Along the wooded shores of Pipe Lake in western Wisconsin, a reimagined family retreat stands quietly among the trees, blending into its natural surroundings. The home, nicknamed A-Typical Cabin, was designed and built as a fresh interpretation of lakeside living: modern and minimalist, yet warmly welcoming.
“We call it ‘A-Typical’ because it has a raw, industrial feel versus a traditional rustic cabin,” says Blue Pencil Collective CEO Regan Nix. “The dark colors and natural materials give it a moody, cozy feel with industrial moments and details.” Nix and her business partner, Kasey Johnson, founded their architecture and interior design firm to create visually striking, personalized spaces for clients looking to challenge the ordinary. And with a unique blend of local craftsmanship, at-home comfort and the sleek sophistication of Kolbe Windows & Doors solutions, A-Typical Cabin achieves just that.
Photography by Spacecrafting
The Legacy on Pipe Lake
The site of this Wisconsin retreat carries a lifetime of memories for the owners, driving them to pursue an extraordinary approach for its future. “The property had been in the owner’s family for generations,” explains Johnson. “More than a cabin, they call it their legacy. As their family grew, they wanted it to be a place where they could continue to come together.”
Serving as a second home, the owners envisioned it as a timeless getaway that could accommodate extended family and friends throughout the year. “They’re busy people and very well-traveled with eclectic style,” shares Nix. “They like to host a lot of gatherings and celebrations.” The property’s original structures included a modest two-story garage space with a loft above and a small, separate bunkhouse. The team’s solution was to retain the smaller “casita” and extend the garage to create a large main house that comfortably sleeps 18 people.
From its foundations to its finishes, the transformed A-Typical Cabin intentionally pairs durable details with stunning nature views and an abundance of daylight. Kolbe Windows & Doors’ aluminum-clad Ultra Series defines the home’s modern lines and connects occupants to the surrounding forest and lake.“We chose Kolbe to get this look,” says Nix. “It’s all custom windows and doors. We’ve used Kolbe before and have visited Kolbe Gallery Twin Cities many times. All of Kolbe’s reps are very personable and understand what we need.”
A Collaborative Vision
With an understanding of the homeowners’ priorities, Blue Pencil Collective invited fellow White Bear Lake–based company, LAKESIDE Bespoke Homes by D.T. Carlson, to bring the vision to life. Building on more than two decades of success, D.T. Carlson Co. founder Dan Carlson launched LAKESIDE in 2025 to focus on residences set on scenic rural lots and prioritize cutting-edge, sustainable building practices. A-Typical Cabin became LAKESIDE’s inaugural project.
LAKESIDE COO Emily Van Handel attributes the success of A-Typical Cabin to teamwork and a shared commitment to the clients’ interests. “Blue Pencil really set the tone for the project’s aesthetic,” she shares. “They worked closely with the client to explore different design directions and ultimately arrived at this moody, ambient look for the cabin.”
When LAKESIDE’s field team installed the Kolbe Ultra Series windows and sliding door, they were impressed by how smoothly it went. “The large window openings were mulled on-site,” Van Handel says. “Each unit weighs around 800 pounds and were set in place with raw manpower. The installation went smoothly, and everything came together as planned.” Now, the new addition’s sliding door opens to an exterior path, linking both new and old structures with multi-level outdoor patios that lead down to the dock and shoreline.
Treading Lightly on the Land
Nestled among towering trees, the cabin is nearly camouflaged in its surroundings. Features like dark cladding, black-trimmed fenestration, and stone and timber detailing enhance the retreat’s discreet design. “The dark exterior colors blend with the environment and shadows of the wooded lot,” describes Nix. “It’s tucked into the lot and barely visible from the lake. The owners didn’t want it to look like you took a big Minneapolis house and plopped it on the shore. It’s not over the top — it blends with the lake setting and the natural environment.”
“We wanted to keep as many trees as possible to maintain the beauty and the homeowner’s privacy,” adds Van Handel. In addition to navigating the trees, the construction crew also contended with a steep, narrow slope down to the water and neighbors on either side of the property. “It was an interesting and challenging site,” she recalls. “We take a systematic approach to problem solving. In this particular case, we were managing very tight setbacks and permitted variances given how close the neighbors were.”
Remarkable Views, Industrial Inspiration
As the home itself took shape, LAKESIDE worked closely with Blue Pencil Collective and other Midwest partners to marry the relaxed rural atmosphere with an industrial-inspired aesthetic. Now, the home’s centerpiece is an expansive wall of windows overlooking Pipe Lake. “There really isn’t a separation between indoor and outdoor,” says Nix. “The view is the main design element. Looking onto the lake, the expansive front windows stretch across the entire dining room, living room and kitchen.”
Kolbe Ultra Series offered the design team precise alignment and narrow profiles that reinforce the home’s clean, contemporary geometry. “We chose nine-foot-high doors to match the windows’ full height,” explains Nix. “Even where the windows and doors are different heights, their mullions are perfectly aligned and coordinate across the whole house. We used very narrow mullions so as not to interrupt the view and add a sleek minimalistic design detail.”
This attention to alignment was a design touchstone across teams. “Our Kolbe rep was incredibly supportive throughout the project,” says Van Handel. “He worked through multiple rounds of revisions with us and Blue Pencil to make sure every detail aligned with the design vision. The windows were a major part of the design, and we’re thrilled Kolbe achieved the look we wanted without sacrificing quality. The product range and customization options made it easy to get the high-end aesthetic this project needed.”
Comfort in Every Season
The construction and interior detailing bring the vision to life with an understated sophistication. Locally sourced stone, Wisconsin timber, Minnesota-made plaster and concrete finishes echo the natural surroundings. Artwork, photos, maps and items from the homeowners’ travels are displayed as a personalized gallery throughout the home. “There’s a visual and material connection between the exterior and interior,” says Nix. “The dark colors on the exterior and sleek lines of the windows and their elegant simplicity extend inside for a cohesive look.”
Beyond appearance, A-Typical Cabin’s overall structure is finely tuned to the northern climate’s extremes. The lakefront exposure receives full western sun and open wind patterns, demanding durable and thermally efficient fenestration. The triple-pane glazing, tight seals and aluminum-clad exteriors of Kolbe Ultra Series windows provide the needed balance of resilience and refinement.
“The windows’ high performance manages the solar heat and wind, controlling temperature so people stay comfortable,” describes Nix. “One of the best aspects of those front windows is the operable awnings at the bottom that let in the cool lake breeze. This means they won’t need to use their air conditioning nearly as often in the hot summers.”
Collaboration and Craftsmanship
Once everything was in place, the homeowners hosted a celebration for the design and construction teams. “When we were at their housewarming party, we were standing at those front windows looking at the view to the lake,” recalls Johnson. “The owner smiled and said, ‘We never would’ve imagined this, but it’s exactly what we wanted.’”
For Carlson and Van Handel, the retreat marks another milestone: the first completed project under the LAKESIDE Bespoke Homes brand. A-Typical Cabin captures a rare harmony between form and feeling, between modern amenities and natural quiet. Every window in the home frames essential connections to the water, the woods and the family legacy, renewed for another generation.
