Building The Lakehouse

Here's the ultimate in a do-it-yourself project: a three-story, seven-level lake house built entirely by one family. In two years time, they did everything from foundation up: framed it in, installed windows and roofing, did the plumbing, electrical, and all the interior finishing including cabinetwork. Much of the house was built with recycled and discounted materials. The project was started by first tearing down an old farmhouse in the Texas panhandle and hauling every us`able piece to San Antonio including the doors, chimney brick, lumber, hardware, and even the bathroom fixtures. The new house was built in a kind of rustic contemporary style with shed roofs and decks and windows punched into the walls at various places. The house is an open plan with views from one room to the next, sharing spaces. And every room has a view of Canyon Lake. You have to see the building of this house by a small family to believe what they accomplished.