Framed By Nature

Deep in the woods of Brown County, this home sits perched above the valley with expansive views of the surrounding wooded landscape. What began as a modest kitchen remodel grew into a whole-home renovation, honoring the residence’s Japanese-inspired architecture while opening the interior fully to its natural setting.

The clients envisioned relocating the kitchen to a light-filled corner of the home, framed by glass on all sides. To make this possible, we worked with a structural engineer to carefully remove load-bearing walls and design the framing required for expansive new windows. Every decision centered on one priority: creating uninterrupted views of the woods from anywhere in the home.

The home’s distinctive style, with its upturned roof eaves and clean lines, informed many of our design choices. The new entryway features a custom wood walkway and front porch, detailed with copper scuppers, a rain chain, and handcrafted inlays on the railing posts, all designed to create a calming experience as you approach the home.

Throughout the process, close coordination with our design partners and suppliers allowed us to achieve a cohesive window and door package, ensuring consistent proportions and framing that accentuate the surrounding landscape. Our clients played a major role in expanding their outdoor living space with a large deck that extends into the tree canopy, further blurring the lines between interior and exterior.

Natural color tones were chosen for the exterior to help blend in with the wooded site. Inside, the clients were deeply engaged, contributing to elements such as new flooring throughout and revitalizing the primary bath with a full renovation, including the onsen tub, a centerpiece of the bath.

With new windows and doors, upgraded insulation, and a carefully detailed envelope, the home is now both highly efficient and deeply connected to its setting. Built by our team, the live-edge floating bench adds a natural touch that ties together the home’s craftsmanship and connection to nature.

Workshop Custom Details:
– Live-edge bench
– Custom wooden walkway with inlay details

Photography: Nolan Calisch