Inspiration for Yond Cottage

Since putting down roots in Minnesota nearly a decade ago, our family has dreamt of a waterfront getaway to call our own. We spent years slowly renovating our 1930s Colonial home in the city but also loved the idea of owning a North Shore cottage that felt like worlds away. Last fall, the timing finally felt right, and we were lucky enough to find a hidden gem nestled on the shores of Lake Superior.

Lovingly deemed the Yond Cottage, our property is set in Schroeder, Minnesota, roughly thirty minutes outside the postcard town of Grand Marais. What first drew us to the cottage is its sheer proximity to the lake—so close you can almost touch the water from the deck. Since our closing date, we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes to thoughtfully renovate a luxury guest stay property to enjoy and be experienced by others.

Stepping into the role of designer and client has been a unique experience, as I see the projects from both perspectives. Of course, the renovation process will be long (no supply chain free passes for designers!), but we’re hoping it will be available to rent toward the end of this year. Today, I’m taking you through a high-level view of our Yond Cottage inspiration as we inch towards bringing this dream project to life.

*Design:* ***Natalia Bianchi*** | *Photography:* ***Simon Watson*** *via* *AD Italia*

*Photography:* ***Raimond Koch*** ***via Cape Code Modern House Trust***

Most designers will admit that it’s most challenging to design for themselves, and I’ve found that sentiment to be fairly accurate. At the moment, we’re knee-deep in development and planning, and much like any project Yond Interiors takes on, there are so many logistical decisions that take priority before we can get to the pretty stuff.

Our 900 square foot cottage needs a significant overhaul, so our first step was to hire a team of partners. With the current demand, contractors can be difficult to find. However, we are partnering with one of the best craftsmen up there, so we feel extremely lucky. We also hired an architect, Andy of ACDC Studio, to help us with the structural, exterior, and building drawings. Like our client work, we partner with architects when it’s beyond our studio’s capabilities. Our team will take on all interior elevations and specs, including reworking the layout. The goal is to make the most of every square foot this cottage offers and bridge the gap between form and function.

Note: if you’re interested in learning more about the relationship between interior designers, architects, and contractors, we cover this topic in our Frequently Asked Questions blog content.

*Design:* *Design Shop Interiors* *| Photography:* *Stephanie Russo*

We're now working on applying for a building variance to add on a very small mudroom off the back of the cottage. Due to some restrictions with the vegetation line, the addition has to be an odd shape, but we're committed to making it work! Yond Cottage will be an all-season cabin, so we wanted to be sure to have a spot for the cold, wet, muddy season outerwear and boots. As you can imagine, proper mudrooms in Minnesota homes are an absolute must. While the variance has added some time to our project timeline, it's critical that we get it right from the get-go.

More than anything, our goal is for Yond Cottage to be a space that's warm and cozy with high-end amenities for a luxury vacation experience. We're sourcing hand-picked finishes with the utmost care to create the perfect landing spot for endless North Shore adventures.

*Design:* *Amber Interiors* *| Photography:* *Shade Degges*

Thanks for taking a look inside our Yond Cottage inspiration, and keep an eye out for upcoming content on the blog + Instagram as we share more plans and detail the renovation process! If you would like to connect with our studio for your design project, we would love to hear from you. You can connect directly by filling out our contact form.