Lac Courte Oreilles Lodge

Custom Home, New Build | Northern Wisconsin

Lakeside Retreat

Our client wanted all the convivences of a full-sized home while still maintaining the feeling of a retreat. As empty nesters looking to create a place for family to come together, the spaces needed to be well defined for two people and still provide room to easily host guests. Located on La Courte Oreilles in Northern Wisconsin, this lakefront property maximizes views of the water and family connections.

Gathering Spaces

This cabin home is intended to welcome multiple generations of kids and grandchildren as they come and go. An open living space connects dining and lounging, allowing for the family to enjoy each other’s company with ease. With three bedrooms plus a bunk room, the home can comfortably accommodate many guests at a time. Guest bedrooms are located in twin gables on either side of the home and are linked with shared spaces.

Kitchen

Double islands in the kitchen create a pivot point allowing the homeowners to keep an eye on grandkids playing at the beach while preparing a meal. Features like a buffet drink station along the wall allows guests to help themselves without disturbing the workspace of the kitchen. A pantry tucked behind the rift white oak kitchen cabinets keeps the necessities close while maintaining an organized prep space.

Connection to Outdoors

The clients wanted a connection to the beautiful scenery around them from all parts of the house. To realize this desire, we designed a plan that allowed for a view of the lake from almost every room. Architectural rhythm from expressed columns and beams of Alaskan yellow cedar further tie the indoor and outdoor spaces together. The continuation of the interior beam grid to the lakeside trellis blends indoor and outdoor spaces into one.

Screen Porch

Primarily a floor and a roof with only light insect screens dividing inside and outside, the porch furthers the connection to nature. Its placement on the side of the house allows approaching visitors to see through the space and catch a glimpse of the lake beyond.

Isthmus

Due to the home’s location on an isthmus, a strip of land between two lakes, it required careful attention to account for the property’s unique features. Poor soil and a high water table mean the home is built on heretical piers and has no basement.

Project Collaborators: Yoder Building Co., Photography by Alyssa Lee