Grand Lake O' the Cherokees
Stunning Simplicity
A modified ‘city home’ exudes the true essence of lake living without sacrificing luxury.
BY
Andrea Darr
PHOTOGRAPHY
Matt Kocourek

Scott and Diane Roberts built a city home at the lake. At least that’s the way it looks from the front, where the stone façade has an Old World appearance. But the interior shows a simpler side, with open spaces, tons of natural light and style that’s suited for the lake.

“We like the look of simplicity,” Diane says. “It’s warm and cozy but not fussy. We probably would have done more decorating if this house weren’t at the lake.”

A cedar tongue-and-groove ceiling and hardwood floors sandwich white walls and window after window. “We were originally going to do beams to match the cedar used on the outside, but we decided against it, and I really like the way the ceiling turned out,” Scott says.

The neutral palette blends with nature and satiates the couple’s desire for a soothing atmosphere. “The house we had before had a lot of color,” Diane says. “Instead, I wanted texture so I could accessorize and change the look more easily.”

She has to be flexible, with daughter, Reagan, 2, and son, Will, 18 months, who keep her plenty busy doing things other than decorating. She leaves that to the view, which functions as art in nearly every room.

Most entertaining and family time occurs in the main living space, which combines the entry, dining room, hearth room and kitchen. The Roberts have hosted the last two Christmases with ease, especially because they can host overnight stays in the mother-in-law quarters above the garage.

Diane loves the kitchen and even had a propane tank buried on the property because she prefers to cook with fire rather than electric, the only hookup available in the neighborhood. Scott’s personal favorite space is the screened-in porch, his version of a “man cave.” “It was supposed to be a breakfast room, but we decided to make it part of the deck and enclose it for outdoor living,” he explains. A wood-burning fireplace enables them to use the space nine months of the year.

While many of their neighbors at The Points live in their homes only part-time, the Roberts have made this their full-time home. They relocated permanently in 2006 after spending five years living at Chouteau to see how they liked lake life. They looked at this lot — spanning one acre and 200 feet of shoreline — for quite awhile before they finally bought. Diane wanted a spot with an open lake view; Scott was concerned about how they would get to their dock.

Most importantly, they wanted a change in lifestyle. “We built this house so Scott wouldn’t be so stressed,” Diane says. He now commutes 35 minutes to Pryor, Okla., where he owns a dealership, but this new arrangement is infinitely better.

“When I lived five minutes away, problems always followed me home,” he says. “Someone would call at 9 o’clock at night and I’d have to go back. Now I’m far enough away that they handle it,” he says with a smile.