A-Frame for Life
ELEVATING YOUR ESCAPE
WHEN JESSICA FORSTON, owner of Fringe Interior Design & Home Furnishings, decided to take on this project, it was clear that it was not going to be an average design transformation. In this instance, the homeowners were looking to design and build an escape away from the liveliness of the city where they could go to relax and center themselves. They visualized a welcoming, cozy atmosphere where the family could spend quality time together, but also individual areas to enjoy their own privacy. Space to entertain was also important for when friends came to visit.
Nestled in the northwoods of Door County, the serene and peaceful location automatically sparked an array of inspiration for Jessica. She envisioned combining aspects of architecture and design to create a place that evoked character and feeling. The retreat would be built from the top down – which is typically how A-Frames are built – and would include the things that mattered most to the homeowners.
Jessica began by creating a floorplan and then handing it to Anna Burns, president of Brookwater Construction. Together they collaborated on a layout that maximized space while maintaining a small footprint overall. With the homeowner's concerns at the center of the design, they concentrated on the functionality of the home and the allocation of public versus private spaces.
For the interior, Jessica focused on making each room its own unique space with distinctive design details and conversation pieces. “Designing the space with a family of six in mind was the perfect recipe for a functional yet high-end design with touches from their travels from around the world.” says Forston. She wanted the design to reflect more than just its visual appeal. Every selection – from finish to furniture – was chosen with the home's overall purpose in mind, including who would be using it and how it would be used.
The result: a beautiful modern retreat encompassed and inspired by the nature surrounding it. At just under 1,800 square feet, this home sleeps eleven and entertains many more. The combination of materials and textures not only created the warm, inviting feeling the client had requested but was also intended for use and longevity. With highly satisfied clients and all the details of this design coming together, it made this home the family's “A-Frame for Life.”
“The time and effort that went into carefully planning this escape has met every one of our expectations,” one of the homeowners says. “We can't wait to come here every chance we get as a family to connect and create new memories.” ◆