Amy and Bobby Tursi bought this cottage in Stevens Cove on Spirit Lake and transformed it into a beautiful lake home. They have history in Spirit Lake. Bobby’s parents had a home on the westside of the lake, and they had many great family memories there. When his mother sold that home, they wanted to continue making memories with their family.
Bobby and Amy owned and operated Tursi’s Latin King Restaurant in Des Moines for years. Though they sold Latin King, they now have Exile Brewing Company, also in Des Moines, with their son, RJ. Here’s the thing about the Tursi’s: They work hard, but they like to play hard too. And… their restaurant spaces and home spaces are always thoughtfully and beautifully designed.
Amy was inspired by some beautiful lake homes and had a million ideas of her own. We had worked together before (and we had a cottage for 20 years on Spirit Lake), so I knew the vibe.
Amy loves blue, and appreciates its power in a lake cottage design. So, we wanted to feature blues in the plan. That should be easy with that beautiful lake glistening in the background. Both Bobby and Amy enjoy cooking. They wanted a big dining table with extensions to accommodate the family.
Amy loves a bit of the Americana look. It blends wonderfully with the cottage / lake home look. You might say a match made in heaven.
The central living space here must accommodate quite a varied demand. So, there is a lot of seating in a cozy space. Two Sally chairs face the Copley sectional and are complimented by the Aston Reinvented Recliner.
Extending from both the dining space and the central living space is a beautiful, window wrapped seating area. It features a white, waterfall skirt sofa with a warm leather Brooks lounge chair.
Everything so far would be more than enough for any beautiful lake home. But wait, there’s more. This amazing outdoor room features brick floor, recycled wood ceiling a stone fireplace, and a stunning retracting screen wall.
They built the gorgeous outdoor fireplace with stones from surrounding farms. The landscaping walls also feature this natural stone. Bobby & Amy even applied the grout to the fireplace. Bobby brought the used bricks on the floor up from Des Moines in his truck.
Sitting in this room as evening darkens, a touch of a button raises the screen. Light still glints off the waves and lights on the other side of the lake twinkle. The wood fire casts a warm glow on the room. And you’re left with this question:
How can you ever leave this beautiful lake home?
Tursi’s have a big family and love to entertain. Their daughter, Gina, lives in Nashville with her husband and kids. They come a lot for the summer. RJ and his wife and kids in the picture below are also frequently at the cottage. Never enough for the grandparents of course. This is what lake living is all about.
