Peek Inside This Hollister MO Lake House Overlooking Table Rock Lake

"We knew we wanted a home overlooking water—water, you know, it acts like a magnet.” John Allen is talking about the inherent appeal of retreating to a lake house with family and friends, but the same could be said of the 2-acre Hollister lot he and his wife, Linda, purchased in 2014. When their real estate agent showed them the undeveloped property, there was something familiar about it. Then, it clicked. John and Linda had visited this same lot 14 years ago. Back then, the Iowa couple felt it was overpriced and decided to build on Padre Island, instead. Now, they were looking for something closer to home, a vacation house that would be easier for their two children and their families to visit. Whether returning to this property was a matter of fate, coincidence or divine intervention, the Allens knew it was meant to be. So, they signed on the dotted line.

This May, the Allens’ custom-built home was at long last ready to host guests. John admits they could have finished the project sooner but not without sacrificing the craftsmanship that went into the nearly 8,000-square-foot open-concept home, planned by Allen Johnson with Branson architect firm General Design Inc. and designed by Jacque Pitts of Brashears Furniture. Pitts connected the Allens with framers, painters, carpenters and many others who worked tirelessly to make the homeowners’ vision come to life.

That vision was largely informed by John and Linda’s travels across the country and the world. Their 10-foot linear fireplace was partially inspired by a similar one at an Omaha hotel. Their master suite has a floating wall separating a lounge area from the bed, like in their hotel room in Memphis. And the glass railings on their decks? “We got that idea over in France,” John says. 

But first, the space needed to feel inviting. “We wanted a home that would be able to entertain friends and family—a gathering place,” John says. That meant a kitchen with plenty of space, several bedrooms all with their own bathrooms and, of course, views of the woods and Table Rock Lake beyond. The great room and guest bedrooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors for just this reason. “It’s the sixth home we’ve built since we’ve been married, and I think we finally got it right,” John says. “I really do.”