Lake cottages and camps hold a special place in American vernacular architecture. They represent a simpler way of living, where families gather across generations to disconnect from daily routines and reconnect with nature and each other. The appeal of cottage house design lies in its ability to feel humble yet deeply meaningful, casual yet full of character. When one family in Lake Luzerne, New York, faced the difficult decision to demolish the beloved three-generation-old camp that had stood on their property, they chose to rebuild with an unwavering commitment: honor the past while building for the future.
Completed in spring 2018, this 2,775 sq. ft. home in the Adirondack Park is the result of a close collaboration between homeowners Jeanine and Ron Pastore, architect Brett Balzer of Balzer and Tuck Architecture, and builder Jim Sasko of Teakwood Builders. The original camp, built by Jeanine’s grandfather, had reached a point of no return with structural failures and moisture damage. Renovation was not an option. The team had to start fresh, yet the goal was clear: design a highly functional camp that would house and entertain many generations to come, paying homage to its predecessor at every turn.
Site Strategy and Foundation Solutions for Challenging Hillside Terrain
The original camp was tucked close to the edge of the woods at the base of a hill, which meant stormwater runoff ran straight toward the foundation. The homeowners were desperate to move away from that hillside. Yet as the design team worked through the spatial program, they kept pushing the new house back toward the hill. This became a mental hurdle that everyone needed to get over, but the team knew that with modern waterproofing systems, they could build next to or into the hill and keep water out. Putting the house back in that location would also free up the site for a spacious courtyard, which became central to the project’s success.
Foundation Waterproofing System
The solution to the water management challenge involved a multilayered approach comparable to the best practices used in basement waterproofing for below-grade structures. The team deployed the following system:
- Fluid-applied membrane applied directly to the foundation wall for primary waterproofing
- Drainage mat installed over the membrane surface to relieve hydrostatic pressure while allowing water to flow along the wall
- New foundation drain at the base of the wall directing captured water to a remote drywell away from the structure
- Stone drainage swale along the entire length of the house at grade level
- Half-round Galvalume gutters capturing all roof runoff before it reaches the rear of the house
This comprehensive approach ensured that the site’s inherent drainage challenges were addressed at every level, from the foundation base to the roofline. The combination of interior and exterior measures created a robust defense against the hillside runoff that had plagued the original structure.
Open Floor Planning with Exposed Structural Elements
One of the most distinctive features of the new camp is the exposed floor-joist system over the kitchen and dining area. This was a deliberate nod to the original camp rafters that had given the old space its rustic character. The design team wanted to preserve that warm feel of undressed timber while meeting modern building standards and accommodating the rooms above.
Solving the Open-Joist Puzzle
Above the kitchen and dining area sit two bedrooms, a closet, and a bathroom. Exposing the structure below meant that plumbing and mechanical routing required creative solutions. The builder describes this part of the program as something of a puzzle:
- Bathroom placement: All fixtures were shifted to sit against the stairwell wall, where drain lines could be hidden within a thickened 2×6 wall
- Shower drain: A trap was installed and upper kitchen cabinets were designed to mask it from view below
- Stove coordination: The range was positioned on the same wall as the trap, with ductwork hidden behind the same upper cabinets
- Floor structure: The upper decking was increased from a thin bead layer to 3/4 in. with a built-up floor on top, creating an extra-thick structural assembly that provided stable material for hardwood flooring nails
This careful coordination between architectural intent and mechanical reality exemplifies the principles of designing an open flexible floor plan, where every visible surface must work aesthetically while hiding the functional systems that make the space livable. The exposed ceiling became a conversation piece rather than a compromise.
Material Palette for Warmth and Character
The interior material selections were carefully chosen to echo the original camp. Jeanine, an artist, requested a specific mix of finishes:
| Element | Material | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Walls (most rooms) | Painted drywall | White or light tones for artwork display |
| Walls (feature areas) | Douglas fir | Clear stain for natural warmth |
| Beams and rafters | Douglas fir | Clear stain to retain timber character |
| Window frames | Wood | Clear-coated (unpainted) to match original cues |
| Exposed ceiling | Floor joists above kitchen/dining | Left visible as a nod to original camp rafters |
| Flooring | Hardwood over 3/4 in. subfloor | Standard finish, nailed through stable build-up |
The clear-coated timber elements were direct cues taken from the original camp. The design team wanted to maintain that warm feel of undressed timber throughout the public spaces. The window frames were left clear-coated rather than painted for the same reason, creating visual continuity between finishes.
