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Designing a lake house is about more than architecture - it’s about honoring the landscape, understanding the rhythm of family life, and creating a home that feels connected to the water in a meaningful way. When I think about lake house design, I think about places where memories are made over generations. Places that feel calm, rooted, and timeless.
That’s why the Cedar Lake House project stands out as one of the most personal and rewarding lakeside homes I’ve had the privilege to design. Nestled along the southern shore of Cedar Lake in Lake Villa, Illinois, this residence carries nearly a century of family history.
When the homeowners asked us to transform what had been a simple summer cottage into a full-time residence, my first thought was: This is exactly what lake house design is meant to be - a blend of legacy, comfort, and contemporary living.
Over the last decade, I’ve worked on many homes throughout Chicago and its surrounding suburbs - Barrington, the North Shore, Naperville, even lake communities in Wisconsin and Michigan. But Cedar Lake House is a true testament to how thoughtful lake house design can restore, elevate, and preserve a beloved piece of family history while making it ready for the next hundred years.
Understanding Lake House Design in the Midwest
Designing a lakefront home comes with its own challenges and opportunities. Unlike typical residential projects, a lake house must respond to the water, the soil, prevailing winds, seasonal temperatures, and the intimacy of the shoreline.
In the Midwest, the environment is both beautiful and demanding. Water exposure, freeze–thaw cycles, soft soils, and privacy concerns all shape decision-making. When designing the Cedar Lake House, every architectural move was grounded in one core principle: respect the land and the lake.
From my experience, a great lake house design always includes:
Strong indoor–outdoor relationships
Strategic window placement for light and views
Durable materials that age well with weather and moisture
Smart siting that protects the home from soil instability
Spaces that accommodate year-round living
Cedar Lake House became a perfect case study in how these elements come together.
The Story Behind Cedar Lake House
The property has been in the homeowner’s family since 1923, which meant the emotional connection to the land was just as important as the physical one. They wanted a home where they could age comfortably, stay closely connected to nature, and welcome their children and grandchildren for years to come.
When I first walked the site, I was struck by the quiet beauty of Cedar Lake - the stillness, the long views across the water, and the way the property gently opened toward the shoreline. It’s the kind of place where the architecture should feel like it emerges from the lake rather than sitting on top of it.
My goal was to design a home that would be warm and inviting from the street, but fully open to the lake on the opposite side - a home that would reveal itself gradually, with the water as the final, breathtaking moment.
Building on the Water: Solving Real Lakeside Challenges
What most people don’t see - and what’s crucial in lake house design - is what happens below the surface.
This site had soft lakebed soils, which required a deeper structural solution. We designed the home on 53 helical piles, anchoring the structure far beneath the surface to ensure long-term stability and protect the home from settlement issues. This is one of those aspects of lake house design that isn’t glamorous, but it’s vital. If you get the foundation wrong, the beauty above means very little.
Designing with a lakefront also means addressing:
Soil conditions
Stormwater patterns
Wind exposure
Sun orientation
Seasonal shoreline expansion
Because this would be the homeowner’s full-time residence, the design had to perform in every season - from summer breezes to winter freezes.
Lake House Design for Aging in Place
One of the most important - and often overlooked - aspects of lake house design is planning for how people will live in the home years down the road, not just on move-in day.
From the very beginning, the Cedar Lake House was designed as a full-time residence, not a seasonal retreat. The homeowners wanted a place where they could remain comfortable and independent as they aged, without the house ever feeling institutional or compromised by accessibility requirements.
This is where thoughtful architectural planning makes all the difference.
Rather than retrofitting accessibility later, we approached aging in place as a design philosophy, quietly embedded into the layout, circulation, and proportions of the home. The goal was simple: Design for potential future needs without making them visually obvious today.
Key aging-in-place strategies integrated into the lake house design include:
Generous circulation widths that can comfortably accommodate mobility aids if ever needed
Minimal level changes throughout primary living spaces
A main-level primary suite with direct access to outdoor living areas
Bathroom layouts designed to allow future modifications without full renovation
Doorways and clearances sized for long-term adaptability
What I appreciate most about this approach is that it doesn’t take anything away from the experience of the home today. In fact, it makes the spaces feel more open, comfortable, and intuitive for everyone - guests, family members, and future generations alike.
In lake house design especially, aging in place isn’t about preparing for limitation - it’s about protecting independence. It ensures that the home continues to support the way people want to live, whether that’s hosting grandchildren, enjoying quiet mornings by the water, or simply moving through the space with ease.
