Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
Lake Arrowhead is a pristine resort town perched up a mile high in the San Bernardino mountains. Located about two hours east of Los Angeles (you know, depending on traffic), it’s a year-round vacation destination for celebrities and the well-to-do.
Lifestyle brand Jenni Kayne recently purchased and renovated a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home on the shores of Lake Arrowhead with the intention of using it as a retreat and a showcase for their line of home products. Now on the market for $2.2 million, the 1940s-era home has been expertly restored with bright, white interiors, natural finishes and framed views of the lake from nearly every room.
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
“When we found the house, it was dark, dated and totally untouched, which to me was very exciting,” says President of Jenni Kayne, Julia Hunter, who spearheaded the renovation with her husband, Ray. Hunter looked right past the home’s knotty pine, floral wallpaper and yellowing carpet and saw nothing but potential. “We loved this house because while it really needed some love, it had great views to work with and a layout that felt like it made sense for the family vacation vibe we wanted to create.”
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
Spanning 2,678 square feet, the home features a spacious mudroom, a private dock with its own boat slip, and a separate bunk house with a half bath. Perhaps the most impactful update during the six-month long renovation process was painting the walls and ceiling All White No. 2005 by Farrow & Ball. “The Jenni Kayne brand centers around a clean, natural, and minimalist aesthetic, so we wanted to translate that to the design of the lake house,” explains Hunter. “We prefer to start with a neutral palette, and add color and texture through art, florals, and special details.”
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
The mudroom, which was formerly a laundry room, serves as a transitional space where family and friends can rinse their sandy hands, hang up a wet towel or grab a sun hat. “It’s where you leave every day to go down to the lake and bring all your stuff in and out, so I wanted it to really feel functional,” says Hunter. “We imagine a future buyer using this space to store all the essentials, but with enough storage so that it doesn’t feel cluttered.”
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
In the living room, a large picture window provides breathtaking views of Emerald Bay. A washed linen slipcover sofa from Maiden Home exudes relaxed, beachy vibes, while layered area rugs and an ultra-soft sheepskin amp up the organic texture.
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
The dining room floors had previously been covered in dingy, off-white tile, which was promptly replaced with the light oak hardwood that runs throughout the home. A six-seater reclaimed wood dining table is paired with Jenni Kayne’s own rope-wrapped oak chairs. Art from Armadillo rounds out the minimalist aesthetic.
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
“The kitchen was an important space for us to get just right,” notes Hunter. “We hoped it would be a central feature of the house, always filled with homemade meals, fresh produce, and family gathered together.” To further the mountain feel, the Jenni Kayne team chose a green-gray hue from Farrow & Ball for the custom, locally-made cabinets. “We decided to use chicken wire instead of glass panes to make it feel more rustic,” adds Hunter.
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
An apron-front sink is accented with a gold bridge faucet and subtly-veined marble tops the counters. The biggest splurge in the kitchen was the vintage-looking Hallman range — with five gas burners, it offers plenty of space for whipping up multiple dishes at once.
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
The bedrooms are scattered across three levels and each has its own ensuite bath, which ensures privacy for the homeowners and their guests. The master bedroom can be found on the entry level adjacent to the mudroom, which has a “direct pathway that leads down to the lake,” says Hunter. “It’s so tranquil, and you really feel like you’re immersed in nature.” The original arched brick fireplace received a lick of white paint and the room is anchored by the low-profile Wythe bed from Maiden Home.
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
Jenni Kayne partnered with California Closets to create an enviable walk-in closet with ample storage and the ensuite bathroom boasts a white clawfoot tub that offers treetop views while you soak.
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
There’s an additional bedroom on the main level and two more on the upper, which comes complete with a pitched ceiling that gives the space a “cabin cozy” feel, says Hunter. “Our guest rooms were meant to feel tranquil and serene, using mostly neutral materials with special touches, like a Lulu & Georgia rattan pendant and floor lamp.”
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
The bathrooms are just as distinctive as the bedrooms, with black and gold hardware, frameless glass showers and Classic Field tiles from Heath Ceramics. The team even repurposed some leftover marble from the countertops into an elegant floating vanity with an integrated sink.
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
Hunter calls the detached bunk house “a children’s rustic dream space,” with its weathered wood staircase, tree branch railings and fluffy white linens. “It’s inspired by the bunk room in Jenni’s Lake Tahoe home,” explains Hunter. “The positioning of the beds was designed to maximize the relatively intimate space while being a fun design element for guests, particularly children.”
Photo: Tessa Neustadt, courtesy of Jenni Kayne
Now living up to its full potential, the lake house is seeking a buyer who will turn it into a home — to the tune of $2,195,000. “We designed the home to create a calming, inviting space that friends and family would never want to leave,” says Hunter. “We hope the future owner will enjoy the tranquility of the lake and use the home to relax, recharge, and practice living well.”
