A Colby Construction Custom Home in Print!

This beautiful home, Hidden Treasure, was featured this month in MKE Lifestyle Magazine. We are so honored to share this article with you.

Pretty and Peaceful

– by Nicole Bell, MKE Lifestyle Magazine

Spectacular views and traditional touches make this Lake Country home a serene space. When one couple happened upon a rarity — two available acres of land on pristine Pine Lake in Chenequa — they seized the opportunity to establish their own picturesque sanctuary.

With a clear vision of what their dream home should look and feel like, the couple sought a team who understood architectural details. Enter architect Paul Schultz of Oconomowoc’s Sunarc Studio and the builders at Colby Construction, who worked closely with the pair to turn their ideas into a beautiful reality.

“Our home is a blend of the latest building methods and materials with an ‘old world’ touch,” notes one of the homeowners, adding that a welcoming foyer, a screen porch, an entertainment lounge, health and wellness spaces and wine storage were all must-haves. And the duo wanted the structure to feel organic to the space.

“We wanted the property to feel like it had been here for 100 years,” the homeowner explains. “The crisp white board-and-batten exterior with a Restoration Hardware style interior [provides] a timeless, lake elegance energy with modern amenities.” Inside, the home continues that classic feel with a gorgeous, traditional entryway featuring a multicolor, tumbled marble floor, which, the homeowner notes, is a “nostalgic nod to some of the historic lake homes in the early 19th century.

“We love how the lake and tree foliage of our backyard is visible through the foyer entry,” the homeowner continues. “Our style was lakeside elegance and it was achieved with the use of a quiet color palette, marble finishes, Restoration Hardware crystal chandeliers and antique mirrored glass.”

To complement both the sophisticated touches throughout the home and its ideal lakefront location, the homeowners chose Sherwin-Williams’ “Breezy’’ paint, carrying the subtle blue-gray color throughout the home. White, V-groove peaked wood ceiling and oak-stained herringbone floors complete the look. The expert blend of welcoming comfort and impressive sophistication proved perfect for this social pair.

“We enjoy having family and friends over, especially in the summer, but are finding the space equally enjoyable in the winter months too,” the homeowner explains “It really has a lovely atmosphere, great natural light in the daytime and warm evening ambient light that is hidden in crown molding. We also designed a limestone fireplace with direct heat, too, that has been used frequently.”

As avid wine collectors, the duo tapped the Colby Construction team to craft a wine room that would perfectly house an assemblage curated from wine dinners and perusing Wine Spectator magazine. “We enjoy collecting wines and, with this hobby, it’s necessary to keep the collection at the right controlled temperature, humidity level and keep the sun’s UV rays out too,” the homeowner explains. “Colby helped us find all the right components to the wine room, and the design is really enjoyable to view too. … We like the wood ‘X’ bin detail, ambient lighting and touches of marble detail for the wine storage to create the perfect storage solution for what we collect.

The elements also tie into the main bar.” To cater to their preferred healthy lifestyle, a bright workout room is located just off the entertainment areas, and, the homeowner says, stocked with “the perfect amount of equipment to get a daily workout in, with great morning light and views of the lake.” With timeless touches and sensational views, each space in the house is remarkable, but the homeowners admit they have a few favorites that shift depending on the season. The bar and lounge areas are popular spots in wintertime, which give way to the wraparound screen porch come summer.

“Our family is blessed to have found over two acres of land to build on in the Lake Country area,” the homeowner reflects. “It really has an ‘up north’ feel, without the four hour drive. We didn’t expect the community feel of a neighborhood when we moved to the lake, but we have met a lot of great neighbors at a variety of social events each summer.”

And they credit their homebuilding and design team for bringing their ideas and vision to life.

“Working with a builder that specializes in lake homes was a huge value to us,” the homeowner says. “Colby brought decades worth of experience in handling all the details of DNR and village restrictions and making the project run smoothly overall. We really love the beautiful private surroundings, and great long views of the island and summer regattas sailing by!”