Text by Katie Ellis
Architect Wade Weissmann has spent the last 25 years designing classically inspired estates around the world. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his firm, Wade Weissmann Architecture, has been praised for its attention to craftsmanship and design detail and for lending homeowners a feeling of resort living right at home.
When a fishing camp on a pristine, private lake in the Northwoods of Wisconsin caught Wade’s eye, he decided to use his design expertise to create his own personal retreat. The resort had been operating for 60 years and had existing cabins on the property that were used as the inspiration for Wade’s master plan: three rustic but luxurious cabins nestled along the shoreline.
Tucked into the woods, these fully renovated lakeside cabins provide a tranquil escape from the city. They are outfitted with river rock, timber, and golden knotty pine for an authentic aesthetic. Adirondack-inspired detailing incorporated throughout creates a cozy, one-of-a-kind compound that serves as the ultimate Northwoods experience.
Large stone fireplaces, plenty of comfortable seating, and spacious kitchens make these charming cabins ripe for gathering with friends and family. “My main goal for this project was to have it be a place for relaxing and entertaining, so there is an intentional casualness to this place,” Wade says. “There are several gathering spaces as well as a large kitchen. I love the idea of people cooking together and wanted everyone to feel at home here.” Bedrooms layered with cozy quilts and printed pillows summon sweet dreams before another day of family fun. Each cabin is layered with collected antiques and unique camp finds that shine beneath the exposed pine ceilings.
The cabins are surrounded by grounds that were landscaped with a decidedly gentle touch, featuring pine trees and sculptural stone pathways. Nothing appears too new or deliberate, allowing the woods, water, and sky to take center stage. The lodge-style cabins were restored, rebuilt, and reconfigured, while also being discreetly outfitted with every contemporary comfort. And while the summer months make this getaway an ideal spot to enjoy all kinds of water activities, nothing feels cozier than snuggling up under blankets by the fireplace in one of these enchanting cabins during the long winter season.
