Paradise Found: How Professional Staging Transformed this Eagle Mountain Lakefront Home

Some of my favorite childhood memories were made near a lake. Whether it was on the water – wakeboarding, banana boating, or watching the sun set on a pontoon – or on the shore – building sandcastles, playing horseshoes, or eating ice cream on an Adirondack chair – all of these moments were pure joy and fun. It's always been a dream of mine to one day own a lake house where friends and family can experience this same kind of bliss.

While you can't escape the Texas heat (even in January, evidently), I find relief when I'm by the water, and I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of lakes we have in North Texas. There is a pretty spectacular lake in my own backyard, home of the Fort Worth Boat Club and its world-class sailing events. No, that is not a typo – Fort Worth really does have world-class sailors.

Eagle Mountain Lake is also home to 13030 Miller Road: a beautiful property with a rich legacy, from its original designs by storied architect Al Komatsu to the family that owned it for generations. When my business partner was asked to help usher it into its next chapter, he asked Comfort Is Created to stage it in a way that highlights its architectural significance and showcases its unique offering as a lakeside escape just a few miles away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Fort Worth.

It was a delight to spend so much time on the property, as the five acre waterfront setting is one-of-a-kind, complete with a dock, boat slip, and mini private beach. The house had long been a weekend retreat for a large family, so our goal in staging it was twofold:

First, we had to de-clutter and de-personalize the space. When many people enjoy a home for many years, there is often physical evidence of everyone's memories – crafts made on the porch, cookbooks full of recipes stirred up in the kitchen, shelves full of the games played at the table, and photo albums documenting those special moments.

After the sellers' personal memories are safely tucked away, a house becomes a blank slate we can stage to show buyers the potential for it to become a part of their life. Everyone has their own story that will shape the way they experience a house, but, at its core, staging should provide a high-level answer to the question, "What does this property offer?"

The pièce de résistance of 13030 Miller Road is the great room living area, which has wood paneling on the walls, vaulted ceilings, and a large stone fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling windows invite the outdoors in, with a the porch leading to a yard perfect for casual lawn games or spectacular parties, and, ultimately, the expansive waterfront on Eagle Mountain Lake.

Architect Al Komatsu is renowned for a reason – his thoughtfulness is evident in the way the house was built seamlessly into the land. He worked with the elevation changes rather than against them, building it on a bluff to get panoramic views of the lake from virtually any spot in the great room. The lawn slopes gently down to the beach, giving the property a naturally tiered feeling achieved simply by where Komatsu chose to place the structures.

The house has a timeless soul and retro flair—with nods to midcentury design in the triangular picture windows and traditional cabin charm in the wood paneling. We saved money by anchoring the layout with the sellers' larger pieces; by layering in curated art and accessories, we highlighted the best features of the home while ensuring it appealed to a broad range of buyers.

Staging shouldn't impose a personal style, it should listen to the house – choosing pieces that complement its unique architecture while creating enough crossover to resonate with the aesthetic of any buyer. Every detail is intentional, placed specifically to help the home tell its own story. Here, we used mirrors strategically, trying to reflect the views of the lake wherever we could. We introduced contrast with pops of color in pieces by local DFW artists Taz Bentley and Christie Felton.

As my inner child still dreams of owning her own lake house, it was a delight to play a small role in the legacy of this one. It's clearly full of happy memories, and, post-staging, officially ready for new ones to be made. 13030 Miller Road is listed by my business partner, Clay Brants, and me. If this lakeside sanctuary feels like the right next chapter for you, send us a note. We’d be happy to coordinate a private showing and share more about the intentional design behind this home.