Lakeside Entertaining Gets a Cheery Makeover With this Happy-Hued Lake Burton Luncheon
Designer Alison Womack Jowers fashions a sunny summer gathering for friends and family on Lake Burton
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles: Your tabletop emanates effortless style. Tell us about the inspiration behind your design.
Alison Womack Jowers: When we bought the lake house during COVID, I wasn’t thinking “lake,” I was thinking “happy!” The kitchen cabinets were originally dark gray, but I had a desire to do something surprising and painted them bright yellow, which inspired the color scheme. From there, I didn’t need a transportive tabletop because we are already in a place surrounded by beauty. Natural materials take center stage, and the moss mound is a constant centerpiece of my table. For this setting, Kelly and Katie from Ephemera Design Concepts added potted ferns to the moss mound to create a “living plant arrangement.” I prefer an open almost flowing feel to arrangements to ensure the main focus is the view.
AH&L: There’s no shortage of scenic sights at your lake home, whether at the table, by the bar, or on the porch. How do your entertaining zones differ at the lake than when you’re entertaining
in Atlanta?
AWJ: In Atlanta, you invite guests to your home where you have dinner in the dining room. At the lake, friends tend to pop in by boat, so different entertainment areas are perfect for this reason. The top of the boathouse is a daytime entertainment area for us, and we have a large farm table on the front side of the house that is slightly shaded for when you want a reprieve from water activities. I love ending the evening on the screened porch overlooking the lake. The common theme throughout each area is laughter—it lingers longer than the light and can be found in any space, any time of the day.
AH&L: The bar next to your fireplace has a stone sink built into the furniture, which is such a unique feature. Tell us more about this and how you use it.
AWJ: The furniture itself is the Murano Sideboard with frosted white glass doors from Tritter Feefer. Custom-made in LaGrange, Georgia, this piece houses a wine cooler and ice machine and serves as our bar. I found the stone sink on a family vacation in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
AH&L: Your mother, Cheryl Womack, is an acclaimed Atlanta designer as well, so you’ve grown up in this industry. What was it like working with your mom and how did you develop your personal design style over the years?
AWJ: Studying business and marketing in college, working with Cheryl wasn’t the game plan, but Mom always included me in outings such as antiquing trips in the U.S. and abroad, design lectures, museum exhibits, glass shows, garden club events—you name it. I was able to stretch my own imagination and develop my own style while acquiring knowledge and skill from my mother. You may think she is “all in” for traditional, but Cheryl’s eye for cutting-edge design never ceases to surprise and amaze me. It has been such a joy to work and learn from her.
AH&L: Hosting can be hard! What is your top tip for making a summer get-together memorable for guests?
AWJ: To me, the heart of making a memorable experience is taking guests away from their everyday life to relax and have fun—low stress and low fuss. Creating a sense of nostalgia, time that doesn’t revolve around computers, phones, TVs, and schedules, and instead consists of sun-soaked days and dinner followed by games or dancing in the evening—all memories in the making.
AH&L: Lake Burton is a dreamy setting for any occasion, but especially summer celebrations. Tell us what your perfect day at the lake looks like.
AWJ: An early-morning boat ride—either a pontoon cruise with coffee or on the ski boat to watch Sam, my husband Jay’s son, water ski on the glass water. I also love getting a workout with a sprint in the kayak. Afternoons are fun for tubing with kids and stand-up paddle boarding. I always loved taking my dogs along!
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