We were approach by a client who has owned a lake property for almost 40 years to explore the possibility of building a new cabin to accommodate their multi-generational family.  After deeming the existing structure unsalvageable, it was decided that exploring a new build was an opportunity to continue the legacy that the client had built over so many years.  The challenge was to try and fit everything they asked for under one roof, while abiding by the county’s 25% allowable impervious coverage and leaving room for a lakeside patio and a fully functioning septic system and drain field.

 

Situated on a 50’ wide lot with 35’ buildable width, the design was meant to honor and cherish the nostalgia of cabin life they had grown to love while providing modern conveniences.  An attached carport was chosen over a typical garage and serves multiple purposes: It acts as a covered entry experience, provides both lake storage and a place for the garbage and houses a majority of the homes mechanical systems.  The main floor fireplace was set up to distribute heat into the lakeside screened in porch, which was outfitted with a dual screen system that could close down during the winter months. Trees from the property were cut down, dried, and milled for wall paneling and one of the cabin’s focal points: the butcher block island top.  Every square foot of its tiny footprint was thoughtfully planned and tended to, from carving out attic space to utilizing open framing areas for built-in storage and areas for children to play.  The large program and nearly 3,000 square feet of livable space was achieved through a thoughtful planning process, that all started with recalling memories growing up at a tiny cabin on a lake and ended with a new home built for making memories that will last for generations to come.