There’s something inherently welcoming about a lake house, and this one—a charming retreat on Alabama’s Lake Martin—fully embraces that sense of ease. Shaded by Japanese maples and Southern magnolias, it’s as hospitable to morning coffee on the screened porch as it is to the gaggle of grandchildren running around in wet bathing suits every summer.
The sweeping property sits on a wooded point of the lake, framed by shallow sloughs on either side. Clad in warm hazel siding, the home reflects the sparkling setting through banks of tall windows that help it coalesce with its natural surroundings.
Completed circa-2000, the abode represents one of architect Bobby McAlpine’s earliest commissions on the prestigious shore, where his lake houses have become the stuff of legend. So, it’s little wonder owners Becky and Jim Tate fell for it at first sight. “I knew Bobby McAlpine’s reputation and had followed him through all his gorgeous coffee table books and projects,” Becky recalls. “As soon as I saw the open living space surrounded by windows and panoramic views, I was sold.”
Home Details
Interior Design and Landscape Architecture:
Leigh Misso, River Brook
Home Builder:
Kevin Misso, River Brook
Relocating from Mobile Bay to be closer to family in northern Alabama, the Tates set out to make this their full-time residence, tapping designer Leigh Misso and general contractor Kevin Misso, a husband-and-wife design duo they’d worked with previously, to guide the renovations.
The intent for their Lake Martin home was clear: to preserve McAlpine’s vision while updating it for today. Continues Leigh: “Bobby and his business partner, architect Greg Tankersley, had drawn this house so stunningly. Our goal was to elevate the interior to be sophisticated yet casual.”
Before addressing where to place the couple’s beloved tall-case Gothic clock and Queen Anne chairs, Leigh carefully studied the scale and massing of the rooms. Because the Tates love to entertain, the living spaces needed to flex for groups while remaining cozy for two. Presenting the greatest challenge was the step-down living room; Leigh’s solution was to divide it into thirds—with formal and casual seating groups flanking a central dining space. After updating the redbrick fireplace with a mortar schmear and antique mirror, “We set chandeliers above each seating area but kept the middle open and airy—so your eyeline is never interrupted.”
A custom-size Prestige Mills Granville rug unites the living room’s three distinct zones, including this dining setup at center. Surrounding the antique drop-leaf table, slipcovered chairs by Coley Home join Queen Anne side chairs, which Leigh re-covered in Schumacher’s Bespotted linen.
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Updated by designer Leigh Misso and general contractor Kevin Misso, this Lake Martin abode celebrates its original architecture by Bobby McAlpine. Japanese maples, Southern magnolias, autumn ferns and gardenias frame the cedar siding.
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A new dining patio of Oklahoma Brown flagstone from SiteOne Landscape Supply mingles with George Taber azaleas and wintergreen boxwoods—all installed by La Vida Landscapes. Rattan chairs from Green Gates Market encircle the custom pine table.
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In the living room, Wesley Hall wing chairs, a linen CB2 coffee table and a slipcovered sofa by Four Seasons Furniture gather beneath a mixed-media abstract by Jim Bird purchased at Details by Liz Hand Woods. The lighting is by Visual Comfort & Co.
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A custom-size Prestige Mills Granville rug unites the living room’s three distinct zones, including this dining setup at center. Surrounding the antique drop-leaf table, slipcovered chairs by Coley Home join Queen Anne side chairs, which Leigh re-covered in Schumacher’s Bespotted linen.
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Walls coated in a custom Benjamin Moore charcoal tone complement floating pine shelves and honed Negresco Mist granite countertops from Surface One in the laundry room. The Missos completed this snug space with Waterworks’ Henry gooseneck faucet from Fixtures & Finishes.
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Anchoring the primary bedroom is a custom canopy bed by Toro-Cordes Iron Arts. The Visual Comfort & Co. table lamp illuminates Schumacher textiles and a Prestige Mills rug from Billy Brown Flooring.
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Blaxsand’s suar wood Akar chair, purchased at Details by Liz Hand Woods, rests beneath an Honoré Daumier watercolor print on the upstairs landing. The pine-paneled walls wear Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter.
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Bunk beds fabricated by the Misso’s in-house carpentry team provide a refuge for the owners’ grandchildren. Schumacher wallpaper and a Visual Comfort & Co. chandelier adorn the ceiling while panels of Brunschwig & Fils fabric contribute privacy.
In the neighboring kitchen, Kevin swapped the existing poured concrete and weathered copper countertops for elegant Arabescato marble, while Negresco Mist granite—the Misso’s go-to for utilitarian spaces—acts as a stand-in for soapstone in the matching pantry and laundry room. “The moody palette of these spaces feels like a hug,” says Leigh, who accented each using her clients’ collection of silver serveware and copper pots.
“We pulled that same charcoal tone all throughout the main level to create a cohesive, layered feel,” the designer notes. Applying a similar shade to window and door frames also acts as an optical trick—visually softening the barrier between indoors and out, allowing the lush environment to take the lead.
While many spaces were updated with new lighting, plumbing fixtures and custom-cut rugs, the home’s original pine floors—featuring a subtle gray wash and visible knots—were enthusiastically retained. “They just have so much personality,” Leigh explains. “We always lean toward true materials that speak for themselves, and these floors most definitely do.”
Marking one of the Misso’s most clever transformations, a former office became a cozy retreat for the owners’ grandchildren featuring custom millwork and four curtained bunk beds beneath a whimsical wallpapered ceiling. The room’s custom iron railings were forged by metalsmith Justin Cordes, who also crafted a bespoke canopy bed for the primary suite. Comments Becky: “Our space downstairs is quite private; we love that we can close the doors and let the younger generation have the run of the house.”
The Tate property adapts just as effortlessly for hosting friends, comfortably accommodating up to three additional couples. “When you move to the lake, suddenly, everyone wants to visit,” Becky says with a laugh. “During the warmer months, we love to come up from the boat and fire up the grill on our outdoor patio, which is a totally new spot Leigh created for us.”
All told, the couple appreciates the residence as a place they can share generously while imbuing their daily routines with tranquility and ease—a sentiment that rings true to the home’s original intentions. “Every detail has been thoughtfully planned and considered,” Leigh concludes. “The entire experience is elevated yet approachable. It’s a lake house, after all.”
Anchoring the primary bedroom is a custom canopy bed by Toro-Cordes Iron Arts. The Visual Comfort & Co. table lamp illuminates Schumacher textiles and a Prestige Mills rug from Billy Brown Flooring.
