Whitten Architects has designed this spectacular lakeside home for a young and active family of four, situated along Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. The lake is set in the foothills of the White Mountains and is New Hampshire’s largest lake, spanning over 70 square miles and dotted with more than 350 islands. The family’s primary residence is in Boston, and they were seeking a home that could serve as a seasonal retreat from city living.
The property offers a wooded site complete with idyllic southerly views of the lake, situated perfectly for New England, and providing 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. A mix of rustic and modern elements, the family affectionately calls their cozy retreat “Treehouse Time.”
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Whitten Architects BUILDER Beckwith Builders INTERIOR DESIGNER Belhaakon LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT 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. Our 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 house to feel cavernous when it was only the four of them.
The architect’s vision 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 ensured that each of these spaces, while connected to the whole, felt entirely different in character, from scale and amenities to furnishings, materials, quality of light, connection to the outdoors, and views.
The most significant design opportunity for the architects revolved around sunlight and views outside. With two narrow lots that ran South, from the view of the lake, toward the North in their longer dimension, they sought additional views from the home and found 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.
The recreation 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.
With cozy home entertaining in mind, they designed the kitchen to offer a commanding view of both the rest of the home and the surrounding 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.
What We Love: This lakeside home in New Hampshire provides a family with clean lines and contemporary details throughout, focusing on the captivating views of the lake. We love the open layout of the kitchen and the way it is oriented to not only soak in the views but to overlook the living and dining room spaces. Overall, we love how this home provides a comfortable living environment for this family of four to enjoy living and entertaining next to the lake.
Tell Us: Would this be your idea of the perfect family retreat on the lake? Let us know why or why not in the Comments below!
Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other fascinating home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of New Hampshire: This elegant lake house provides an idyllic getaway in New Hampshire and Take a step into this incredibly beautiful New Hampshire barn inspired home.
The boathouse was an integral component of the overall design as the homeowners are avid boaters and water skiers. This aspect of the project required significant effort in terms of permitting and design coordination with local regulatory authorities.
The architects closely collaborated with the project team to ensure that the main house and the boathouse were 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.
Natural stone walls and reclaimed granite pavers were used to integrate the structure with the landscape. A standing-seam metal roof promises long-lasting durability, and high-performance windows promote light, ventilation, connection to the outdoors, and energy efficiency.
Further linking the building to its organic surroundings — the waterfront with a wood dock stretching into the water and toward the lake, mountains, and visible ski trails — the home’s design features an abundance of natural materials that serve as a welcome contrast to urban life.
PHOTOGRAPHER Trent Bell Photography
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