Along the wooded shores of Pipe Lake in western Wisconsin, a family retreat stands quietly among the trees, blending into its natural surroundings. The home, nicknamed “A-typical Cabin,” was designed and built as a fresh interpretation of lakeside living: modern and minimalist, yet warmly welcoming; inspired by contemporary style and global travel, while conveying at-home comfort and local craftmanship; new, yet deeply rooted in family history.
The home showcases crisp, tidy lines, narrow profiles and precise alignment of Kolbe’s aluminum-clad windows and doors with Onyx and Coal Black finishes. The dark hues match the exterior siding and interior palette. From inside, the outline of the windows contrasts with the bright sky, green trees and blue lake to connect the viewer within the setting.
“We call it ‘A-typical Cabin’ because it has a raw, industrial feel versus a traditional, rustic cabin,” said Blue Pencil Collective’s Regan Nix. “The dark colors and natural materials give it a moody, cozy cabin feel with industrial moments and details.”
Nix and her business partner, Kasey Johnson, lead Blue Pencil Collective’s full-service architecture and interior design agency. Both women are certified interior designers who understand their clients’ busy lives and self-defined styles.
“We enjoy helping each vision come to life. No two projects are alike,” noted Nix. “Our clients hire us to handle everything they need from start to finish--from conceptual design to moving in the furniture.” Blue Pencil Collective describes its work as creating visually striking, personalized, functional, unforgettable spaces that challenge the ordinary.
The Legacy on Pipe Lake
The site of A-typical Cabin carries a lifetime of memories for the owners, driving them to pursue an extraordinary approach for its future. “The property had been in the owner’s family for generations,” said Johnson. “More than a cabin, they called it their ‘legacy.’ As their family grew, they wanted it to be a place where they could continue to come together.”
The owners envisioned a modern, but timeless getaway that could accommodate extended family and friends throughout the year. “More than a cabin, this serves as a second home for the owners. They are very busy people and very well-traveled with eclectic styles,” shared Nix. “They have adult children and many friends. They like to host a lot of gatherings and celebrations.”
Johnson interjected, “They didn’t really have any idea about how to explain what they were looking for. When we met, they described it as a puzzle with many pieces to put into place. They were looking to us as the experts to help them express that and bring it to life.”
“We start at a high level with conceptual imagery and develop that language together,” said Johnson. “Working closely with them, we understand their style preferences and how they’d like to use their space.”
There really isn’t a separation between indoor and outdoor. The view is the main design element.
The original structures included a modest two-story garage space that had a loft above it and a separate, small bunkhouse. Their solution was to retain the smaller “casita” and extend the garage to create a large, main house that comfortably sleeps 18 people. From the home’s sizable addition, a sliding door opens onto an exterior path that links the new and old structures with multi-level outdoor patios leading down to the dock and shoreline.
From its foundations to its finishes, the newly envisioned A-typical Cabin intentionally incorporates distinctive, durable details with natural views and daylight. Kolbe Ultra Series aluminum-clad windows and sliding doors define the home’s modern lines and connect its occupants to the surrounding forest and lake.
“We chose Kolbe to get this look. It’s all custom windows and doors,” stated Nix. “We’ve used Kolbe before and have visited the Kolbe Gallery Twin Cities many times. All of Kolbe’s reps are very personable and understand what we need.”
A Collaborative Vision
With an understanding of the homeowners’ needs and desires, Blue Pencil Collective invited LAKESIDE Bespoke Homes by D.T. Carlson to bring the vision to life. The businesses are headquartered in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and familiar with one another through professional events and neighborhood proximity.
Dan Carlson founded D.T. Carlson Co. in 2001, seeking to raise the bar on custom-built homes. Building on more than two decades of success, he launched LAKESIDE Bespoke Homes By D.T. Carlson in 2025. LAKESIDE specializes in houses set on scenic rural lots and prioritizes cutting-edge, sustainable building materials. A-typical Cabin became LAKESIDE’s inaugural project.
“This was our first project working together. The owner loved them,” remembered Nix. “We had a great team. Dan had the right subcontractor pool, and they were willing to travel an hour away to work on this project. Not everyone is willing to go that far. It was very collaborative working with Dan and Emily.”
LAKESIDE’s Emily Van Handel also attributes the project’s success to the teamwork and shared commitment to the clients’ interests. She said, “On this project, we were a part of both the design and budget discussions, along with Blue Pencil and the clients. We all valued each others’ feedback.”
She continued, “Blue Pencil really set the tone for the project’s aesthetic. They worked closely with the client to explore different design directions and ultimately arrived at this moody, ambient look for the cabin. The clients loved the finished project and how everything came together.”
Treading Lightly on the Land
Nestled among towering trees, A-typical Cabin seems almost hidden from view. Enhancing the discreet design, the home’s dark cladding, stone and timber detailing, and black-trimmed fenestration were carefully coordinated.
“The dark exterior colors blend with the environment and shadows of the wooded lot,” said Nix. “It’s tucked into the lot and barely visible from the lake. You don’t really see it unless you’re on the property.”
We’re thrilled Kolbe achieved the look we wanted without sacrificing quality. Their product range and customization options made it easy to get the high-end aesthetic this project needed.
She elaborated, “It’s very private. It’s not impeding on the lake. The owners didn’t want it to look like you took a big Minneapolis house and plopped it on the shore. It’s not over the top. It blends with the lake setting and the natural environment. It fits within its surroundings.”
