French Connection

STONE JOURNAL ISSUE 2

There are two types of design clients: those who have some vague idea of how they want their home to look, and those who know exactly what they want. It was the latter kind who approached designer Kristina Schreiner after purchasing a property on the north side of Idaho’s Hayden Lake. The couple’s request? A French country-inspired home rooted in natural stone, carved-wood elements, and old-world detail that also embraced its natural surroundings.

The owners had turned to Schreiner’s firm, Nest Designs + Build, on the recommendation of Tim Wilson of Momentum Architecture. Wilson was confident that Schreiner could bring the clients’ vision to life. And while Schreiner hadn’t designed a home in this particular style before, she was excited at the opportunity. “The homeowners and I hit it off right away,” she recalls. “I love when a client comes to me with a new idea—it’s a chance to stretch. For me, this was the project of a lifetime.”

When it came to achieving old-world style, Schreiner followed several guiding principles. “Natural stone throughout was important to incorporate,” she says. “As were tall baseboards, carved woodwork, arched casings and doors, and a kitchen in a French blue hue.”

For the stone, Schreiner sourced Buechel selections such as Fond du Lac Castle Rock and Aged Parchment Cut Stone—both of which have the appropriate geological roots in limestone. “Old French homes all have limestone,” the designer says. “So, using that for the custom surrounds fit the theme of the house.” Thus, the stone was used to fabricate fireplace surrounds and mantels throughout the home—some of which stand nearly seven feet tall. The stone also went on to play a key role on the home’s exterior, giving the façade a neutral, European palette that blends with the lakefront setting.

Whether considering the interior or exterior, Schreiner felt it was important to opt for natural stone rather than the alternative. “It’s so common for people to use manmade materials,” she says. “But really, to keep the theme of the house, we had to adhere to those more natural stones that felt more period.”

With limestone anchoring the home, Schreiner was also able to experiment with dramatic gestures. For example, upon arriving, visitors are greeted with a graphic, black-and-white floor in a harlequin pattern—a motif that continues from the entry through to the butler’s pantry and kitchen. “It sets the tone,” Schreiner says.

Out door furniture positioned to overlook Hayden Lake through a stone-framed view

Some of the project's last elements to arrive were outdoor furniture pieces that provide perfect vantages from which to enjoy a stone-framed view.

Stone walls help delineate the exterior space, while also reinforcing a visual link with the impressive main house.

"Ultimately, it was about creating a house that feels timeless: a home that could have been here for centuries."

Meanwhile, beautiful woodwork adds a decorative touch. In the kitchen, carved cabinetry arches, detailed moldings, and oversized bolts reference antique joinery. Painted in a muted French blue with an antique finish, the cabinets feel aged yet elegant. “Little details like that really hone in on the older feel,” Schreiner muses.

The furniture followed suit. Many pieces came from the homeowners’ previous Colorado estate. Reupholstered and refreshed, they find new life in the lakehouse. Custom additions—a cherry wood coffee table made by a local craftsman, bespoke seating, and a mix of colors and patterns—add another layer of old-world French charm. “Ultimately, it was about creating a house that feels timeless,” Schreiner says. “A home that could have been here for centuries.

In the end, Schreiner shares, both she and her clients were happy with the results. “It was really nice because they were clients who trusted me from the start,” she recalls. “They weren’t living here full time, and they trusted me to make decisions on their behalf, and hardly ever gave me any pushback or balked at any ideas that I brought to them.” Schreiner also seems proud to have so successfully tackled a project of this size and scope. “They had a large budget—you don’t get those clients every day. This was the largest project I had done to date. Since then, I’ve done some larger, but it was my first experience of having that client where there’s really no budget—how fun it was to have free rein.”

◗ Masonry by Damon Kistler of Rathrdrum, ID. The stones used in the project are Fond du Lac Castle Rock and Aged Parchment Cut Stone.

Designer Kristina Schreiner liked the scale of this stone— concerned that smaller pieces would have looked too much like cobblestone.

Harlequin floors lead to a kitchen where cabinetry with an antique finish, arched doorways, and a fireplace surround in Buechel Aged Parchment Cut Stone reinforce the French country feeling.