Moe's Cove

For generations, our clients’ family gathered at Clearwater Lake—swimming, fishing, boating—honoring bonds between cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. After years of searching, they found their own lakefront site to carry that spirit forward, where the dinner bell might again draw relatives to share evenings by the water.

The existing camp was beyond repair, but the lakeside site offered optimal solar exposure and expansive lake views. Working within the allowable building footprint—bounded by a riparian woodland edge along Moe Brook to the north and west—we located the new home on higher ground to the east, overlooking the south-facing shoreline bathed in sunlight from dawn to dusk. 

The home welcomes guests equally from the northern driveway and southern waterfront. In summer, the lakeside approach appears first as a gap in the canopy, then as a focal point between barn and house, visible from the dock across the native landscape. From the parking court, paths diverge naturally toward the north entrance porch and southern lakeside spaces. All routes converge at the central gathering rooms—indoor kitchen, outdoor kitchen, and screened porch—allowing family to gather in any weather.

‍"We turn into the driveway and see nature, barn, plantings—the door to our own Narnia away from modern cares and into nature and simplicity."

Inside, natural materials echo the landscape. Hardwood decking links from outdoor entry to interior hall, each detail refining as you move inward. Cedar-wrapped walls and ceilings connect directly to the screened porch opposite the entrance. The open kitchen, living, and dining space seats twelve comfortably. Variegated stone and white oak cabinetry provide tactile warmth. 

"The island is a stone lake with water-wave patterns. The counters are a green forest wall by the stream, lit with beautiful birch accents."

Pantry, bathrooms, and bedrooms feature distinct natural stones, unified by handcrafted oak millwork—from the central stairway to custom desks, dressers, and beds. Each bedroom includes a built-in vestibule to shed the day's concerns before resting with views of lake, moon, and stars.

Beyond its natural beauty, the home delivers exceptional performance. Blower-door tests exceeded Passive House standards, while rooftop photovoltaics power efficient heat-pump systems.

Designed to endure, the home opens itself and serves as a threshold between land and water, shelter and sky. At the lake’s edge, it becomes a place to gather, nurture, and grow — a sanctuary where the family’s story can deepen with each season on the lake.

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Photography: Trent Bell Photography
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Collaborators:

Contractor: Sebastian Tooker Construction

Structural Engineer: Albert Putnam Associates

Landscape Architect: Richardson & Associates

Landscape & Outdoor Kitchen Installation:  Atlantic Landscape Construction

Interior Design / Decorative Lighting: Whitten Architects

Millwork: Sebastian Tooker Construction

Lighting Design: Reflex Lighting 

Solar Energy: Revision Energy