Smart Design Meets Lake Living
As a financial advisor, Greg Cismoski naturally thinks critically about how money is spent. So when he and his wife, Chris, began planning their new home on Lake Allure in Ashland, he wasn’t exactly sold on hiring an interior designer. “As the money guy, I was skeptical,” Greg admitted. But that hesitation didn’t last long. “Every penny we spent was wonderful and worth it,” he said.
The couple brought in the team at JH Interior Design early in the planning stages, collaborating alongside architect Tom Clark to bring their dream of a lake house with mountain-lodge touches to life. The result: a serene, timeless home wrapped in a neutral palette with subtle hints of blue, beautifully balanced for everyday living and entertaining.
The project took about two years from groundbreaking to move-in, and both Greg and Chris credit the JH team’s organization for keeping the process smooth. “The project actually started before groundbreaking, working through floor plans with Julie and Tom Clark,” Chris said. Then there were meetings early to pick out appliances and finishes. That kind of foresight, paired with a clear design plan, kept the build on track.
The designers also became trusted partners when it came to navigating the builder relationship. “We’ve only ever worked with one builder,” Greg explained. “These designers deal with several builders all the time.” Chris added that the team helped set expectations, keep everyone accountable, and offer strategic advice on where to push and where to pivot.
They also served as a neutral voice between husband and wife when design decisions got tricky—especially around where to invest and where to save. “They reminded us to spend money on the things we touch every day, like countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms,” Greg said.
One clever example of this smart spending: a wood beam detail that was originally out of scope. When the builder quoted a pricey upcharge, the design team proposed wrapping the drywall with a heavy vinyl wall covering called DI-NOC to achieve the same look. The beam is so high up, no one can tell it’s not real wood.
Today, the Cismoskis say they constantly hear, “Your house is beautiful,” and “You thought of everything.” But they’re quick to give credit where it’s due: “The team thought of everything.”
View more photos of this project on our Portfolio.
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