Visit a Happy Lakeside Hideaway That Has Us Longing For Summer Days
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For nearly 100 years, a sandy stretch on Lac Courte Oreilles—a crystal-clear, hook-shaped lake in northern Wisconsin—has served as a slice of summer heaven for generations of a tight-knit family. Blazing hot afternoons prompted jumps in the lake and water skiing, while languid twilight hours brought dinners crammed with grandparents and cousins, and yarns that would weave their way through the evening.
“It was such a community back then,” remembers one family member, who began going to the lake when she was a toddler. “There are so many stories of roving cocktail parties and dice and card games ’til three o’clock in the morning.”
Now, with three school-aged kids of her own and a full-time family home in Minneapolis, she and her husband wanted to write the next sunny chapter of those time-honored traditions. So when the opportunity came to purchase an untouched, low-slung 1960s cabin nestled along the shore (the former home of some beloved lakeside neighbors), they knew it was their chance. “We wanted a happy vibe that really reflected all the joy that we feel when we’re there,” she shares.
Despite its clean midcentury lines and uninterrupted views to the lake, the house was going to require work, including (but not limited to) an expansion, a new roof, and new foundations, courtesy of Susan Nackers Ludwig of Minneapolis firm LNA Design. For the interiors, the homeowners selected Victoria Sass of Prospect Refuge Studio, a designer known for her effortless yet considered spaces filled with light, pattern, and play. “You could tell she was so thoughtful and took a fresh look at each project,” the homeowner says.
As Sass—a Midwest transplant by way of California—began considering the family’s vision, her mind went to a very particular image she spotted from the British clothing brand Boden. “It’s these kids and they’re fresh out of the water. Their hair is just like tousled, and there’s sunlight beating down, and they’re in these bright, bright swimsuits,” Sass recalls. For this fun-loving family home, she thought, “I need this vibe in physical form.”
The finished retreat feels like a sophisticated summer camp, all plain-sawn white oak paneling, bright artworks, and plaid and checkerboard patterns everywhere you look. Striking just the right balance between fun-loving and funhouse was a delicate task, according to Sass. “I wanted it to feel energetic, happy, joyful, and child-friendly, so the biggest challenge was making sure there was enough color but not too much, so that it still felt earthy and grounded.”
Based on how the clients have embraced their new cabin, it’s clear Sass made good on that goal. Every corner of the house has its purpose for each part of the day. In the morning, the family will have coffee and do crosswords on the lakeside patio, or take naps on the screened-in porch. The days then fall into a familiar rhythm, filled with swimming, water-skiing, big family dinners, and games of cribbage near the fireplace. “Every day is just kind of on repeat,” the client says—a carefree routine that’s been a century in the making.
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