We've taken the initial steps for building a lakefront home. We're looking at around 1,650 square feet, keeping it small to reduce the property taxes. We're looking at house plans and have set a meeting with a general contractor. We're likely two years away from a move, as there is so much to be done, but one day, I'll be able to walk to my dock. Our lake requires the home to be built 250' from the water, which I love. I don't like lakes where homes are a stone's throw from the water as such proximity reduces water quality. Our home will be the tenth and likely the last home on the lake because our lot is the last buildable lot, as three sides of the lake are wetlands. We're leaning toward this home, which would have an attached two-car garage in the back:

The exterior walls would be six inches thick and spray-foamed. The windows would be three panes thick. We'd put solar panels on the roof. I once thought I'd have a fancy, raised boardwalk built, but my beaver-cut tree trunks with pallets and locally milled oak boards on top-boardwalk is working fine. It wouldn't have that fancy landscaping in front, even though I could do that and much more with my landscaping skills. I'll keep it woodsy because it'll be a home in the woods. In that vein, it'll likely be dark brown cedar shakes with dark green trim.

Lastly, we own five acres, so we won't won't have neighbors on either side and we won't see any homes looking out at the lake, as the other nine homes are all in the woods too.

Sounds like a dream come true! Good luck with the whole process.

Beautiful place I wish you all the best!

That has been a dream of ours for years as we settled on acreage in North Carolina overlooking Lake Nantahala.

(The only lake in the SE that has Salmon along with Trout and Bass)

We’re probably too old to take the time to build a cabin now but at least it’ll be something else I can leave the kids.

Mike

Congrats @Swamp Girl. Sounds like a little slice of heaven. As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned less = more. Less house to maintain = more time to fish. Hope it works out for you.

I'll say the same as AJay said to my other post- "I love everything about this".

Congratulations. Sounds wonderful.

A house in the woods, 250' from your pond will be the cat's pajamas.

Congrats @Swamp Girl

Built a house in NC, used 2x6’s for the walls, didn’t use spray foam, but used the appropriate size rolled insulation. Having 6” walls hade a huge difference in heating, it was only 1225 sqft.

Didn't hear about the spray foam until many years later.

We also had a wrap around porch under roof as well.

I wish we would have had a garage that your planing on.

Do you have a floor plan yet?

59 minutes ago, GRiver said:

Do you have a floor plan yet?

We do. It has some handy features like a pantry, mud room, laundry room, screen porch, media room, and half bath for guests. I'm already imaging docking my boat and walking up the path to the house with its windows glowing yellow!

Looks perfect. I am sure you’ll love it.

Good looking plan especially for your setting. Last house we built we went with Arkansas construction with 2x6 studs & spray foam & it really makes a difference on sound & insulation numbers. You might consider ADA conformity since you’re starting from scratch which allows you to age in place in case of mobility problems.

20 hours ago, GRiver said:

Having 6” walls hade a huge difference in heating, it was only 1225 sqft.

Didn't hear about the spray foam until many years later.

2x6 construction is huge no doubt, also standard now so we can meet our energy codes.

I wish spray foam was around when I renovated my house in Maine. I think it was starting to make its way but not many company’s did it. It is a game changer. You do need to make sure all your electrical items are in and where you want them. Tying to add is a bit of a hassle and compromises the heat transmission integrity of the wall assembly.

I also recommend adding some type of ventilation system for air changes.

Sounds like you had a nice home G

Nice! Congratulations!

Very beautiful home! Hope all works out for you guys and the process goes pretty smooth!

That is an amazing looking home and I wish you nothing but good thoughts going forward with the project. I know it goes without saying but please keep us updated on the progress as myself and many others I’m sure are eager to watch the whole project take place. I will add as a former framing carpenter it’s really exciting and satisfying watching a house go up and was even more satisfying when the future home owners would stop by to see the progress.

Looks fantastic to me. I look forward to seeing the steps of the project. Congrats!

On 3/19/2026 at 4:50 PM, GRiver said:

On 3/19/2026 at 4:50 PM, GRiver said:

Having 6” walls hade a huge difference in heating,

Back in the late 70s, my family built 2 log homes....as in we bought log home kits and put them together ourselves. It was me, my mother, father and 2 brothers who did everything but build and pour the foundation and drill the well. The walls are solid logs, 6' thick. The roof was R36 rated fiberglass insulation. We have since added another 2 feet of blown in insulation on top of that. We have a standing joke that you can heat the houses with just a candle at each end. Solid 6 inch walls are amazing.

I would second the ADA conformity suggestion if you plan to age in place. Little changes can make a big impact on your quality of life.

That’s a pretty home !

Sometimes half the fun is in the planning.

I am currently trying to fix up my house on the lake . My fisherman and handyman son is motivating me since he’s been back. He’s already done several projects and it’s getting me excited about it again.

Keep us in the loop as things move forward!

I know you're going to love it. I had a lake house for a while and it was only 25 feet or so from the back of the house to the lake. I actually liked being that close to the water. The unique thig about the house was that every room except one first floor bathroom had a view of the lake. That house was big and ugly, cost way too much to heat and cool, and had a ton of problems. But it was on the lake!

11 minutes ago, Kayak Koz said:

The unique thig about the house was that every room except one first floor bathroom had a view of the lake.

That is cool!

That will be really nice and I'm excited for you. At least now you can enjoy that piece of land and lake in the winter as well! Always loved a lake in the winter.

46 minutes ago, Functional said:

At least now you can enjoy that piece of land and lake in the winter as well! Always loved a lake in the winter.

Please tell me more so that I know what I have to look forward to!

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

Please tell me more so that I know what I have to look forward to!

Lol he probably meant one that wasn't frozen and covered in a foot of snow.

1 hour ago, gim said:

Lol he probably meant one that wasn't frozen and covered in a foot of snow.

HA! Yes, I love when the lake has just a smidge of ice at the edges but a good snow fall on the ground. I could sit at a fire (inside or out) and stare at that for hours. Gray sky....perfect winter day.

For reference...

13 minutes ago, Functional said:

Yes, I love when the lake has just a smidge of ice at the edges but a good snow fall on the ground. I could sit at a fire (inside or out) and stare at that for hours. Gray sky....perfect winter day.

That's beautiful, for sure. Sadly, my lakeview would look more like the North Pole. Still, it would be beautiful, albeit a bleak beauty.