Off the Beaten Path

Two Black Sheds incorporates all the conventional aspects of a weekend retreat in a rather unconventional way.

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A wooden stair leads from the house down to a dramatic view of Lake Superior.

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Philippe Starck’s outdoor chairs for Kartell provide cozy fireside seating. These and the sofa version were selected by Salmela. “They’re very much an art form,” he says.

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A side view of the house and of Salmela’s signature architectural feature: the “unchimney.” All windows are from Loewen.

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"Every room except the bath has huge windows.” explains Bruce Golob. “And although David was reluctant to design a screen porch he figured out a way to do it without interfering with any of the views.”

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The homeowners were impressed by the way Salmela conflated the indoor/outdoor continuum. “We really needed that contact with the lake and the woods even when inside,” says Golob. All outdoor seating by Kartell.

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Primary colors and uncomplicated spaces define the interiors of both sheds. Golob is shown above in the modest open kitchen, where appliances were chosen for “cost, durability, and efficiency.”

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Both bathrooms are simple and basic, with Dornbracht fixtures as the only real extravagance.

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The living space gives first priority to comfort, and furniture pieces like the sofa bed by Niels Bendtsen deliver. The wood-burning stove by Rais is especially valued during wintertime visits.

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Skylights and huge windows flood the master bedroom—and every room in the house—with sunlight. Bed by Techline; lighting by Tech Lighting.

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