Photos by Spacecrafting/Beau Meier (exterior) & Nicole Cullinan (interiors)
It’s not uncommon for challenges to arise during residential construction, but moving an entire road to accommodate a project is a different level of commitment. For this Pequot Lakes residence, that’s exactly what it took—leaving its mark on the lakeside lot before
even breaking ground.
Prior to the project, the property remained untouched, as the owners waited for the perfect opportunity to build a legacy home for their family. Laura Tays, founder and principal designer at Tays & Co. Design Studios, says, “The initial idea was, ‘Let’s have this great cabin we can create memories in and eventually leave to our kids.’”
So, with Marka Architecture and Nor-Son Custom Builders on board, they aimed to create a
family-friendly space that felt like a traditional cabin while remaining versatile enough to serve as a full-time home in the future. “[The homeowners] wanted it to feel a bit modern but still have warmth and rustic elements,” she explains.
With these desires in mind, the team opted for warm, natural materials—the most prominent being wood—throughout. On the exterior, three types of cedar, randomly placed for an organic effect, mimic the look of reclaimed wood without the upkeep. Inside, the wood details continue, complemented by terrazzo stone and crisp white walls to maintain a bright, airy atmosphere.
Indoor-outdoor connections were prioritized as well, with 8-foot windows framing the lake and flooding the main living areas with natural light. “When you pull up to the front of the house and walk up to the entrance, you can see right through the home, all the way to the water,” Tays describes.
But according to her, the guest suite, perched at the home’s highest point, might offer the best views of all. Complete with peaked ceilings, innovative storage solutions, and intentional design details—like the subtle, recurring appearance of the letter “H” in honor of the family’s last name—the suite is an ideal “home away from home,” Tays says.
It was these thoughtful features that earned the team the Best in Show honor at the 2024 Midwest Design Awards. “You put your whole soul and heart into running a business like this, and it’s really nice when other people see that,” she says. “It was a long road, but the clients are so happy to finally be in [the home] they’ve dreamed about for so long.”
