Houzz Tour: Contemporary Family Retreat on Lake Michigan
This home's design responds to views, topography and the surrounding woods
This home nestled in the woods on the shore of Lake Michigan serves as a second home for a couple with a lot of family in the area, and it has become a year-round retreat for family gatherings. This house was designed to be a part of the landscape, says project architect Pam Lamaster-Millett of Searl Lamaster Howe Architects. "This was accomplished by how the house sits in the site, the placement of windows and the position of walls for views."
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Algoma, Wisconsin
Size: Approximately 2,100 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Algoma, Wisconsin
Size: Approximately 2,100 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths
Here you can see how the design uses a split-level ranch strategy to address the site's slope, taking advantage of views of the lake and the woods. The windows you see on the right are the master bedroom; on the left is the dining area. Two guest rooms and guest bathrooms are located below, providing a private zone for guests.
Textures and materials also relate to the greater context. The wood surrounding the small electric fireplace is from a barn in Texas. "We felt the reclaimed wood was appropriate for the main focal point of the living space, as an extension of the wooded site into the house, and a nod to the agricultural area of Algoma," Lamaster-Millett says.
The reclaimed barn wood also surrounds the refrigerator.The counters are Richlite, a sustainable material made of resin covered paper. "There was so much white in the house that we needed some contrast," says Lamaster-Millett. The long horizontal windows let in the light, let the line of cabinets continue uninterrupted, and provide a connection between the front porch picnic table and the kitchen.
FLOS Glo-ball pendant lights were a splurge, but Lamaster-Millett saved money by using cabinets from IKEA. She had the millworker who made the island provide them with proper bases, and added a valance for undercabinet lighting.
FLOS Glo-ball pendant lights were a splurge, but Lamaster-Millett saved money by using cabinets from IKEA. She had the millworker who made the island provide them with proper bases, and added a valance for undercabinet lighting.
Here's a view from the other side of the refrigerator surround. If you look closely, you can see how the kitchen lines up with the dining area across the room.
The outdoors looks chilly in this picture, but the home is cozy and warm. The couple uses the lake house just as much in winter as in summer. Lamaster-Millett addressed the cold climate with sustainable solutions including geothermal heating and ultra-high-efficiency wall and roof construction. Radiant heat from the floors, ceiling fans and an electric fireplace keep things toasty.
The room at the back of this image is the master bedroom. A step at the door helps emphasize its separation from the public areas of the home.
The room at the back of this image is the master bedroom. A step at the door helps emphasize its separation from the public areas of the home.
Because this relatively small house was designed to host large family gatherings, the contractor built an irregular-sized table to fit the space, and Lamaster-Millett designed a flip-up bench on one wall to save space. This bench helps define the dining space.
"The master bedroom gets the perfect view that's all lake, and its placement on the corner of the house makes the plan flow and provides privacy," Lamaster-Millett says. In fact, the clients have nicknamed this room "the treehouse."
The 8-inch-thick sill at the base of the windows helps save space by providing a spot for books, lights, a clock, etc. without having to bring extra furniture into the small room.
"The extra pop-out enhances the feeling of floating in the trees," Lamaster-Millett says. The exposed beams, high ceiling and light color help the room feel bigger as well.
The 8-inch-thick sill at the base of the windows helps save space by providing a spot for books, lights, a clock, etc. without having to bring extra furniture into the small room.
"The extra pop-out enhances the feeling of floating in the trees," Lamaster-Millett says. The exposed beams, high ceiling and light color help the room feel bigger as well.
Because it's on the main (upper) floor, the master bedroom has privacy from outside the house as well. In terms of balancing the overall budget, the spectacular windows are a permanent element that were well worth the investment. If you look over the windows, you'll notice a lighting system that Lamaster-Millett describes as "highlighting the ceiling in a soft glow."
"The view back into the woods is almost as important as the lake view," Lamaster-Millett says.
One taking a soak gets the best of both worlds: woods on one side, the lake on the other. "We used large windows and the corner to break down the walls and expand the space," she says.
The upper-level placement provides privacy, and the operable windows can be opened to let out steam from the tub.
One taking a soak gets the best of both worlds: woods on one side, the lake on the other. "We used large windows and the corner to break down the walls and expand the space," she says.
The upper-level placement provides privacy, and the operable windows can be opened to let out steam from the tub.
Here's a detail from over the front door. "This design came out of the functional, to provide cover from the snow without having to add a huge canopy element," Lamaster-Millett says. If you look back to the first image, you'll see that a line of trims continues from the overhang around the front of the house. As you scroll down further, you'll see how it relates to the beams in the master bedroom, giving a hint of what you'll see inside.
"It goes back to a functional farmhouse aesthetic; like framing in a barn, it's beautiful because of how it functions," Lamaster-Millett says. This philosophy is an apt description for the entire home's design.
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"It goes back to a functional farmhouse aesthetic; like framing in a barn, it's beautiful because of how it functions," Lamaster-Millett says. This philosophy is an apt description for the entire home's design.
More:
Houzz Tour: Style and Surprise in the Hamptons
Houzz Tour: A Modern Renovation in Seattle
Houzz Tour: Open and Cozy Family Space
5 Fantastic Homes With a Treehouse Feel
The design was also influenced by homes in the area. "Historically, the area was an agricultural community with older farmhouses, mixed in with post-1950s split-level ranch houses," Lamaster-Millett says. The split-level ranch was used as a point of departure and addressed the sloped site, while simple lines and details were inspired by farmhouses. The stone wall in front came from a local quarry.