Project Spotlight: Preserving a Family Camp for Future Generations

Some projects begin with a wish list. This one began with a roof.

Our clients knew their beloved seasonal camp needed a new roof and structural improvements to ensure it could continue serving as their family’s summer retreat for years to come. But as we worked through the planning process, it became clear that this was an opportunity to do more than preserve the camp. Working through the permitting process, the client was able to gain approval to add more space to the camp (as well as a small juliet balcony off of the new bunk room). This project now became a chance to prepare it for the next generation.

The renovation grew into a thoughtful whole-home transformation took the real life functionality into account, but we also wanted to include features that honored the character of the original camp.

A new front addition created room for a true kitchen, replacing the cramped space that had served the family for decades. The new front addition also provided space for a larger second bathroom, complete with relocated laundry. The laundry had previously been housed in a makeshift addition built by a previous owner. That old laundry space was removed entirely, simplifying the home’s footprint.The original tiny bathroom, with its small stall shower, was reimagined as a convenient powder room.

To make room for growing family gatherings, we added a full second-story bunkroom, a dedicated place where grandchildren can build the same summer memories their parents once did.

Inside, the camp’s timeless character remains front and center. Pine tongue-and-groove walls throughout the home preserve the warm, classic camp feel, while opening the ceiling to create a vaulted main living space filled the home with light and gave everyone a little more room to gather.

This project wasn’t about turning a camp into something it wasn’t. It was about strengthening the home, respecting its history, and ensuring that another generation of family traditions can continue for many summers to come