Inside a classic lakeside retreat on Lake Sunapee with its own private beach

New England lake house exterior front view on Lake Sunapee, Newbury, New Hampshire

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This classic lakeside retreat was designed by Charles R. Myer & Partners for family gatherings and lazy summer days on Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire. The homeowners were no strangers to the area; in fact, they had been living just down the road when a three-and-a-half-acre parcel with the lake’s only substantial sandy beach became available. It was a combination of three lots being sold by one family, which is pretty unusual for this area.

Composed of three different lots, the property includes a new single-family home, a barn, and a beach cabin. The new house was built as close as possible to the beachfront, and the existing private road was cleverly relocated away from the house and the lake to increase privacy and create a new two-acre meadow. The summer house is organized around a large central gathering room with bedrooms overlooking this central space.

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECT Charles R. Myer & Partners
GENERAL CONTRACTOR KVC Builders
INTERIOR DESIGN Marc-Michaels
LANDSCAPE DESIGN Pellettieri Associates, Inc.

Key Contributors
Stone Mountain • United Marble • Jewett Farms • New Energy Timber

New England lake house exterior side view with natural landscaping, Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire

The 6,000-square-foot house is nestled on the shores of Lake Sunapee, one of New Hampshire’s most beloved glacial lakes. Beyond the main gathering room, the home includes a “pub” area, a screened porch, the owner’s bedroom suite, and children’s rooms with a sleeping porch, all of which are designed for the ultimate family summer escape.

Classic Lakeside Retreat

New England lake house exterior elevation with traditional shingle style architecture, Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire

For the landscape, Pellettieri Associates saved as many specimen trees as possible and then introduced a variety of native plantings.

Covered porch detail of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire shingle-style lake house — exposed timber rafters, stone piers, and views into the surrounding natural landscape

Classic New England lake house exterior nestled among mature trees on the private sandy beachfront of Lake Sunapee, Newbury, New Hampshire — shingle siding and stone details visible through the canopy

Grand Entry: Douglas Fir Porte Cochère

Grand porte-cochère entry of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house — Douglas fir timber frame construction, granite stone piers, and a statement chandelier visible beneath the covered arrival court

The main entrance features a grand porte cochère with Douglas-fir timber framing supplied by New Energy Timber, a nationally recognized timber-frame company known for its highly crafted timber structures built with reclaimed and responsibly sourced wood.

Exterior detail of the Lake Sunapee lake house showing cedar shingle siding, red-trimmed French doors, a timber frame roof overhang, and a natural stone pathway leading through native plantings

The red-trimmed French doors are a recurring exterior accent, echoing the warmth of the cedar and the richness of the stone, and offering a subtle color cue that guides visitors toward the entry.

Exterior entry detail of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house showing the natural stone foundation, cedar shingle siding transition, and timber bracket details beneath a covered porch roof

The Great Room: A Soaring Central Gathering Space with Lake Views

Interior great room of the classic New England lake house with soaring ceiling, wood paneling, large multi-paned windows overlooking Lake Sunapee, and antique and vintage furnishings curated by Marc-Michaels designer Robin Sturm

What We Love About This Home

This classic lakeside retreat offers a warm and inviting summer home for a large family to enjoy all that lake living has to offer. Despite the scale of this home, which feels grand, the project team did a beautiful job of creating intimate, comfortable spaces that feel both relaxed and welcoming. Thoughtful design details and seamless indoor-outdoor connections make it an ideal setting for making lasting memories by the water. We especially love the beachfront cabin/outdoor entertaining hub for grabbing snacks and drinks.

Tell Us: What are your overall thoughts on the design of this classic New England lake house? Let us know in the Comments below!

Note: Be sure to have a look at a couple of other fabulous home tours that we have showcased here on One Kindesign in the state of New Hampshire: A beautiful New Hampshire lakefront home with scenic views of Lake Sunapee and A New Hampshire lake provides an inspiring backdrop to this dream house.

Great room interior detail showing warm traditional furnishings — antique and vintage pieces including upholstered sofas, woven rugs, and layered textiles creating a collected, nostalgic atmosphere on Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire

The heart of this lake house is the soaring great room, which overlooks the water and anchors the entire plan. There’s a ‘noisy’ end with the pub, and a ‘private’ end containing the owner’s bedroom suite, allowing family members to find their preferred level of activity at any time of day. The great room is filled with antique and vintage furnishings selected to encourage a “collected and nostalgic” feeling, as if the house had been loved by the family for generations rather than built new.

Dining Area

Dining area of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house with natural light streaming through multi-paned windows, a large farmhouse-style dining table, and casual seating suited to extended family gatherings

The dining area sits within the open plan of the great room, flooded with natural light from the lake-facing windows and remaining connected to both the kitchen and the living spaces beyond. The oversized table is essential for a family that loves hosting extended gatherings throughout the summer.

