Inside a Wisconsin Lake House Where Water Views Are Front and Center

They appeared for such a house for greater than two years earlier than lastly shopping for a property in Fontana, Wis., with a uncared for home on it. They spent three years demolishing the present home, shopping for an adjoining lot to enhance their views, and constructing a brand new home with a panorama of the lake. In 2020—having spent about $5 million together with building, land value and furnishings—they moved in.

“Whenever you stroll within the entrance door, you may see straight down the lake,” says Mr. Haverstock, 77, a retired funding banker. “That’s a stupendous sight to take pleasure in day-after-day.”

The couple have lengthy ties to Lake Geneva, having owned two condos in Fontana whereas their major residence was in close by Lake Barrington, In poor health. After Ms. Haverstock, 67, retired from her job as the manager vp on the metal-forging firm Scot Forge, they moved their major residence to Naples, Fla. They now spend summers at their Lake Geneva residence.

After buying the land, the couple assembled a crew that included builder Scott Lowell and architect Todd Cauffman of Lowell Customized Houses and inside designer Katie Wozniak of Katherine Elizabeth Designs. 

The finished residence spans about 6,450 sq. toes over three ranges, with three bedrooms and places of work for each Mr. and Ms. Haverstock. The bottom stage consists of the visitor bed room suites, a fitness center and a library. The principle stage has the sunroom, major bed room and an ideal room that incorporates an open-plan living-dining-kitchen area. The higher stage has their places of work and a household room with a moist bar. Each higher flooring have expansive decks that face the lake. 

 “From the principle stage, you may virtually see the complete lake, which is uncommon because it’s such an enormous lake,” Ms. Wozniak says. A folding glass NanaWall within the nice room permits for indoor-outdoor residing, and motorized screens permit the couple to benefit from the recent air even on buggy nights.

Past the view, the couple spent plenty of time working with the design crew to optimize the home for his or her life-style. As a result of they don’t have youngsters or grandchildren to accommodate, they gave precedence to entertaining pals with parts just like the 10-foot-high, all-glass wine storage characteristic in the principle residing space.

“The floating wine cellar is gorgeous, but it surely’s additionally purposeful,” Ms. Wozniak says. “It serves as a pure separation between the site visitors sample of the hallway and the eating and bar areas.”

And the kitchen? “I hate to say it, however I’m not a prepare dinner,” Ms. Haverstock admits; it’s additionally not her husband’s forte. “However it’s an ideal kitchen for entertaining.” Ms. Wozniak arrange two separate zones: The one nearer to the wine characteristic is ideal for a bartender to serve the room, whereas the cooking zone is tucked again and permits a caterer loads of area to work.

Even in retirement, their residence places of work have been nonetheless a precedence. Mr. Haverstock requested a desk that would accommodate the 4 laptop screens he makes use of for buying and selling securities. “Every of our places of work appears to be like like us and displays our personalities and what we needed,” Ms. Haverstock says. “The cupboards are customized, and we are able to look out on the water whereas we work.” 

To accommodate Mr. Haverstock’s turntable, vinyl data and audio system, Ms. Wozniak designed built-ins on both aspect of the hearth within the nice room.

He additionally needed a library, so Ms. Wozniak and her lead designer, Kathleen Glynn, received artistic with area allocation. “They discovered a spot within the decrease stage if you stroll down the steps for floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a beautiful chair and a studying lamp,” Ms. Haverstock says. “You’ll be able to nonetheless see the lake and it’s only a nice use of area.” Mr. Haverstock says, with fun, that whereas he was worrying about his workplace and library, he forgot to take a look at the closet allocation, which vastly favors his spouse: “I received the quick finish of that stick!” 

All through the home, Ms. Wozniak saved the colours muted and impartial and selected transitional items for the furnishings—not too conventional, however not too modern both. “I needed to create a timeless environment,” she says. “I used steely blues, water blues and navy blues, then layered in a little bit gold and taupe. It combines pure earth and water parts.” The palette additionally means the inside of the home doesn’t combat with the lake views that motivated the complete challenge. 

In a nod to Ms. Haverstock’s lengthy profession at a cast steel producer, Ms. Wozniak additionally labored in pure metals and cast parts. “The hood within the kitchen is blended hammered steel with some bronze, some metal,” the designer says. “Whenever you combine textures, it brings a pure heat to the house.”