As your eyes glide across Loch Ree’s glassy surface towards a little cove and opening in the woodland, you might just spot a log cabin—sooty exterior perfectly camouflaged, but windows aglow with candlelight and conviviality. Walden Lakehouse is a true escape into the wild, nestled on the gentle shoreline of the 'lake of kings' in County Westmeath. Here in Ireland’s ancient heartlands, homeowners Egon and Richard have found their sanctuary from the city.
Irish native Egon, who grew up just ten miles away, inherited the property from his father in 2010. Now a city dweller; working as an interior designer in London, alongside partner Richard; a trained architect turned management consultant, the duo are well versed in the world of property but, this time, “we were the clients, and we were responsible for delivering," they note. The 60s cabin—originally built as a summer house for a couple who, too, sought refuge in rural Ireland, before being rented out by Egon’s family to fishermen visiting the loch—was in need of some TLC. A year-long refurbishment saw works include building an extension, removing walls, replacing windows and doors, and opening the ceiling up to the rafters to “emphasise the lightness and airiness of the building.” On their sources of inspiration, Egon cites his childhood memories of the home and wanting to make more of its beautiful natural setting: “I was picturing a sort of Scandinavian lake cabin, but done in a luxurious, ultra comfortable, and stylish way.”
Inside, the cabin relaxes into a natural colour palette of pebble-greys and gull-whites, allowing the vibrancy of its surroundings to cascade in through the windows like morning sunshine. “Keeping the colour scheme neutral and subdued helps keep it calm and peaceful,” the pair explain. “Then you can introduce colour through furniture and accessories.” Little bursts of joy are interspersed throughout—a satsuma-orange lampshade here, a cornflower-blue cushion there, and paintings by friends—in colours that are “purposely unpredictable”, but evoke comfort and homeliness. “We wanted to create the sort of place we would look forward to visiting,” they add. “Neither of us are fans of rental homes where the kitchen knives are blunt, there are no cooking ingredients in the cupboard, and the sheets and towels are not of the standard you are used to at home. We wanted to create a place that was the antithesis of that; that we would eagerly look forward to visiting.”
The real crowning glory of this home on the 'lake of kings' though is its setting. A landscape that stops you in your tracks and forces you to appreciate the simpler things in life. Boat trips right from the garden replace sardine tin-crammed tube journeys; and afternoons fishing for beach barbecues replace quick sofa suppers. “You can take a boat and roam around the islands,” Richard notes. “There’s an area not far from us called The Inner Lakes which is really calm and peaceful. You can motor out there, it’s only five minutes away, cut the engine, and drift and go between the reeds. It’s just beautiful.”
Walden Lakehouse poses as an idyllic lakeside cabin with a Canadian quality. Where chopping logs for the fire and toasting marshmallows by the water’s edge easily become part of the daily routine; and even, perhaps, sighting the odd black bear… if you let your imagination drift enough. “This is a place to get away from busy lives,” they add. “It’s a complete change of pace and atmosphere” —where, well, I suppose you live like kings.
Feeling inspired? Why not peruse our collection of waterside homes, or explore our portfolio of the best places to rent in Ireland.