Designing for Indoor-Outdoor Living and Community
The town of Lake Luzerne is described by Ron as something of a close-knit community where multiple generations have grown up together and everyone walks freely into everyone else’s homes. Doors are never locked. Afternoon gatherings turn into evening meals, which turn into wine by the fire. This communal lifestyle figured heavily into the design of the indoor-outdoor connection.
The Courtyard as Social Heart
The decision to push the new house back toward the hillside was driven in large part by the desire to create a sheltered courtyard. All the doors from the kitchen and dining area open directly to this outdoor space, accommodating gatherings of any size. The concept of creating outdoor rooms and indoor-outdoor living spaces was central to the design philosophy. The courtyard serves as an extension of the interior, allowing the camp to function for large groups without feeling crowded.
Key design strategies for the indoor-outdoor connection included:
- Full-height glazed doors from the kitchen and dining area to the courtyard, creating a seamless visual and physical transition
- Continuous floor surfaces that flow from interior to exterior without abrupt changes in level or material
- Protected outdoor dining space that can function in varying weather conditions
- Landscaped edges that soften the boundary between built space and natural surroundings
The Entry and Stair as Architectural Anchor
The entry presented a particular design challenge: indicate the front door without overdoing it, provide some weather protection, and introduce the timber character that would feature throughout the house. The big move was getting the height for the stair once inside. The stair hall receives warm natural light that plays along the walls, a feature the homeowners have come to love.
Ironically, the homeowners did not initially want a staircase on display. But it became the element that stitched everything together between the public and private spaces. Off the midlevel landing, a set of doors will eventually open onto a bridge leading to Jeanine’s Japanese tea house-inspired art studio, which will be tucked into the hillside. This thoughtful vertical circulation strategy turned a functional necessity into the defining architectural gesture of the home.
Construction Lessons for Building on a Family Legacy
Building on a site with decades of family history adds an emotional dimension to what is already a complex construction project. Several lessons from this project apply broadly to anyone undertaking a custom home build on a cherished family property.
Documenting and Studying the Existing Structure
Before designing the new camp, the team carefully studied the existing house. They measured, photographed, and analyzed what had worked about the original layout and what had failed. The original structure’s strengths the orientation to the lake, the rustic timber character, the intimate scale became design drivers for the new building. Its weaknesses the moisture issues, structural failures, cramped rooms informed technical decisions about waterproofing, structural systems, and spatial programming.
Coordinating Design and Construction Teamwork
The collaboration between architect and builder was essential to solving the tricky coordination problems this project presented. The open-joist ceiling, the stair placement, the courtyard layout, and the foundation drainage system all required early, detailed input from both design and construction perspectives. The team notes that capturing all of these details on paper before breaking ground saved significant time and money during construction. When dealing with the process of building a modern home from the ground up, this level of preconstruction coordination is invaluable.
Respecting Scale and Setting
Despite being a thoroughly modern build with advanced waterproofing, engineered structural systems, and contemporary open-plan living, the new camp does not feel out of place. The team respected the original footprint, maintained the modest cottage scale, and used materials and finishes that connect the building to its Adirondack setting. The result is a home that feels like it has always been there. Visitors often remark that it feels like the old camp, which is the nicest compliment the team could receive.
Improved Functionality and Generational Use
Improved functionality makes this new camp a well-used, well-loved place. Family members now find themselves spending more time there than they did at the previous house. The bigger rooms, higher ceilings, upgraded woodstove that remains the centerpiece, and the expanded indoor-outdoor capacity all contribute to a home that works harder for the people who live in it. The original camp’s spirit persists, but now it can accommodate the gathered family for generations to come without the structural compromises that ultimately doomed its predecessor.
The project stands as a testament to what is possible when a design team listens carefully to the memory of a place while applying the best of modern building science. For anyone considering a similar rebuild on a family property, the lesson is clear: honor what was, but do not be afraid to build for what will be.