Mike and Randi Heimert were quite familiar with Lake Beulah, as they owned a vacation home on its shores for 15 years. During the pandemic, the couple decided to sell their Wisconsin lake home and purchase a second home in Florida. But almost immediately, they regretted it. A former Lake Beulah neighbor informed the Heimerts a friend was looking to sell her lakefront home, so the couple jumped on the chance to own a place on the water again and bought the property. Eventually, they tore down the old house to build anew.
The Heimerts worked with J. Timothy Builders, Inc. to create a timeless lake cottage that was perfect for their family.
“They wanted a bright and streamlined home with simple elegance,” said Jon Wittrock, owner of J. Timothy Builders, Inc. “This house showcases so many beautiful custom details, like white oak floors stained with a custom mix designed to bring out the natural beauty of the wood.”
Breezy Hill Landscaping rounded out the home’s exterior design, which included a lovely natural stone pathway.
But the interior decor is where Randi went to work, poring over every detail to achieve her and Mike’s specific design goals of texture and comfort.
“Mike loves stone and wood, so besides the stone fireplaces we wanted character-grade wood floors with natural knots,” said Randi. “Visually, I need a lot of details that are architecturally interesting, whether it’s beams, wallpaper or shiplap.”
Randi found her unique wallpaper designs at Hygge & West, Katie Kime and Mitchell Black. She believes that ceilings are often overlooked, so she also devoted a large portion of the budget to lighting. “My husband calls my lighting the ‘jewelry of the home,’” she said.
By Tasha Downing | Photography by Shanna Wolf
MORE ABOUT THIS HOME
3,600 square feet | 4 bedrooms | 3 1⁄2 bathrooms
- Randi loves her kitchen countertops, which are leathered Taj Mahal quartzite, a natural stone.
- A lovely blue built-in bar area in the dining room makes entertaining a breeze. Randi and Mike Heimert have had the industrial-look RH dining room table for years. Randi says the textured wood always looks great, regardless of wear and tear.
- Serena & Lily is one of Randi’s favorite places to shop for furniture and accent pieces because of their durability and the designer’s blue-and- white color schemes.
- As a professional photographer, the home features many of Randi’s own photographs, along with pieces by artists and photographers that inspire her, like Slim Aarons, Kristi Kohut and Gray Malin.
- Gorgeous tile and stone in the kitchen and bathroom create a warm, inviting space. “In the kitchen, we used four-by-four handmade ceramic tile from Italy in nine different shades with a shiny glaze,” says Dianne Fasano, owner of Bella Tile and Stone. “The client wanted a timeless bathroom and preferred the look of Carrara marble, so we used 10 1⁄2-inch honed Carrara marble tiles in a hexagon shape with a creamy white base with gray and gold veining.”
- The porch is a favorite hangout year- round with its proximity to the outdoor kitchen, electric screens and vinyl coverings that can completely close in winter, plus heaters that warm the space with the flip of a switch.
- The adorable bunk room features a rattan light fixture and ceiling accented with bird-themed wallpaper. “My husband and I cut out birds from that wallpaper and glued them to the wall so it looks like they’re flying up to the ceiling,” said Randi.
- Wallpaper adds a touch of unexpected whimsy to a powder room.