Clearlake Cottages: Tim x Sue x Mike

Howdy! Tune in today as I catch up with Tim and Sue, the proud owners of Clearlake Cottages - lodging for their family in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. 

View Clearlake Cottages on instagram: @clearlakecottages.

1. Introduction & Project Overview

Mike: For the folks listening in, please introduce yourself. Who are you, which DEN design did you build and where did you build it? 

Tim: So it's Tim and Sue Campbell. We built the Modern Alpine Plus and we also built two Outposts as part of a family retreat.

This is my wife, Sue. We've been married- 

Sue: Hello! 34 years. 

Tim: 34 years. Good run! 

Mike: Amazing. Congratulations. 

Sue: We're up in the north woods of Wisconsin. 

Mike: Amazing. Amazing. Do you guys have an Instagram account associated with your project? 

Tim: We do. We have @clearlakecottages on Instagram.

We've got a pretty nice little following already, just organically, which is pretty interesting to see. 

2. Design Process & Project Details

Mike: Amazing. Yeah the DEN Outdoors account follows you guys, and I've seen photos of your project, like mid-process and like you're nearing or at completion, is that correct?

Tim: We're very close. We've just got a few finishing touches. Some more add-ons. Like we're gonna have a sort of entry gate, as you enter the property. And then since we don't have garages, we've fabricated some custom trash bins, that will protect the trash from the bears and the deer and all the animals, but our fabricator's awesome. And he came up with a really neat design for us, which is funny to say. For a trash bin, it's actually gonna look good. 

Mike: Yeah, that's awesome. Being like decently familiar with your project, I gotta say the build out and like the finish quality and the aesthetic quality of it all looks phenomenal.

It looks like our renders have like leapt off the screen and are just like, in real life! You guys did a hell of a job with the project. 

Tim: Well, Sue gets a lot of credit for that. She's, uh, she's done a great job on the decorating aspect. 

Mike: Amazing. 

Sue: Yeah, kinda. 

Mike: By the way, I have to say thank you.

Like, I see you guys like advocating for DEN on Reddit too, and that means the world to me and means the world to us. I feel like there's so many people who are curious about these projects, right? And sometimes aren't aware of things like engineering or even what it means to collaborate with a general contractor.

Right? And you succeeding in your project helps us tremendously because it just paves the way for other people to hopefully do the same. 

3. Social Media & Public Response

Tim: Yeah. Mike, the designs really resonated. I posted the Outpost on Reddit. Very little experience on Reddit, and I think as of right now, it's the second most liked post of all time on Reddit cabins.

Mike: Amazing. Amazing. 

Tim: Yeah. And yesterday I put the Alpine up and uh, I don't even think I put it up at a good time or anything, and I think it's in the top 15 or 20 day two. So both designs immediately within a few days are right up near all time top which just tells you how much the plans resonate with people. Everyday people like my wife and I. 

Mike: Awesome, awesome. And that's why we do this, right? We try to launch our designs out in the open and let people have a conversation around them. Right. And tell us like whether or not they're even worth keeping in the catalog, honestly.

We try to pass along designs that have organic engagement baked into them. So whether you're doing it as like a weekend home or like an investment property, you know, that this is like a tried and true design. 

So let me ask you like, what inspired this project?

What's the background of the project? 

4. Inspiration for the Project

Tim: You want to handle that one or... 

Sue: It was covid. We were like everyone else looking for some place to go. Go away to. 

Tim: That's true. And then also our family, for years we've been going to Montana. My dad had a place out there, a log home on the lake, and it was really the only place our kids - our family - wanted to go on vacation.

We could go to Disneyland, we could go... it was always the outdoors, it was always Montana. Our kids are now grown and so getting to Montana every year or several times a year is difficult. Our daughter was recently married and our son's dating someone. So the idea was to create a getaway, or an escape that's closer to the home that our family can use.

And rather than this idea of building one big house, that wasn't the vision. We wanted very intimate, cozy spaces where we can all be together, hang out during the day, enjoy each other's company, go fishing. We went snowmobiling just a few weeks ago, which is a blast and cross country skiing with one of my college roommates who's a, a beast by the way.

Tim: And then at the end of the day, everybody can kind of escape to their own little retreat, you know, privacy. As much as I'm sure they love mom and dad, it's nice to have a little privacy. So you can almost think of it as one home. 

We've got 300 feet of frontage. Hundred foot lots, which is quite nice on a ultra pure crystal clear lake, heavily wooded and unbelievably incredible fishing light. The realtor told us the fishing was good out there, and we're like, 'yeah, okay. We'll see'. Oh my gosh. We caught, was it 50 or 60 bass one morning?

Mike: Oh wow. In one morning?

Tim: Yeah, and tons of, pan fish and crappie and... pretty good fish. So we just kinda landed on this incredible spot, great location. It's a lake that's highly undeveloped, too. There's not that many homes on it, so that also makes it unique, from that point of view too.

5. Renting the Property

Mike: Nice. so it's fair to say like, it was inspired as like a family compound. Do you guys rent it when the family's not using it? Or does it just... what's the thinking around that? 

Tim: Yes. So, the idea is that we will rent it to offset some of the costs.

