Powers Lake in southeastern Wisconsin is an especially charming destination, with a strong sense of community. “The home was reimagined to better engage with the lake, which acts as both a visual and social anchor,” says Mike Shively, Founding Partner at En Masse Architecture & Design. “Like many lake houses, the primary façade faces a public, continuous loop path that runs along the shoreline. Neighbors regularly pass between homes, fostering connection between community members through walking, leisure, and shared outdoor life. The remodel embraces this condition, orienting the home toward both the water and the communal rhythm of the lake.”
The homeowners are a highly active family who have owned the property for many years. They deeply loved it but admitted it was no longer functioning for their current phase of life. “They spend much of their time outdoors and prioritize being together, whether as a family or with friends and extended relatives,” explains Lucas Goldbach, Partner and Design Director at En Masse. “Their primary goals were to resolve long-standing issues with the original house: a small, poorly functioning kitchen with minimal storage, very few rooms oriented toward the lake, and an overall layout that lacked flow.”
With their children much older, the homeowners began to think more intentionally about community and hosting. The house often serves as a gathering place— a welcoming hub for friends, family, and future generations— and they wanted it to support both large group gatherings and quieter moments of retreat. Key spaces, including the screened porch, were undersized and poorly located, and the En Masse team was enlisted to resolve these pain points. A new-construction project ensued, with En Masse serving as the architect and interior architect, collaborating closely with interior designer Jenny Martell and a landscape designer.
“Our scope included architectural design and interior architecture, encompassing lighting, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, hardware, stone, tile, and material detailing throughout the home,” Mike shares. “The design balances togetherness with privacy, including a separate bedroom wing above the dogtrot that allows visiting family or in-laws to have their own lounge and sleeping spaces while remaining connected to the rest of the home. The project was also designed with long-term ease in mind, anticipating a comfortable and flexible retirement lifestyle.”
The home is set back from the road and approached through a dogtrot—an open breezeway that cuts through the mass of the house. “This shaded passage provides shelter from sun and rain, a place to set down luggage, and a gentle transition toward the lake beyond,” Lucas explains. “From there, you enter the main entryway, adjacent to the mudroom, where your sightline is immediately pulled through floor-to-ceiling windows toward the water.”
Just off the entry is the petite powder room, featuring an oak vanity, Ann Sacks tile, and blown-glass Fuse sconces. A discreet pantry follows, designed to house small appliances and pet supplies. To the right, an open-riser staircase leads to the second level, allowing light to pass through while a vertical slat detail introduces a subtle Scandinavian rhythm.
The kitchen is anchored by white oak cabinetry and Taj Mahal quartzite countertops. “Notable details include a stone baseboard at the island and stainless-steel cabinetry beneath the range,” Mike tells us. “Rather than island seating, the kitchen is paired with a nearby table that can connect to the main dining table for large holiday gatherings.” In this space, nickel-gap detailing introduces a subtle nautical reference, maintaining a balance between contemporary design and cottage warmth—a note echoed in Jenny’s interior design choices.
At the heart of the home is the double-height living room, which opens directly to the screened porch through large bi-folding doors. “The space is visually connected throughout the house— a guest bedroom features a peekaboo shutter window overlooking the living area, while the primary suite above looks down through floor-to-ceiling glazing,” Lucas notes. “Wide-plank white oak floors run throughout, reinforcing a crisp, Scandinavian sensibility. Overhead, oversized Noguchi rice paper pendants add softness and modernity.”
The screened porch is a property highlight, stretching alongside the lake and extending outward toward the water. It accommodates both an outdoor dining area and a lounge with integrated heaters for colder evenings, and a flexible sliding panel system allows the porch to shift between screened openness and a plexiglass enclosure to reduce wind—extending its seasonal use.
Upstairs, the primary bedroom and bath sit adjacent to one another. The main bath features a skylight above the shower, filling the space with natural light. Blue-gray stone and tile echo the tones of the sky and lake, paired with a large custom white oak vanity.
“At the rear of the home, a large terrace is tucked away for privacy, shielded by the surrounding architecture,” Mike shares. “A dedicated lake room acts as a protective buffer from the elements, offering storage for life vests, towels, and gear, with an adjacent laundry area and full bath to support active lake use.”
Following approximately eight months of design work, construction took just under a year. “The primary challenge was maintaining the charm and intimacy of a traditional lake cottage while accommodating the clients’ desire for space and flexibility,” Lucas admits. “The home needed to feel equally comfortable hosting two people or twenty, without losing warmth or cohesion.”
When the home was completed, the team says that the clients were deeply emotional. They cried, expressing gratitude for how the design honored their memories while opening the door to their future.
Take a tour in the slideshow.