This mindset is essential when designing homes meant to stay in a family for decades. And it’s something we intentionally incorporate into many of our residential projects, particularly those intended as long-term or legacy homes.
Design Approach - A Modern Take on a Classic Lakeside Cabin
One of my favorite parts of this project was reimagining the spirit of a classic cabin through a clean, contemporary lens. From the front, Cedar Lake House feels warm, timeless, and understated. From the lake side, it completely opens up into a modern glass-forward design that captures panoramic water views.
The design focuses on a long central axis that frames the lake from the moment you walk in the front door. That single gesture anchors the entire concept. Throughout my career, aligning sightlines with a meaningful view has always been one of my most rewarding design opportunities, and Cedar Lake House allowed me to do that beautifully.
Key design elements include:
Expansive glass doors and windows framing the lake
Generous outdoor spaces, including a rooftop deck
A screened porch for summer afternoons and quiet mornings
A modern interior palette of whites, woods, and clean lines
Strong interior symmetry to draw the eye toward the water
Walking through this home, every space feels oriented toward calm - something essential to great lake house design.
Real Design Details from Inside the Home
Unlike many architectural articles that rely on generic descriptions, this home offers real, tangible examples thanks to the images and built features.
Here are details pulled directly from the finished home:
1. A soaking tub aligned with the lake
In the primary bathroom, the freestanding tub sits perfectly aligned with the water beyond. This wasn’t accidental - we spent time on site marking eye-level horizon lines to ensure the view would be central even while someone was seated. For me, this is the heart of lake house living: moments of quiet where the architecture simply lets the lake speak.
2. A bright, spacious bathroom with clean geometry
The bathroom uses large-format marble tile, crisp white walls, and multiple clerestory windows that bring in natural light while maintaining privacy. This is what contemporary lake house design excels at: simplicity that feels elevated.
3. Warm natural wood accents
Throughout the home, refinished wood furniture and warm cabinetry bring balance to the otherwise modern palette. In lake house design, wood is not just aesthetic - it’s grounding.
4. Built-in dog wash
A small but intentional feature that reflects the way a family truly lives. After lakeside adventures, the built-in dog wash keeps the home practical and functional.
5. A primary suite made for the lake
The suite faces directly toward the water and opens onto a screened porch - one of the quietest, most peaceful spaces in the home.
This project proves that lake house design is as much about the small details as it is about the big moments.
Key Features of Cedar Lake House
The Cedar Lake House succeeds because it blends modern design principles with emotional intelligence - design that understands how people live in a lakeside home.
Some defining features include:
A screened porch for insect-free summer nights
A rooftop deck with panoramic water views
Large windows that frame the lake from nearly every major room
Durable, low-maintenance materials
Spaces designed for multi-generational gathering
Clean, contemporary lines that still feel warm
In many ways, this home shows that lake house design can be both modern and comfortable - a balance that has become part of Studio Carney Architecture’s signature.
Lake House Design Principles Inspired by Cedar Lake House
Using Cedar Lake House as a case study, here are core principles for designing a lasting lake home:
1. Honor the landscape
Let the lake determine orientation, glazing, and circulation.
2. Build for generations
Think about aging in place, guest spaces, and longevity.
3. Protect the structure
Understand the soil, water patterns, and climate realities.
4. Blend indoor and outdoor living
Screened porches, decks, terraces, and large openings are essential.
5. Maintain a calm palette
The lake should be the star - materials should support, not compete.
6. Use durable materials
Moisture, wind, and seasons demand thoughtful choices.
Why Lake House Design Requires an Architect
Lake houses are beautiful, but they’re also technically complex. From soil stabilization to panoramic glazing to permitting, the decisions impact the home for decades.
An experienced architect ensures:
Structural integrity
View optimization
Code compliance
Age-in-place planning
Sustainable and durable materials
Cohesive design vision
At Studio Carney Architecture, our team guides clients through the entire journey: from feasibility studies to custom home design to residential detailing and even commercial elements for mixed-use lake properties.
Let’s Bring Your Lake House Vision to Life
If you’re dreaming of your own lake house - whether on Cedar Lake, Lake Geneva, Lake Michigan, or a wooded Midwestern shoreline - I’d love to help you explore what’s possible. Cedar Lake House is a reminder that lake house design works best when it honors the land, the family story, and the future.
Your lake house can be a place that brings people together for generations.
Schedule a call to discuss your home design with Studio Carney Architecture - and let’s begin crafting your lakeside retreat.
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architect chicago, custom home design, lake house design architect