Open and Spacious Kitchen

Traditional lake house kitchen with painted shaker cabinetry, soapstone or natural stone countertops, a farmhouse sink, and a window overlooking the Lake Sunapee shoreline, New Hampshire

The kitchen continues the home’s material narrative: painted cabinetry, stone countertops, and hardwood floors that connect seamlessly to the adjacent dining and living spaces. The kitchen was designed by custom cabinet designer Jewett Farms for summer living: functional, durable, and generous enough to handle the demands of a large family without sacrificing warmth or character.

Double-Sided Stone Fireplace

Double-sided stone fireplace at the end of the great room — local fieldstone surround, thick wood mantel, and a sinuous second-floor railing visible above, Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house

Interior living space of the Lake Sunapee summer house showing traditional furnishings, a stone fireplace wall, generous multi-paned windows, and the warmth of the wood-paneled ceiling and walls

The great room is bookended by two stone fireplaces, one of which is double-sided, sheathed in local stone supplied by Stone Mountain. The double-sided fireplace serves the gathering room and the adjacent pub space, making both areas feel warm and inviting. A sinuous second-floor railing wraps the upper level above, adding architectural interest.

Interior Hallway

Interior hallway of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house — hardwood floors, painted wood paneling, and natural light at the end of the corridor guiding toward the bedroom wing

The hallways in this home function as transitions between the home’s social zones and the quieter owner’s bedroom suite. The painted paneling, hardwood floors, and warm palette carry the material consistency of the great room into every corner of the home.

The Pub: A Cozy Lakeside Bar and Gathering Space

The pub area of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house — a stone-clad bar wall, built-in shelving with colorful curated bar accessories, cozy seating, and a fireplace at one end of the great room

Interior of the lake house pub area with natural light, traditional decor, warm wood surfaces, and colorful bar details curated by Marc-Michaels designer Robin Sturm, Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire

Beyond one of the room’s two stone fireplaces is the pub: a carefully curated bar space with a colorful collection of bottles, glassware, and objects that feel as if they were assembled over time. This is the “noisy end” of the home, the place where adults gather after a day on the water. The interior direction gave the pub warmth and specificity that lifted it far beyond the typical lake house wet bar.

Secondary sitting area inside the Lake Sunapee summer house with natural light from lake-facing windows, traditional upholstered furniture, layered rugs, and warm wood-paneled walls

Screened Porch: Classic New England Summer Living

Interior reading or sitting nook in the New Hampshire lake house with traditional decor, a cushioned window seat, and natural light filtering through trees visible through the windows

No New England lake house is complete without its screened porch, and this one is exceptional. Opening off the pub end of the great room, it functions as an outdoor living room through the long New Hampshire summer, sheltered from the insects and afternoon showers that define August on the lake, but entirely open to the breezes off the water.

Screened porch of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house — wicker and painted wood furniture, ceiling fan, painted bead-board ceiling, and full lake views through the screened openings

Wide view of the screened porch showing the full sitting arrangement, painted wood columns, and the lake visible beyond the screen — a classic New England summer living room

Primary bedroom of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house — a custom bed from Mark Jupiter, plaid accents, neutral palette, and lake-facing windows providing natural morning light

Primary bathroom of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house with traditional finishes — painted vanity cabinetry, subway tile, natural stone countertops, and a freestanding claw-foot tub from Apollo

Owner’s Bedroom Suite

Second view of the primary bedroom in the Lake Sunapee summer house — plaid bedding, antique nightstands, a painted wood ceiling, and a window seat offering views across the private sandy beach

The owner’s bedroom suite occupies the “quiet end” of the plan, tucked away from the pub and screened porch, and it offers a genuine sense of retreat from the home’s active social life. A custom bed by Mark Jupiter brings a cool, contemporary counterpoint to the room’s otherwise traditional sensibility.

Primary bathroom with a freestanding soaking tub positioned at a window with views of Lake Sunapee — traditional tile, natural stone surfaces from United Marble, and classic black hardware

The owner’s bathroom features a freestanding tub positioned at a window, bringing in natural light and views. Stone surfaces throughout the bath were supplied by United Marble.

Children’s Rooms and Bunk Room

Entry door to the bunk bedroom in the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house — a painted wood door with playful nautical hardware leading into the children's wing upstairs

Bunk bedroom of the Lake Sunapee summer house — custom built-in bunk beds with storage drawers below, painted wood paneling, and plaid and striped bedding giving the room a classic New England summer camp feeling

Bunk room detail in the New Hampshire lake house showing the custom built-in bed niches with individual reading lights, storage drawers, and painted wood surround — designed to sleep multiple children comfortably

Wide view of the children's bunk room and family room on the upper level of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house — built-in bunk beds along two walls, painted surfaces, and casual furniture for games and relaxing

Upstairs, the children’s wing is a summer camp dream. The bunk room features custom built-in beds complete with storage drawers.

