Date:  July 2, 2025  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

A newly built lake house becomes more than just a weekend escape for a Northwest Arkansas family

We could stay here forever. That was the thought Cara Osborne and Steve Brooks had after a few seasons at their Beaver Lake retreat. “When we built it, we thought it would solely be a lake house, but we quickly realized how much we all loved it and decided to move here,” Cara says. As a blended family with five high school- and college-age kids, the thought of days spent skiing, surfing, and boating was a draw for everyone. “It’s kid bait for sure,” she says. “With teenagers, the lake is a great way to get them off their phones and outside. They’ve all had so much fun learning to wake surf together.”

It was this idea of togetherness while enjoying nature that initially led Cara and Steve to find a waterfront lot just 35 minutes from their main home in Bentonville. They tapped Homes of Distinction to help them build a lake retreat that could accommodate all seven members of the family plus guests. Soon thereafter, they brought on friend and designer Betsy Soos of Proximity Interior Design to help with finishes and furnishings. “I think my secret sauce is really getting to know my clients. They have a vision, and I can push them to not only realize that vision but to make it even more beautiful and personal to them,” Betsy says. “Their reaction is what I live for.”

With the water being the focus, the designer and her clients wanted to highlight it at every turn. “The house was really meant to be a frame for the view, so we wanted white walls and a more minimalist feel,” Cara says. Betsy not only helped keep attention on the scenic setting, she also suggested bringing it indoors. “Bringing the outdoors in was a jumping-off point for us, and then we were able to make the design warm and inviting and give it a rich, moody character with things like the stained millwork and the tree-inspired wallpaper in the primary bedroom,” she notes. Throughout the home, a thread of comfort and approachability ties each space together—from the open-concept living room and kitchen to the upstairs bedrooms that feature multiple queen-sized beds to sleep a crowd. “Betsy is uniquely able to translate what you want into materials and infuse your own style into her work,” Cara says. “I’m so grateful they trusted me to take on this project and make it a reflection of their vision,” Betsy adds.

Room for All
The entry leads to an open-concept living room and kitchen where accommodating a crowd was key. Betsy specified an efficiently sized sectional that is in scale with the room and has a low back to keep the focus on the view outside. The family’s recent trip to Nepal—a destination they fell in love with—inspired the space’s textures and accessories.

Just outside the living room, a covered porch offers two seating areas, creating an extension of the home. A wood-burning fireplace and fans make the space comfortable throughout much of the year, no matter the temperature. As with the interiors, understated furnishings turn the focus outward.

“Their lot makes you feel like you’re in a tree house.”
—Betsy Soos, designer

Deeper Waters
“Steve loves to cook and had a huge voice here,” Betsy says of the owner’s involvement in the kitchen design, which features tons of storage and counterspace to simplify cooking for a crowd. They opted not to configure an island for seating, choosing instead to use one for workspace near the range and the second (with the sink) as a prep area. With a large family, durability was key, prompting Betsy to select stain over paint for the islands. “They will wear so much better over time and not get dinged up in a high-traffic space,” she says. While the builder helped narrow paint and backsplash choices, Betsy guided them toward a glossy, true black backsplash that helps bounce light into the darker portions of the room.

Looking Out
Opposite the kitchen’s range is a comfortable dining nook. Again, Betsy opted for durable materials and an understated palette with colorful accessories. With close proximity to the coffee bar and a sweeping view of the lake, it’s an ideal perch for morning chats or an afternoon card game.

In The Green
“Their lot makes you feel like you’re in a tree house,” Betsy says. Inspired by this sentiment and a renovation at one of their former homes that featured green, the designer selected a Phillip Jeffries wallpaper that echoes the scene outdoors with varying shades of the hue. “It’s almost a mirror of what you see outdoors,” she says. The forest green velvet bed and windows that were intentionally left uncovered both play to the scheme.

Clean & Serene
While the couple did not want a wet room, they desired a space with both a shower and stand-alone tub, which required a unique configuration within the floor plan. A porcelain tile that has the look of marble and the benefit of retaining heat covers the shower wall. The quartz counters seen in the kitchen were repeated here for continuity while side lights offer an ideal setup for applying makeup.

Suite Retreat
Designed with the family’s only daughter in mind, a downstairs bedroom features vivid hues and a butterfly motif. “It was important to give her a space of her own that is vibrant and youthful but also sophisticated,” Betsy notes. Since the room is located off the front entry, they opted for wood-paneled doors to create an artful first impression. The crane-shaped bedside lamps are a nod to the home’s setting.

Make your Own Mix
In the guest room, Betsy dressed up budget-friendly bed frames (they’re from Walmart!) with eye-catching, patterned bedding. “I love designing high-low for spare bedrooms. There’s a freedom in expanding your vision to use a mix of materials and furnishings while creating a thread that weaves it all together,” the designer says.

Ideal Setting in Stone
“When we built the house, we were not planning on doing this flagstone area, but it felt like something was missing,” Cara says. The fireplace and dining area give another destination when the kids have friends visiting or when the couple wants to host a larger dinner. Unhindered views of the property and water along with a nearby grilling station and seating for 10-plus at the table also make it a popular spot to catch a sunset. During the winter months, the fireplace extends the use of the space.

Design Resources
Builder Koby Bowen, Homes of Distinction Interior design Betsy Soos, Proximity Interior Cabinetry and millwork CnC Cabinets Carpet Flooring America by CarpetSmart Countertops Pacific Shore Stones Countertops (Fabrication) Corders Creative Granite & Marble Fixtures Ferguson Plumbing Supply Flooring Flooring America, Lowell Branch Furniture and hardware Proximity Interior Design Paint Sherwin-Williams Rugs Abbey Carpet Stucco Palma Stucco and Plaster Wallpaper (Installation) Bill Story