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Lakeshore homes, like the mansion “cottages” in Newport, Rhode Island, were grand affairs at the turn of the 20th century. In Wisconsin, Chicago’s rich and famous built huge summer lake houses around Lake Geneva. In other areas in the Midwest, lake cottages were really cottages, smaller and casual, more humble. Now, whatever their size, upscale vacation lake houses are being constructed all across Wisconsin.

The award winning building company, Pickell Designers and Builders, has been building lakeshore recreational homes in Lake Geneva for several years. Kent Dereus, a managing principal and lead architect stated, “We’ve built about a dozen recreational homes there, and others along the lakeshore.”  

Dereus said the most popular design now in lakeshore vacation houses is the Cape Cod shingle style, simulating east coast Nantucket architecture. “Grey siding with bright white trim is the prototype, but people play with the shingles, using colors like dark hunter green, dusty sage, beige, and taupe, but the trim is always white.”

“Vacation homes are larger than ever, in the neighborhood of 4,000 to 5,000 square feet.” Dereus surmised, “High property values require building houses of substance. Also lake vacation houses are gathering spots for the multi-generational family which may use the home for holidays, even winter, as well as summer.  Rooms are larger, with great rooms, private bedroom suites, and state-of-the-art kitchens.  Houses are designed to accommodate multiple users, like other family members.”

“You’d be hard pressed now to tell a vacation home from a primary home, they’re a long way from the cottage up north. Vacation homes are built with the same amenities as primary homes.”  One distinction is that finishes and interiors are casual. They’re built with already distressed floors and woodwork for an older look, and to be maintenance free where no one’s worried about scratches. Often beams from old barns are used, giving houses the implied look of history.

Kids’ spaces are partitioned off. Many attics are finished with bunk beds or built-in beds. They’re flop space for grandkids. Even lower levels are finished. With these lake homes every nock and cranny is finished to maximize function.

One builder remarked that Door County is mostly beachfront and he just may be right. Door County has about 300 miles of shoreline directly adjacent to Lake Michigan and the water’s of Green Bay with bluffs offering a picturesque view to the lake homes atop them.

Jay Rhodes, president and operating owner of J.A.R. Builders Inc., in Egg Harbor, Door County, said that he’s been building a lot of single floor houses catering to the retired, or soon to be. “Today’s clientele are more concerned with the quality and usability of their living space,” said Rhodes. “Open concept houses are the fastest growing vacation homes.  Houses are now designed for the lifestyle of a particular owner. Bonus rooms and specialty niches are becoming more and more prevalent, as well s the occasional theater, and work-out rooms.”

“The sizes of the homes that are being built are all over the board. While the smaller cottage style home is popular now, you still see your larger estate homes. I was part of the development of “Cobblestone Cottages at Horse Shore Bay farms” in Egg Harbor.  I recently built eleven cottage style homes ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 square feet. Most of the homes utilized most of the space under the roof.”

Craig Vanden Houten is the president of a family owned vacation home construction company founded in the 50’s with its own in-house decorators, and finish carpenters, and two locations in the Door County area.  VandenHouten observed, “In the last couple years I’ve seen more colors in interior walls, lots more windows bringing in the outside, nine and ten foot ceilings, and dark hardwood floors with lots of painted woodwork. Doors are flat paneled designs, simpler and less ostentatious then we used to build, however interiors are more elegant than ever, and there are more amenities like home theaters with surround sounds.”

He continued, “Though we still build smaller houses 2000-2500 square feet, people are being smarter with space, for families to be together and entertain There are bonus rooms over the garage where they can ship the grandkids and basement recreation rooms.”

VandenHouten observed, “I don’t see as many 8,000 to10,000 square foot houses. Now they’re more like 3,500 to 4,000 feet square now in Door County.” He did point out that “House exteriors blend more into the surroundings. We’re using more natural products, like Door County stone and more of a wood shake look. I feel it adds to the landscape.”

Ron Trimberger, the owner of Door County Interiors and Design, near Egg Harbor, offered his expertise on what’s new in lake shore vacation house interior designs. “There’s a definite change to earthy and softer natural tones. Last year it was brighter colors.  Sofas and side chairs still have floral arrangements and flowers, but are definitely toned down.”

“Number one”, he emphasized, “is comfort in furnishings. The look is relaxed and casual. Lots of blues and browns are mixed together, and some plaids and stripes. We’re doing more nautical themes, in pillows or throws.”

Trimberger said vacation home furniture now is painted two toned, and lightly distressed. The top might be a light color like light blue, the painted bottom a hair darker.”

 He said the non cluttered look is in, “not many accessories on the mantel, and they’re changed more often. Vacation building is also planned for retirement. Bigger and better quality is used. Hide-a-beds and double kitchens, one downstairs, one upstairs are seen. The main floor is designated for the family, the, lower level for others.”

Amy Gulseth, their specialist in flooring and surfaces said, “there’s a lot of mixing of materials like glass tiles and stones, with decorative metal insets, for floors, surrounds, and back splashes.

The Wisconsin Dells’ waterfront areas predominately adjoin the Wisconsin River and Lake Delton.

Scott Walsh, of Walsh Building, whose company builds vacation lake homes here, said his company has been erecting ‘panelizing’ homes. We’ve been doing this for the last few years. They’re more cost effective. We place an order, and then in three days to five days, we can erect houses of between 2,000 and 4,500 square feet on a foundation.  A stick built houses on site averages $110 to $115 a square foot, and panelized are $100 to $105 a square foot ‘turn key’, with middle of the line cabinets, carpet, and insulation. The outer walls are 2x6 inches, with individual trusses.”
                
“We deal with Wausau Home’s Sterling Line. The house includes the inside walls as well. They go together like a puzzle. They’re built the same we build conventional homes. The Sterling line is a custom line. Clients supply the design and specifications they want. They have to work with an architect.  If they don’t have an architect, or designs, we work with them.”

Whether smaller or larger, lake shore vacation homes today have both elegance and plenty of amenities.

 
Arlene Becker is a freelance writer based out of Shorewood, WI. Photo provided Orren Pickell Designers and Builders