Thanks Keva Schulz for sharing this story with Common Roots Rising.
Central Wisconsin is noted for its glacial landscape rolling rocky ridges, sand outwash plains, and cedar swamps. Lakes are the most popular sites for seasonal vacation cabins, but there is an allure to the moving water of rivers and streams. Waupaca County has an abundance of moving water including the Wolf, Little Wolf, Crystal, Embarrass, Pigeon, and Waupaca/Tomorrow Rivers and their tributaries.
When you think about a cabin “Up North,” it is typically a rustic structure made of logs, roofed with cedar shakes, with few windows. The structure is heated with a propane heater or wood stove and often poorly insulated. The interiors are dark. A woodsy décor includes white-tailed deer mounts and a bear or moose motif. Cabins are a place to “rough it.” They’re supposed to be nostalgic, rustic, and quaint- basic shelter from which to stage outdoor activities: hunting, fishing, canoeing and relaxing around a campfire. However, this was not the kind of cabin my wife Lynne and I had in mind; we wanted it to be inviting to our children, low maintenance and sustainable.
Location
We own 100 acres of forestland in the Town of St.Lawrence, a beautiful diverse woodland which has been in the family since 1969 and has been used ever since for hunting and recreation. However, this property is landlocked without a road or utilities and has limited internet and cell phone service. We chose to not build there and keep it wild.
We decided to build on the Little Wolf River (Town of Little Wolf), five miles from the woodland property. I spent summers there as a teen with my grandparents who had a mobile home. My parents built a retirement home on the property and my mom lived there until 2018. However, my mother’s house was too large for us and required significant maintenance. Before she moved, I split off a 1.2 acre parcel, 105 feet of Little Wolf frontage with a garage. Natural gas was available, but not sewer and water, requiring investment in a well and septic. The river has an island flanked by rapids and we wanted to maximize the view of the river and hear the sound of rushing water. The site provides viewing of sturgeon spawning in April in their run up from Lake Winnebago. My name for the house is “Singing Water.”
Design
Design and materials were important to me. I’m trained as a metallurgical engineer and I’m retired from a career of computer hardware R&D. I love the minimalist aesthetic.I wanted a cabin as low-maintenance as possible, highly energy efficient, and inexpensive (Lynne is a budget conscious CPA). I wanted sustainability using high quality materials for longevity. I found a photo of a cabin near Pepin, Wisconsin designed by Alchemy Architects of St. Paul, MN; they specialize in small modern houses called “weeHouses” for which they have received several architectural design awards. I contacted Alchemy with what I had in mind and my goal for economy. They were interested in taking on the project and assigned architect Eric Winter. We chose to design in accordance with local code and ordinance including 22 ft minimum width, so as to not require a variance.
Finding a local builder would be a key challenge. Several builders I contacted were filled up with work. The design, products and materials were not traditional for this area adding construction time and risk. Ron Peeters, a veteran local builder from New London, took up the project. Building during the pandemic also proved challenging with material shortages and price inflation.
Site Preparation
The 1.2-acre parcel has a gentle slope from the street down to a steeper river bank. The soil is sandy. Maple, oak, basswood and spruce trees are on the site. I removed four scraggly spruce trees, an apple tree and downed box elder and oak trees on the river bank. We capped an abandoned shallow well and filled an old septic drain field. A new deep well and septic were installed.
Large Windows for Solar Gain and Outdoor Connection
We sited the cabin just outside the dripline of the maples and oaks, but still under their cooling shade in the summer. Large sliding doors facing the river in the great room and bedroom, bring the outside in. Our connection to the environment was the priority. It’s why we are there. The large glass doors face south southwest providing high solar gain in the winter. The cabin is filled with natural light.
The triple-paned windows and doors are made by KÖMMERLING, designed in Germany but built in the USA. They are very energy efficient. Their construction is remarkably heavy and solid. Multipoint latches and locks improve energy efficiency and security. The large expanses of glass in the sliding doors make the cabin feel modern. An opposing window in the great room and on the side of the cabin in the bedroom allow summer breezes to flow through. Air conditioning was installed, but the cabin will rarely need it.
Room for Guests
The interior consists of a kitchen/great room, a bedroom with open shelf closet, a bathroom (shower only), a mechanical room/laundry. Entry hall space serves as mudroom. Lynne wanted plenty of storage plus sleeping accommodations for guests, so a sleeping bench extends the width of the great room which can be used for storage and seating.
Energy Efficiency
The concrete foundation is foam insulated (R-20). ZIP System sheathing integrating 2.5 inches of rigid foam was used on top of 2×6” framing with fiberglass batt insulation making the cabin air tight and well insulated (R-35). The Firestone RubberGuard MAX roofing system, typically used for commercial roofs, is insulated with foam sheets, blown cellulose around roof trusses, and fiberglass batting (R57+).
Radiant hydronic heat from a high efficiency gas combination boiler pumps through a polished concrete slab which is easy to clean after coming in from hunting or fishing outings. A wood-burning stove is another source of heat and can be used to quickly warm the place up. It provides ambiance and cozy comfort. Lunos e2 heat recovery ventilation (HRV) is used for fresh indoor air quality,
LED lighting, and a dual flush toilet add to the cabin’s sustainable features. Interior walls are a combination of drywall and birch plywood which was sealed with a water-based sealer. Water based acrylic finish was used on interior doors, trim, and the sleeping bench.
The cabin is clad on three sides in black corrugated steel siding from Metal Sales. The company uses recycled metal with a long lifespan and Energy Star-listed coating that reduces solar heat loads. Front step and entry trim uses Corten steel which weathers to a brown rust appearance. The river side is clad in cedar and is finished with a white water-based stain.
Kitchen
I assembled factory cabinets from IKEA to save money. The quality is good (really!). The cabinets are in a black (anthracite) finish for a modern look. The countertops and two interior accent walls use black Richlite, a durable material made from partially recycled paper and phenolic resin which is finished with a non-toxic natural oil.
Artwork
I enjoy painting with acrylics in modern style. The walls are covered in colorful outdoor inspired paintings including a brook trout, northern pike, sturgeon, a river landscape, and Bucky Badger.
Smart Home
High speed internet access allows us smart home features including entertainment, NEST security, and Temp Stick remote temperature and humidity.
Living There
The cabin was completed in mid-October. We absolutely love it. We had a socially distanced Halloween Party with the family to christen it. Living in the cabin for deer season in November deer hunt felt like I was in the lap of luxury after two seasons sheltered in a poorly heated garage with mice. I love the river. I love the connection with nature. We also like having the amenities of a small town within walking distance: cafes and drive-in restaurant, steak house, barbecue joint, grocery, a wine bar, and a smoothie shop. People are small-town nice. I have landscaping and a few small projects remaining, but it’s now there to enjoy.
Thanks Keva, for sharing your beautiful new modern central Wisconsin cabin with us.