Outdoor spaces take up a considerable amount of space and thinking in most of my projects – which makes sense considering that where I live, I can comfortably spend 9 months out of the year outside enjoying the weather. There was a time when I thought outdoor spaces were something typically relegated to projects in […]

Outdoor spaces take up a considerable amount of space and thinking in most of my projects – which makes sense considering that where I live, I can comfortably spend 9 months out of the year outside enjoying the weather. There was a time when I thought outdoor spaces were something typically relegated to projects in more temperate climates, places where it was reasonable to spend more time outdoors simply because exterior conditions were more suited to outdoor living.
Enter the Northwoods of Wisconsin … a place few people would ever confuse with a temperate climate. With an annual snowfall that exceeds 5 feet, and mosquitoes so large that they could easily desiccate your average human, you might not conclude that this is exactly the sort of place for a dedicated outdoor space … but you would be incorrect.

I was up visiting the project a few weeks ago to look in on how the cabin is holding up now that it’s been in use for a while and we are getting ready to head into our first winter since the owners have taken possession. A handful of things that needed to be addressed have fallen into place since my last visit – fir...