tips: King Shams on Queens, Bedding Strategy 24:20 Utilitarian Spaces: Laundry, Bathrooms & Outdoor Shower 26:24 Art Choices & Framing Strategy 31:33 Picking Paint: Finding a Lake House Palette 33:53 Final Thoughts & Takeaways Products Mentioned: ∙ 01:20 - “Interiors of a Storyteller” by Stephanie Sabbe - https://bit.ly/3WlaRqM ∙ 07:41 - Dover Bed - https://bit.ly/4nq7bQy ∙ 09:04 - Ellie Scalloped Towels - https://bit.ly/4pNcATz ∙ 11:49 - Mabel Ditsy Floral Sham - https://bit.ly/48c9KRv ∙ 12:06 - 36” Custom Bolster Pillow - https://bit.ly/4mJp37G ∙ 12:40 - Brynn Double Gourd Lamp - https://bit.ly/3KuJ6cR ∙ 13:34 - Hayes Ottoman - https://bit.ly/487ZYjr ∙ 16:00 - Emma Scalloped Bedding - https://bit.ly/3KxfCuO ∙ 16:43 - Suzanne Kasler Harbour Lounge Chair - https://bit.ly/4nu4KfN ∙ 19:42 - Birds of a Feather Wall Art - https://bit.ly/3WjUHOs ∙ 22:06 - Mabel Ditsy Floral Sham - https://bit.ly/48bm4BF ∙ 24:57 - Emma Scalloped Towels - https://bit.ly/4pNcATz Don’t miss any house tours or decorating guidance—like, subscribe, and follow us on social media for more insights from expert designers like Stephanie Sabbe!