This luminous contemporary family retreat was designed by Whitten Architects, nestled along Lake Winnipesaukee, in the foothills of the White Mountains, New Hampshire. Lake Winnipesaukee is New Hampshire’s largest lake, covering over 70 square miles and dotted with more than 350 islands. The name “Winnipesaukee” comes from the Abenaki people and means “beautiful water in a high place.”

The homeowners are a young and active family of four based in Boston. They were in search of a lakefront summer home that could serve as a seasonal retreat from the city. Where they landed was a wooded site with ideal southerly views of Lake Winnipesaukee, situated perfectly for New England, affording the opportunity to arrive from the North and then move towards the South as you walk through the home towards both the primary view and the sun.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Whitten Architects BUILDER Beckwith Builders INTERIOR DESIGNER Belhaakon LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS Richardson & Associates STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Albert Putnam Associates PERMITTING Folsom Design Group of Wolfeboro

At the start of this project, there were existing structures that had to be removed on both lots — a circa 60’s ranch that had long-since reached its lifespan (and was in violation of state shoreland zoning requirements) on the guest house/boat house lot and a poorly sited and configured circa 90’s house on the main house lot.

Neither of these existing homes was in tune with their surroundings, missing the opportunity to connect to the views, the sun, and the outdoor spaces. The architect’s site-specific design focused on defining a tangible, sensory, and cohesive bond between the two lots, drawing a throughline from the outside, in.

The homeowners dreamed of a place where they could regularly entertain visiting friends and family from around the world, offering a home away from home that was warm and welcoming. At the same time, they didn’t want the home to feel cavernous when it was only the four of them.

The architect’s solution was to design a series of interconnected and open spaces — a dining room, lakeside terrace, family room, west-facing courtyard, living room, and a recreation room — that organically pinwheel around the kitchen on the main level.

They made sure that each of these spaces, while connected to the whole, felt entirely different in character from scale, amenities, and furnishings to materials, quality of light, connection to the outdoors, and views.

The boathouse was integral to the overall design as the homeowners are avid boaters and water skiers. This aspect of the project required significant effort relative to permitting and design coordination with local regulatory authorities. Additionally, the project team worked closely together to make both properties (the main house and the boat house) significantly less non-conforming all in an effort to be a better neighbor, improve the environmental impact of the properties, and decrease the site’s overall disturbance on Lake Winnipesaukee.

The architect’s biggest design opportunity revolved around sunlight and views outside. With two narrow lots that ran South, from the view of the lake, toward North in their longer dimension, they looked for additional views from the home, and to find new ways to bring in the light. They intentionally kept the building as thin as possible, giving each room light, a view, and ventilation on at least two walls wherever possible.

With cozy home entertaining in mind, we designed the kitchen with a commanding view of both the rest of the house and the site. While standing at the kitchen sink you can see visitors arriving via car, or by boat, and from the path connecting the main house to the guest house, with a full view of the dining room, family rooms, and fireplace. The rec room with games galore is audibly connected to the kitchen via an open-air stair to the lower level while private family bedrooms are quietly tucked away on the upper level.

Further linking the structure to its organic surroundings — the waterfront with a wood dock stretching into the water and toward the lake, mountains, and visible ski trails — our design featured an abundance of natural materials that serve as a welcome contrast to urban life.

Natural stone walls and reclaimed granite pavers were used to join the structure with the landscape, a standing-seam metal roof promises long-lasting durability, and high-performance windows advocate for light, ventilation, connection to the outdoors, and energy efficiency.

A blend of rustic and modern details, the family now affectionately refers to their cozy Lake Winnipesaukee retreat as “Treehouse Time.”

What We Love: This Lake Winnipesaukee retreat provides a family with a warm and inviting getaway home for an escape to the great outdoors. Large windows not only help to flood the interiors with natural light but also frame idyllic water views. We are loving the fabulous indoor-outdoor connection and all of the entertainment options this dwelling offers — both indoors and out.

Tell Us: Would this lake house be your idea of the ultimate family getaway? Let us know in the Comments below!

Note: Take a look at a couple of other fabulous home tours that we have showcased here on One Kindesign in the state of New Hampshire: Charming New England hideaway boasts warm and inviting details and A lakeside camp-like home provides a woodland escape in New Hampshire.

 

PHOTOGRAPHER Trent Bell Photography