Camp-inspired lake house offers a peaceful refuge in the New Hampshire woods

Lake house with a steel chimney seen through tall trees

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Olson Kundig has designed this camp-inspired lake house in Center Harbor, New Hampshire, for a jewelry maker and art collector who wanted a relaxed place for friends and family to gather. Named Camp House, it sits in the woods just back from the lakefront on a quiet peninsula.

When design principal Jim Olson first walked the site, he was struck by how tall and straight the trees were. He gave the house strong horizontal lines as a contrast, which helps it blend into the woods.

The house was planned as a summer getaway, but it has since become a year-round home. It sleeps up to 30 people, with two owner’s suites, a guest room, daybeds along the hallway, and an Airstream trailer parked on the property.

Lake House Exterior with Kebony Siding

Corner of the lake house at dusk with deep roof overhangs and tall pines

Above: Kebony wood siding wraps the house. The core of the home sits firmly on the ground, while two cantilevered wings extend out into the trees.

Cantilevered wing with wood siding above a concrete base and clay urns on the steps

Above: Large clay urns sit on the concrete steps beneath one of the cantilevered wings.

Lake house with clerestory windows and a steel chimney behind a large boulder

Above: The owner wanted an earth-friendly home, so the house has geothermal heat pumps, and native trees were planted to replace those removed during construction.

Covered Entry Framing the Lake

Covered entry walkway with cedar slats leading to a glass door and lake view

Above: The covered entry runs straight through the house from east to west, framing the lake through a double-height window.

Living Room with Steel Fireplace and Built-In Bookshelves

Living room with a brown sectional, steel fireplace, and a hallway along the right

Above: Galvanized steel columns and Douglas fir beams run through the main living spaces, which stay open from one room to the next. Spearhead fabricated the timber and steel frame, using a digital model to program its CNC machines so every piece fit together precisely on site.

Living room with a steel fireplace, built-in bookshelves, and clerestory windows

Above: Custom built-ins surround the steel fireplace, with firewood stacked beside the books. Clerestory windows bring in light from above.

Living room with a steel fireplace, firewood shelves, and a bear painting

Above: A large bear painting hangs beside the sectional, one of many pieces from the owner’s art collection.

Steel fireplace beside a long hallway leading to a forest window

Above: The living room opens to a long hallway with concrete floors that connects the main living spaces and bedrooms.

What We Love About This Home

This camp-inspired lake house mixes Douglas fir, cedar, and walnut with concrete and steel, giving it a modern look with the comfort of an everyday cabin. We are especially loving the wooden slide beside the stairs for visiting kids, daybeds lining the hallway, a game table that adjusts to cocktail height, and an Airstream trailer parked for extra guests. Our favorite room in this home is the screened porch, perfect for gathering with friends or lounging with serene views through the trees to the lake.

Tell Us: Would you take the stairs or the slide in this camp-inspired lake house? Let us know in the Comments below!

Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other fabulous lake houses that we have showcased here on One Kindesign in New Hampshire: Step inside this rustic lake house in New Hampshire with stunning timber details and This New Hampshire lake house offers the ultimate outdoor living escape.

Game Table with Forest Views

Two women working on a puzzle at a game table by tall windows

Above: Jim Olson designed this game table, which adjusts to cocktail height. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out into the trees.

Kitchen with Open Shelves and a Stainless Steel Backsplash

Kitchen and dining table seen from behind the living room sofa

Kitchen with a stainless steel hood, cedar slat wall, and open shelves of dishes

Above: A stainless steel hood and backsplash stand out against the cedar slat wall, where open shelves hold dishes and glassware. For more ideas, see our open kitchen shelving ideas.

Kitchen with a steel range hood, wood island, and orange leather dining chairs

Above: Jim Olson also designed the two dining tables, which can be put together for larger gatherings.

Kitchen and dining area open to the screened porch through glass sliders

Above: With the glass sliders open, the kitchen and dining area open right onto the screened porch.

Screened Porch with 20-Foot Glass Sliders

Screened porch with a wood dining table, cushioned bench, and forest views to the lake

Above: The owner asked for a screened porch, a New Hampshire tradition. Its 20-foot glass sliders let the family use it all year long. Find more inspiration in our screened porch ideas.

Staircase with a Slide to the Shoreline

Concrete staircase with a wooden slide alongside

Above: A long staircase leads down to the ground level and the path to the shoreline. Visiting kids can take the wooden slide instead. Niches in the wall display treasures found on the property.

Hallway with Daybeds and Magic Windows

Hallway with a window seat daybed, wood walls, and a large clay urn at the far end

Above: Daybeds line the main hallway, giving guests extra places to sleep or curl up with a book. For more cozy nooks, see our window seat ideas.

Ribbed clay urn beside galvanized steel columns and a glass corner window

Above: “Magic” windows at each end of the hallway use hidden panes of glass, so there seems to be nothing between the house and the forest.

Owner’s Bedrooms in the Cantilevered Wings

Primary bedroom with a steel column, window seat, and forest views

Above: Two expansive bedroom suites sit in the cantilevered wings, so each bedroom feels like it is up in the trees.

Bedroom with a window daybed and corner windows facing the forest

Bedroom with an embroidered bed runner, window daybed, and forest views

Above: A built-in daybed sits along the corner windows, with a drawer for storage underneath.

Powder Room with Green Pedestal Sink

Powder room with a green ceramic pedestal sink and two small landscape paintings

Above: A glossy green pedestal sink adds color to the powder room.

Stone Courtyard with Fire Pit

Stone courtyard with a fire pit in front of the lake house entry at dusk

Above: Outside the entry, a stone courtyard with a fire pit is a cozy spot to gather in the evenings.

Lake House at Dusk

Lake house at dusk with glowing windows under a wide roof overhang

Above: Loewen supplied the Douglas fir timber curtain walls, lift-slide doors, casement windows, and direct-set windows. Triple-glazed glass helps the house hold its heat through cold New Hampshire winters.

Lake house glowing at dusk among tall pine trees