Tall screened sleeping porch of a New Hampshire lake house

The sleeping porch opens off this upper level, offering the experience of sleeping under the stars with the sound of the lake in the background.

Guest Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Guest bedroom in the Lake Sunapee summer house with traditional furnishings — an antique bed, painted wood walls, quilted coverlet, and windows overlooking the two-acre meadow

Bathroom vanity detail in the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house — a painted wood vanity with a marble or stone countertop, a traditional mirror, and classic fixtures with a warm, collected aesthetic

Bedroom with an antique iron or wood bed, a sleeping niche with built-in shelving, and plaid or striped bedding evoking the nostalgic atmosphere of a New England summer lake house

Upstairs bedroom in the New Hampshire lake house with traditional furnishings, a painted wood ceiling, and a window overlooking the lake or the surrounding meadow landscape

Bathroom with traditional finishes in the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house — white subway tile, a painted wood vanity with stone countertop, and classic black or chrome fixtures

Second bathroom with traditional finishes — painted bead-board wainscoting, marble tile floor, a pedestal or painted vanity, and warm natural light from a frosted window, Lake Sunapee New Hampshire

The Beach Cabin and Sandy Beachfront

Beachside bar and outdoor entertaining area of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house property — a weathered shingle beach cabin with an outdoor bar counter, picnic table, and direct access to the private sandy beach

One of the most distinctive features of this property, and a rare asset on Lake Sunapee, is the private sandy beach, one of the largest on the lake. The beach cabin, one of the three structures on the consolidated lots, has been transformed into an informal outdoor entertaining hub, with a bar, picnic tables, and direct water access, making it the perfect gathering point for active summer days.

Beach cabin bar detail at the Lake Sunapee property — a built-in outdoor bar with open shelving, casual seating, and a direct sightline to the water, designed for post-swim refreshment and summer entertaining

Wide view of the beach cabin and picnic area on the Lake Sunapee private sandy beach — a weathered shingle structure with an outdoor seating area, fire pit, and expansive lake views

Waterfront Views and Site

Wide waterfront view from the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house property — the private sandy beach in the foreground and the open expanse of Lake Sunapee under a clear New England sky

Exterior of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire lake house viewed from the water — shingle-style architecture framed by native trees and native plantings introduced by Pellettieri Associates landscape design

Full exterior view of the classic New England lake house from the waterside — cedar shingles weathered to silver-gray, multiple roof forms, and the two-acre meadow visible to the side of the property

Entry detail of the Lake Sunapee lake house from the landscape side — the porte cochère visible through native plantings, stone pathway, and cedar shingle siding in the late afternoon light

Exterior of the New Hampshire lake house with surrounding woodland — cedar shingles, multiple gabled dormers, and the integration of the home into the mature tree canopy preserved by Pellettieri Associates

Wide exterior view of the Lake Sunapee summer house and surrounding woodland — the barn visible to one side and the main house extending along the shoreline, New Hampshire

Exterior detail of the Lake Sunapee lake house showing the transition between the main house and the barn structure — cedar shingles, standing-seam metal roof detail, and native landscape plantings

Exterior view of the Lake Sunapee New Hampshire summer house from the meadow — the two-acre meadow created by relocating the private road visible in the foreground, with the shingle-style home beyond

Landscape view of the Lake Sunapee property from the water's edge — the beach cabin, main house, and barn visible in sequence through the native plantings, showing the full extent of the three-structure compound

Viewed from the water, the scale and ambition of this property become fully apparent. The main house, the barn, and the beach cabin form a compound that reads as three distinct structures stitched together by Pellettieri Associates’ landscape, native plantings, preserved specimen trees, and the two-acre meadow that now rolls gently from the relocated private road down toward the shore.

Aerial Views of the Lake Sunapee Property

Aerial view of the classic New England lake house compound on Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire — the main house, barn, and beach cabin visible from above, surrounded by native trees and a two-acre meadow with direct access to the private sandy beach

The aerial views reveal what is truly rare about this property: the combination of the private sandy beach, the largest on Lake Sunapee, with a site large enough to accommodate three distinct structures, a two-acre meadow, and mature native woodland.

Second aerial view of the Lake Sunapee lakefront property in Newbury, New Hampshire — showing the full 3.5-acre site, the relocated private road, the new two-acre meadow, and the relationship of all three structures to the private sandy beach and lake