Lakeshore Belle

For a lakeshore home, says builder David Moore, the water-oriented elevation is as - if not more - important than the street approach. This home's well-balanced exterior style is designed to convey a sense of "history" he says. The home features a natural stone beltline that ties the structure into the sloping topography of the site. In keeping with the home's "aged" appearance, the Moores wanted the rear porch to appear as though it had been an addition, giving it a distinctive copper roof. The rest of the home features dimensional asphalt shingles.

As elegant and refined as a mature grand dame, this $1.5 million custom home debuted along the shore of Big Cedar Lake in West Bend, Wis., at the turn of the century - the 21st century. Using a design that deliberately belies the home’s age, the builder/owners gave the residence a "lake house" look, which has been part of the waterfront scene for many years.

The 5,200-square-foot luxury home was constructed by David and Lisa Moore, whose company specializes in building lake homes throughout southern Wisconsin.

This house features a masterful blend of historical design elements, recycled materials and modern technology that gives it a nostalgic appearance without sacrificing comfort and energy efficiency.

The true "front" of the home faces the lake rather than the street, Lisa Moore says. A central portico, twin eyebrow dormers and curved bands of windows provide this elevation with plenty of impact from the water - an important feature for a lake house, she says, because of the high volume of boats that tour the shoreline.

Main-floor living space, which includes the master suite and hearth room, extends beyond the basement recreation level on this elevation, creating a covered porch off the lower level. This extension, which features a copper roof rather than the asphalt shingle roof used on the rest of the house, was designed to resemble an addition to an original structure as a family grew. "This gives the house’s exterior a more convincing sense of history," she says.

A dramatic, two-story great room serves as the focal point for the interior living space, which features clearly defined transitions between rooms. "We wanted the interior to have an open concept," David Moore says, "but one without the noise transmission from room to room associated with a wide-open layout." Volume ceilings and water-oriented window walls contribute to the sense of openness that characterizes the home.

"We were determined that every room in the house would have a view of the water," Lisa Moore says. Directly across the lake is a nature conservancy, so future development of lakefront property will never threaten the pristine views the homeowners enjoy today.

The home features a symmetrical floor plan with two secondary foyers flanking a central entry gallery. Each foyer connects living space with one of the separate, two-car garages. Not only do these dual garages add visual character on the street elevation, they also serve practical functions, Lisa Moore says. "By creating separate garages, we really channel the view into the central entry court of the home and shield it from the neighbors. It also provides us with a great opportunity for one of the garages to function as a ‘working’ garage for David’s construction vehicles and lawn equipment."

A second-floor bridge above the gallery connects two guest bedrooms on the upper level. Each features a full bath and walk-in closet. Similar to what’s found on the main floor, secondary foyers provide the connection between the bedrooms and expansion space available above each garage.

The home also features a main-floor master suite. "We do first-floor master suites in almost 80% of our projects," Lisa Moore says. "Most of our clients tend to be older with grown or almost grown children, and they seem to like the flexibility of this arrangement."

The walk-out lower level includes a spacious recreation room and full-size wet bar. A full bath (shower) in the home office on this floor gives this space the flexibility to function as a guest room.

A sophisticated home automation system permits remote control of everything from the sound system to interior and exterior lighting to locking the doors - all from a hand-held computer controller.

The home was completed in February 2001 and had a hard construction cost of $165 per square foot.

Builder/Architect/Interior Design: Moore Designs, West Bend, Wis.

Major Products Used:
Appliances: Dacor; KitchenAid; U-Line
TV and Sound: Pioneer
Cabinetry: custom
Counters: Corian; granite
Doors: Woodharbor
Moldings: Rayner & Rinn-Scott
Door Hardware: Emtek
Cabinet Hardware: Colonial
Lumber:Louisiana-Pacific
Exterior Finish: James Hardie (siding, soffits and fascia); Masonite (corner boards and window trim); Alternative Wood Corp. (decking); Turncraft (columns); Belden (brick); Fond du Lac Stone (stone)
Fireplace(s): masonry; Lennox
Cast-Stone Mantel: Old World Stoneworks
Flooring: cherry; Walker Zanger (marble tile); Latco; Rex (ceramic tile); Masland, Shaw, Mohawk (carpeting)
Home Controls/Automation: Omni
HVAC: Slant/Fin (hydronic and pool boilers); Wirsbo (hydronic piping); Rheem (air handlers and air conditioners); Ven-Mar (heat recovery); Aprilaire (humidification)
Lighting: Sea Gull; Renoma; Minka Lavery; Crystal
Plumbing Fixtures: Delta; Toto; Aker
Roofing: GAF Timberline Ultra
Windows: Semco
Interior Finish: Hallman/Lindsay; Sherwin-Williams; Blend & Glaze; Bartleys.