Our clients (an extended Italian family for whom hosting means parents, grandparents, siblings, and their children all under one roof) acquired a quaint mid-century cottage with the intention of preserving its 1950s character while transforming it into a multi-generational lakeshore retreat. They envisioned a residence with the warmth of a lodge, the proportions of a true family home, and a central hearth that would anchor every meal, every gathering, and every late-night card game.
Honoring the home’s original 1950s woodworking heritage while expanding it to function across four levels of family living required a renovation philosophy most builders default away from: keeping the original spirit visible while extending the home’s footprint and function. The clients explicitly rejected open-concept conventions in favor of defined rooms. A cooking kitchen separated from the dining room. An intentionally small sun room kept tight enough that the kids would feel close while playing cards together at night. Each decision required disciplined restraint at the moments where modern design instincts pull toward expansion.
Engelsma delivered a four-level residence featuring:
Anchoring the main floor as the home’s literal and emotional center.
Built for an active host, separated from the dining and living spaces by intent rather than oversight.
Sized for every meal the family eats together, not for occasional formal use.
Preserved at its original scale to keep the family close during game nights.
Additional bedrooms configured for the youngest generation across multiple visits.
For extended-stay family and shared entertainment.
This project proves Engelsma’s ability to honor an existing architectural heritage rather than overwrite it. Where many renovations of mid-century properties trade original character for modern convenience, Blue Star Hideaway treats the home’s original woodworking, scale, and lodge feel as the defining identity to be preserved and extended. The relationship has continued across three phases of work, including an adjacent carriage house that serves as guest space, collector-car storage, home office, and workout room. The clients are now in conversations with Engelsma about outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, and continued investment in a property they intend to keep in the family for generations.
This residence demonstrates Engelsma’s discipline in extending a home’s original character rather than replacing it; the kind of restraint that turns a renovation into a generational asset.
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