MADELINE ISLAND COTTAGE

LA POINTE, WISCONSIN

This  retreat and storage building completed in 2012 on an island in Lake Superior explores the use of exterior rigid insulation which  allows the framing members to be exposed on the interior. The design team studied closely the use of translucent color over wood grain balanced against painted surfaces to achieve a richly balanced interior. At 1100 s.f. the cottage is efficient, with one bath and two bedrooms. Sleeping lofts in the cottage and the storage building expand the guest capacity to 12.

A cozy wooden cabin with a gray roof sits in a grassy clearing, surrounded by tall autumn trees. The house features large windows, a small porch, and showcases natural materials and timeless interior design.
A cozy two-story house with wood siding and large windows, designed by a Minnesota architect, is surrounded by autumn trees with colorful foliage under a blue sky. A screened porch is visible on the left side of this custom home design.
Bright, inviting living and dining area with large windows, wood-paneled walls, a stone fireplace, custom cabinetry and millwork, bookshelves, a beige sofa, and wooden dining tables and chairs; green trees are visible outside this lake home.
A cozy living room with a patterned sofa faces a stone fireplace, featuring natural materials throughout. The space opens to a rustic kitchen with wood cabinets and an island. A loft with white railing overlooks the area, filled with natural light.
A cozy kitchen with custom cabinetry and millwork, a butcher block island, open shelves with jars, a farmhouse sink under large windows, and views of a stone fireplace and rocking chair in the adjoining room highlight timeless interior design.
A cozy loft featuring white paneled walls, a window seat with patterned pillows, shelves with decor, a wooden trunk, and a rustic rocking chair. Natural materials like a jute rug complete this timeless interior design as sunlight fills the space.
A cozy loft with wooden walls and ceiling, featuring a daybed, striped rugs, colorful cushions, framed wall art, and multiple windows. Below, a dining table with chairs sits amid custom cabinetry and millwork. Natural light fills the space.
A cozy bedroom with wood-paneled walls, a brass bed frame, a blue and white geometric quilt, and large windows overlooking trees. The timeless interior design highlights natural materials and inviting views inspired by a Minnesota architect.
A red shed, a two-story red barn with exterior stairs, and a brown house with a metal roof sit among tall trees with autumn foliage, reflecting custom home design and natural materials under a partly cloudy sky.
A red house with white trim sits in a clearing surrounded by tall trees with autumn foliage under a partly cloudy sky. The foreground shows wild grass and vegetation, highlighting the use of natural materials in this custom home design.
PROJECT TYPE

Retreat Home

PROJECT TEAM

Christine Albertsson, AIA, CID, NCARB, Partner
Mark Tambornino, Associate AIA, Partner

PHOTOGRAPHY

Pete Sieger

BUILDER

Leifblad Construction

A cozy bedroom with wood-paneled walls crafted by a Minnesota architect, large windows showing green trees, a metal-frame bed with colorful pillows and a yellow cover, two lit lamps, and a fluffy cat lying on the bed.

Space efficiency allows for a closer connection to the surrounding beauty of the site.

OF NOTE
  • Solar panels on outbuilding with grid tie
  • Metal roof and metal chimney cover.
  • Fully accessible single level living.