Pelican Lake, MN · A compact Pelican Lake retreat shaped around outdoor living and a clever use of space.
The project
A small footprint. A generous lake life.
On a tight Pelican Lake lot, this home transformation makes the most of the space available. A large lakeside deck brings dining, lounging and time outdoors together, while broad windows keep the water in view from within.
A new vault creates room for a loft above the kitchen. Natural wood cabinetry and accent walls give the compact interior warmth, and an existing storage shed finds a new purpose as a small game room. Together, these spaces offer different ways to spend a day at the lake without losing the intimate scale of the setting.
Wide lakeside deck with dining and lounge seatingLakeside windows and deck seating in autumnOpen kitchen and living room along the lake-facing glassKitchen dining counter along the lakeside windowsLoft sleeping area beside a horizontal windowGame room with wood walls and a glazed lake-facing doorCurved outdoor seating overlooking the lakeNew lakeside elevation with deck work underwayOpen deck framing at the exterior doorwayLakeside elevation framed by autumn treesShoreline approach to the tall lakeside windowsMetal-clad utility enclosure beside the cottageLow roofline and dark siding from the drivewayDriveway approach beside the lakeside deckAngled roofline and metal-clad side enclosureOutdoor lounge beneath wood-accented upper windowsLadder leading to the loft above the living spaceLeather seating against a pale wood accent wallConnected living room and compact kitchenNatural wood kitchen with a window-side dining counterPatterned tile inside a recessed shower nicheDark vanity with a speckled stone countertopHandheld shower against warm gray tileFloating bathroom shelves with simple accessoriesWood-lined game room with a red refrigeratorFuton seating beneath a wood-plank ceilingCompact game room with colorful cushionsSailboat artwork beside the game room windowBathroom mirror and vanity lightingOval sink set into the patterned vanity topTall bathroom storage beside a high windowVanity mirror reflecting the tiled showerPatterned inset tile within the shower wallBedroom with warm wood accentsView from the loft into the living roomLoft overlook toward the lake-facing living areaLow-ceilinged sleeping loft above the kitchenKitchen and dining counter beneath the loftBedroom with a wood accent wall and ceiling fanMechanical equipment tucked into a utility closetTiled shower floor and partial-height partitionCompact kitchen with an island dining tableWood-lined game room with a bright red refrigeratorRustic beverage cabinet against the wood accent wallKitchen sink framed by natural wood cabinetsFaucet and stone countertop beneath the kitchen windowCoffee station below a wood cabinetNatural grain around the kitchen window cabinetCeiling fan beside the upper living room wallJunction of pale wood accent wall and painted wallLong metal pulls on natural wood cabinet doorsStone countertop and wood drawer frontGame room seating facing the glazed exterior doorLiving room finishes underway beneath the new vaultMaterials staged beside the tall living room windowsKitchen cabinetry installed during interior finishingTiled shower partition during constructionDecorative shower niche tile during installationUtility equipment installation beside an exterior windowExposed plumbing and mechanical connectionsInterior door installation during finishing workNatural wood kitchen cabinet during installationLakeside deck and glazed wall during constructionExterior door and wood-accent siding during finishingDeck joists and perimeter framing under constructionSide elevation with deck construction underwayCompleted cottage and deck beneath an autumn treeCompleted cottage and deck beneath an autumn treeCottage viewed across the lawn beneath autumn branchesOutdoor dining beside the dark exterior wallCurved canopy brackets above an exterior openingLong lakeside deck with lounge chairsWood-accented upper windows above deck loungersGlazed lakeside door opening onto the deckDeck dining area looking toward Pelican LakeTimber loft ladder and dark handrailsBathroom vanity and large mirrorRecessed shower niche with patterned tileGlass shower enclosure and tile surroundDark vanity cabinetry below a patterned stone topShower fittings and gray tile wallBedroom with windows on two sidesLiving room with tall windows and a wood accent wallWood-lined game room opening toward the waterWindow-side dining counter overlooking Pelican LakeMetal pull on a natural wood cabinet doorKitchen with wood cabinets and a central dining counter
Begin with a conversation
Tell us what you have in mind.
A property, a rough sketch, a home you want to rethink. Wherever you are starting, we would like to hear about it.
