This Cozy Lakeside Home Is Built From a Kit, But It Feels Anything But Cookie-Cutter

Vacations often invite you to fantasize about the possibilities of another life; they’re an escape, an opportunity to dream "what if." For homeowners Stephanie and Bob Gilbreath, a dreamy holiday at a short-term rental in Leelanau County, Michigan, became the catalyst for making fantasy into a reality. 

Their rental, Birch Le Collaboration House, felt different from the large Victorian home they had in the city. After a little research, they found out it was a Hygge Supply home—and the company not only operates vacation getaways, it also produces clever modern home kits. 

"They connected with the feeling and design," says Sean Karcher, founder of Hygge Supply. "They knew they wanted to build something very different from what they had."

Hygge Supply’s sustainable approach and panelized build system offered a built-in opportunity for Bob and Stephanie to make the change they craved. Karcher connected the couple with Gary Mott from G. Mott Builders, who had constructed several other Hygge Supply homes, and they hit the ground running. 

Soon, the Gilbreath House was sitting quietly on the lake too, providing the family with vacation living on the daily.   

The home kits are an expression of Karcher’s personal desire to live simply: each design takes inspiration from Scandinavian aesthetics and simple design-build principles and practices. The construction process is intended to be quick and painless, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and seamless indoor/outdoor living. 

"It was really important to Stephanie and Bob and their children that they kept all of the trees intact on the property," says Karcher. "Our kits allowed for that to be possible in the build process." 

Inception Shades by J Geiger are a key component to the minimalist, nature-first vibe of this striking Scandi-cool home. The patented shade bands conceal all wires and screws, eliminating the need for valances, fascia, or ceiling pockets. 

"The shades allow for a seamless connection to nature," notes Karcher, who even utilized the J Geiger Inception Shades along the walls of the glass shower. "I wanted the indoor showers to feel like outdoor showers," he explains. 

When not in use, the shades are nearly invisible, blending into the understated architecture of Hygge homes—providing privacy when needed without overpowering or overcomplicating the aesthetics and design.

Stephanie and Bob also put a few of their own touches on the Hygge Supply kit: They incorporated a custom stone fireplace as a nod to the "up north" cottage-country feel they had fallen in love with. They also selected a custom window trim and handrail color, which allowed the home to disappear into the woodland landscape. 

All the finishes in the home—custom or otherwise—are warm, natural, and sustainable. "All the materials and products used in the homes are environmentally friendly in one way or another," says Karcher, citing factors like sourcing manufacturers who could cut items to spec to reduce waste. "You put any combination of our finishes together with one another, and they are all complementary to each other."

It’s this thoughtful consideration that takes the house beyond modernism and into something richer, deeper, and homier. "A modern house doesn’t always give you a feeling of hygge," Karcher says. "I wanted to incorporate that feeling into something that could be conceived as minimalist, but was still something intentional, comfortable, and useful… something that brings you comfort and coziness and creates a feeling within the senses."

Visit inceptionshades.com to request a design consultation with a retailer near you.