Cozy Bear

In 2011 our clients discovered a slice of Maine—a 40-acre lakefront property complete with historic cabins, a lodge, and even a converted infirmary, once part of a larger YWCA. With dreams of enhancing their retreat, the family meticulously planned and envisioned a grand main cottage, mapping out ideas on sticky notes during family brainstorming sessions. With the help of Knickerbocker Group, their dream retreat now stands as a testament to decades of cherished memories and a legacy of lakeside joy.

The clients, who have three children and six grandchildren, have lived around the world. They desired a comfortable home with Scandinavian influences that could serve as a cozy, central gathering space for their entire family, while also harmonizing with the natural landscape.

Our team designed a series of three single-level forms that subsequently become more modern as they stretch away from the camp’s simple cabins: a gable-roofed open-plan living space, a low-pitched dining area with a wall composed nearly entirely of windows, and a pair of bedrooms topped with a shed dormer roof.

Each volume is given distinct cladding in vertical and horizontal applications, including reverse board-and-batten siding and prefinished white-cedar shingles, all stained a muted black that mimics the bark of the pines just outside.

White walls are punctuated by black hardware, and colors are taken from surrounding nature: nickel-gap the color of moss, white-oak kitchen cabinets in a sandy shade. Granite flows in and out of the home, including thick slabs that were found on-site and repurposed as a front step, fireplace hearth, and porch column.

The large, screened porch is nearly 600 square-feet—more than a third of the size of the home—and is designed to be durable and multifunctional, with a granite fireplace, L-shaped custom cedar bench, polished concrete floors, all-weather wicker seating, and a cedar Ping-Pong/crafting/overflow dining table imagined by the homeowner.

The site was disturbed as little as possible during construction, and landscaping was kept minimal, resulting in a cozy lakeside haven tucked under a canopy of trees.