Home Remodel on Gull Lake
The homeowners purchased this charming cottage on an island on Gull Lake as a summer retreat for family and friends. While the existing home had a relaxed cottage character they loved, several spaces needed to be updated to better support the way they planned to use the home.
The original cottage felt quaint and informal, but the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry spaces lacked functionality and efficiency for extended summer living. The homeowners also needed additional storage and dedicated office space for each of them while spending time at the lake.
One of the most unique aspects of the project was the island location itself. Every material, tool, and trade partner needed to be coordinated and transported across the water, adding another layer of planning and logistics throughout construction.
The remodel focused on preserving the lighthearted cottage feel of the original home while refining it into a brighter, more cohesive, and more functional retreat. The kitchen was completely transformed into an open gathering space with soft coastal-inspired finishes, custom cabinetry, and large island. The result feels larger and more connected while still maintaining the scale and warmth appropriate for a lake cottage.
Bathrooms and utility spaces were also redesigned with cleaner lines, updated finishes, and more efficient layouts while maintaining the relaxed lakeside aesthetic carried throughout the home.
In addition to the remodel, a new detached accessory building was constructed to provide much-needed storage along with two dedicated office spaces. Rather than feeling secondary to the home, the new building was designed to complement the cottage architecture and feel as though it had always belonged on the property. Inside, the office spaces feel calm, bright, and tucked into the trees, creating a quiet separation from the activity of the main house.
The finished property now feels cohesive across the entire site, with the remodeled cottage, new accessory building, and updated landscaping all working together to create a relaxed and highly functional island retreat.
The project successfully transformed a charming but dated seasonal cottage into a refined and functional summer home tailored to the homeowners’ lifestyle.
By carefully updating the interior spaces while preserving the original cottage character, the remodel created a home that feels brighter, more open, and significantly more usable for entertaining and extended stays. The addition of the detached office and storage building expanded the functionality of the property without overwhelming the scale or charm of the original home.
Despite the added complexity of building on an island, thoughtful planning and coordination allowed the project to come together seamlessly, resulting in a welcoming lakeside retreat that feels timeless, relaxed, and deeply connected to its setting.
