When Chisel Architecture founders Marcy Townsend, AIA, and Sara Whicher launched the firm in 2018, they were eager to introduce their trademarked design process, Pattern of Life. Shaped by decades of collective experience, their signature method of listening to and drawing out a client’s home desires became second nature for the duo. Now, five years in, they’ve amassed an impressive portfolio showcasing delightful residences tailored to each client’s lifestyle. Here, the founders take us inside three modern homes that embody a hot trend that emerged on the heels of the global pandemic: infusing urban living with the lakeside getaway experience.
“People learned to simplify,” Townsend notes. “Owning and operating two homes with the pressure to get away every weekend and endure long commutes wasn’t sustainable going forward.” They’re seeing a noticeable shift away from the traditional lakefront second home. Instead, clients are seeking more creative solutions within a single home that can provide the best of both worlds.
Photography by LandMark Photography
The duo has found that people want a sleek modern abode that channels that intangible cabin essence that Midwesterners know and love. The challenge is blending these two contrasting aesthetics in a seamless way, which this team tackles with ease. “We start by embracing modernity as a refinement of concepts to their most simple, straightforward expression,” shares Whicher. “Then we weave in elements that signify nature, nostalgia, relaxation and togetherness. It can and does all work well together.”
Take the dreamy Gideon Bay Getaway for example. This 5,200-square-foot newly built abode was crafted to be a family’s all-in-one residence, serving as both an urban home base and a cozy retreat. “The overall style is earthy, light and modern,” notes Whicher. “From the flat lawn to interior features that minimize visual clutter and adhere to a classic color palette, the residence feels serene for this very active family.” Sweeping lake views and easy water access provide that desired connectivity to the outdoors. The haven’s smart design is well-suited for year-round indoor and outdoor activities as well as social gatherings of all sizes.
Photography by Spacecrafting
Chisel’s 3,000-square-foot Lantern on the Lake is tailored to a different set of needs. A business owner and soon-to-be empty nester, the client is very active with a rich social life. He wanted his residence to be a place for reinvention. “The pattern here is wake, exercise, work, relax and entertain,” says Townsend. “It’s all about spaces working together to intuitively support how he moves through the day as his reinvented life continues to reveal itself.” Inspired by the homeowner’s love of graphic design, the team aimed to simplify individual spaces into a collection of building blocks that fit together. “The concept became a multidimensional puzzle of complementary materials,” adds Whicher. “Soft walnut, hard glass and warm stucco blend into a color palette rooted in a deep, rugged blue.”
The firm’s latest project, a striking rambler named Cherry Mash Modern after the clients’ favorite cocktail, is another unique example of urban lakeside living. The goal was to create a forever home where the couple can comfortably age in place, including thoughtful details like curbless shower entry and the ability to add an elevator in the future. The Scandinavian minimalist aesthetic feels simple and clean yet contemporary and cozy. “Capturing light in an uplifting way that organically syncs the homeowners with a natural pattern of life was an essential component of every design decision,” Townsend says. “Every point of entry was tailored with layers of relaxation and comfort qualities, effectively blurring the line between indoor and outdoor space.”
Artwork provided by Chisel Architecture
In all three projects, Townsend and Whicher approached every aspect with foundational themes in mind, including easy maintenance, multipurpose living, openness with views toward nature, privacy in urban environments, and ample opportunities for both work and play. “Pattern of Life is about guiding the homeowner through a process that reveals preferences, routines and memories,” concludes Whicher. “It’s an art to arrive at the essence of modern and make it meaningful.”