“We wanted to keep as many trees as possible to maintain their beauty and the homeowner’s privacy,” said Van Handel. In addition to navigating the trees, the construction crew also contended with a narrow, steep slope down to the water and neighbors on either side.
“It’s a complicated project,” agreed Nix. “It was tricky to sneak this new house between the existing casita and shed.”
“It’s an interesting and challenging site,” acknowledged Van Handel. “We take a systematic approach to problem solving. In this particular case, we were managing very tight setbacks and permitted variances given how close the neighbors were.”
Carlson added, “It was tight with the narrow lot and the original structures’ proximity to one another. We had about 8 feet between the new and old cabins to accommodate the foundation and new construction.”
Remarkable Views, Industrial Inspiration
As the home itself took shape, LAKESIDE worked closely with Blue Pencil Collective and selected Midwest partners to blend the relaxed rural atmosphere and modern, industrial-flecked aesthetic.
The home’s true centerpiece is its expansive windows overlooking Pipe Lake. “There really isn’t a separation between indoor and outdoor. The view is the main design element,” said Nix. “Looking onto the lake, the expansive front windows stretch across the entire dining room, living room and kitchen.”
Kolbe’s Ultra Series windows and doors offered the design team precise alignment and narrow profiles that reinforce the home’s clean, contemporary geometry. Nix elaborated, “It’s not an enormous house, but it’s amazing how big and open it feels inside with those windows.”
“Looking out to the lake, the windows are 12 inches off the floor and go 8 feet tall,” explained Nix. “We chose 9-foot-high doors to match the windows’ full height. Even where the windows and doors are different heights, their mullions are perfectly aligned and coordinate across the whole house. They are very narrow mullions so as not to interrupt the view, and add a sleek, minimalistic design detail. The window mullions and profiles are super important in keeping with the industrial modern look mixed with a rustic feel.”
The Art of Alignment
That attention to alignment became a design and construction touchstone. “Our Kolbe rep was incredibly supportive throughout the project,” said Van Handel. “He worked through multiple rounds of revisions with us and Blue Pencil to make sure every window aligned with their design vision, and to get the windows just right. Kolbe’s service was excellent from start to finish.”
“The windows were a major part of the design,” Van Handel added. “We’re thrilled Kolbe achieved the look we wanted without sacrificing quality. Their product range and customization options made it easy to get the high-end aesthetic this project needed.”
LAKESIDE’s field team installed Kolbe Ultra Series windows and the sliding door on A-typical Cabin. Carlson said the installation went smoothly. He also noted Kolbe’s team was responsive from start to finish.
Van Handel explained, “The large window openings were mulled on-site, and each unit weighed around 800 pounds and were set in place with raw manpower. The installation went smoothly, and everything came together as planned.”
Comfort in Every Season
The construction and interior detailing bring the vision to life with an understated richness. Locally sourced stone, Wisconsin timber, Minnesota-made plaster and concrete-crafted finishes echo the natural surroundings. Artwork, photos, maps and items from the homeowners’ travels are displayed as a personalized gallery throughout the home. “It’s really a cozy, little den that fits a lot of people and has great views,” summarized Nix.
“There’s a visual and material connection between the exterior and interior,” articulated Nix. “The dark colors on the exterior and modern, sleek lines of the windows and their elegant simplicity extend inside for a cohesive look. The views and daylight and the stone and timber materials within and throughout the house present a holistic overall appearance and feel.”
Once the windows were installed, it completely transformed the space. Standing inside and looking out through Kolbe’s windows took everyone’s breath away.
Beyond appearance, A-typical Cabin’s modern performance is finely tuned to the northern climate’s extremes. The lakefront exposure receives full western sun and open wind patterns, demanding durable, thermally efficient fenestration. Kolbe’s Ultra Series windows’ triple-pane glazing, tight seals and aluminum-clad exteriors provide the needed balance of resilience and refinement.
“The triple-pane windows looking onto the lake were imperative,” emphasized Nix. “The windows’ high performance manages the solar heat and wind, controlling temperature so people stay comfortable.”
“One of the awesome-est aspects of those front windows is the operable awnings at the bottom to access that cool lake breeze,” continued Nix. “This means they don’t need to use their air conditioning nearly as often in the hot summers.”
Van Handel agreed that the fenestration defines the home’s experience. “This project is centered around the windows and that incredible lake view,” she said. “Once the windows were installed, it completely transformed the space. Standing inside and looking out through Kolbe’s windows took everyone’s breath away.”
Collaboration and Craftsmanship
Once everything was in place, the homeowners hosted a celebration for their design and construction teams. “When we were at their housewarming party, we were standing at those front windows looking at the view to the lake,” recalled Johnson. “The owner smiled and said, ‘We never would’ve imagined this, but it’s exactly what we wanted.’ They were so happy and excited to show it to their friends and neighbors.”
“The clients were an absolute delight,” added Van Handel. “Everyone thought the house was outstanding. The neighbors loved it and were excited to see what we’d been doing for the last year. They were glad to see it raised the value of everyone’s properties.”
For Carlson and Van Handel, A-typical Cabin marked another milestone: the first completed project under the LAKESIDE Bespoke Homes brand. A-typical Cabin captures a rare harmony between form and feeling, between modern amenities and natural quiet. Every window in the home frames the essential connections to the water, the woods and the family legacy, renewed for another generation.
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