You know, it's three of everything, three tax bills, maintenance on three, snowplowing on three. And then, as we've started to get some momentum with our social media following and so forth, it's clear there's a demand. So I definitely think we'll rent it. It looks like we may be reaching, working with a company called, Wander, which focuses on the top 1% of all short-term rentals in the United States, and most of what [00:06:00] they do is really big, uh, gargantuous properties. What's unique about ours is we had a conversation that, you know, a lot of people want more of a luxury experience, but it doesn't have to be a big house.

I mean, our places are very small with unique features. 

Mike: Yep. 

Tim: Very cost effective to build, but it gives you a high end sort of luxurious feel without, you know, five bedrooms and three baths. So that's sort of the uniqueness of, of it from that point of view, from our standpoint.

6. Background on the Outpost Design

Mike: That's really cool. That's really cool. It's a small world because one of our investors is also an investor in Wander. So I am pretty familiar with that platform. 

Tim: Yeah. Yeah. So you know how special the homes are that are on that program. And to be considered for that I think, speaks to what you have built as a company, which is, you know, and I have a background, as an entrepreneur and businessman and publisher.

At one point I was a publisher of an architectural magazine, and I clearly understand that, there was a time when everybody was building these big, you know, McMansions and they can be cold. They're very uninspiring. And what DEN brings to the table is something completely unique and different. When you pull up to our property, people kind of have this 'wow' effect.

And when you're in it, you're enjoying the space in many respects, more than you would... what's interesting is the Outpost, those are for our kids, but my wife and I didn't wanna leave. I mean, it's, you know- 

Sue: So cozy. 

Tim: So cozy. We found a company called Spaze that makes furniture for small spaces.

And so we've got pull out, we've got a custom loft ladder that goes up stairs to a very comfortable bed. We've got swivel chairs, we had some custom tables made for the kitchenette. I mean, it feels incredibly warm, incredibly homey. Just a place that you wanna spend time, would you say? Yeah. 

Sue: Yeah. 

Mike: That's really cool.

Uh, I'll give you a little backstory around the Outpost design. The genesis of that design was DEN was invited to do a design competition for the electric vehicle company, Rivian. And the original Outpost design, - not the Outpost Plus - was our submission to that design competition.

And yeah, we were shortlisted, you know, to potentially develop like hundreds of those buildings nationwide. It was an incredible process. Rivian stock, like went to the toilet. Um, and that project like never materialized, right? But we were able to launch this incredible design that has captivated so many people.

Which brings me to my next question, right? So like, you know, between the DEN designs that you've built, is it fair to say that the outpost is your favorite? 

Tim: I personally have an affinity for the Outpost. I think you like the Alpine just because it's, it's got some more creature comforts. It's a little larger.

Sue: I'm older. I don't really wanna climb a ladder. 

Mike: Right right. 

Tim: Yeah. 

Sue: I prefer stairs, but I would definitely sleep up there. But stairs are preference. 

Tim: It's like sunrise and sunset. It's hard to choose. They're both... they're both great. 

7. Favorite Design Details

Mike: Right, right. The Modern Alpine 2025 that we just launched was a reaction really to like, to exactly that piece of feedback.

People were like, 'I love this design, but I want stairs'. Like hospitality developers were like, we want stairs because it's less of a liability, it's more accessible. And we're like, 'cool, we'll deliver on that'. And then, uh, you know, between the designs that you built, like where's your most favorite space in the home?

Tim: We just completed in the wintertime, but, while these were being constructed, we always found ourself out the back, looking out at the, the view and the lake. So - 

Sue: In front of the fire! 

Tim: Yeah. Oh, also the fire. Yeah. We've got some really nice Scandinavian inspired Jotul stoves.

What's interesting is we basically looked at your inspiration images, that's one thing you do that's unique to me, is you can really visualize what the space is gonna look like. And so, as much as I like to think I have a good eye, it's easier just to look at what you've already created and say, 'I want that'.

You know? And that's pretty much what we did. If you look at our Outpost, uh, design on. Instagram @clearlakecottages, you can see it's all Pines siding, just like your inspiration image. The stove with the single stack going up, lined up with the window mullions exactly as you've got it. 

8. Construction Process & Contractor Relationships

Mike: Oh, I love that. I love that you, you like love that detail.

Tim: Yeah. In fact, the discussions I had with my contractor on saying, 'okay, you know, this can't be off four inches or even two inches. It has to be exact because that's all part of the feng shui or whatever you want to call it.'

Also like the curb-less showers, you know, up in the north woods we found some really skilled tradesmen that liked getting into it. It's a very luxurious feeling that we use. 

Sue: Everyone loves the bathrooms. 

Tim: Yeah, the showers are nicer than, you know, our own showers at our house. 

Mike: Right. 

Tim: And, you know, my college roommate went up there and was like, 'wow, this is, this feels special'. With the glass partitions and hooks in areas instead of, you know, places to hang your towels and just pocket doors to save space. 

Sue: We did have to fog the window. It's right at your crotch area. 

Mike: Oh, sure. Yeah. Yeah. That's great. That's great. 

Tim: Yeah. But, but Marvin, it turns out, has a product just for that.

So it came from the factory. 

Mike: Amazing. 

Tim: Yeah. So you still let in the light, but you can't see the junk. 

Sue: Nobody see your junk. Yeah. Yes. 

Tim: Perfect. Perfect. 

We gotta leave [laughs].

Sue: On that note. 

Mike: Oh, amazing. Amazing. Yeah. So good to meet you!. 

Tell us how the plans helped align to the right general contractor, or like set the stage, you know, for a good relationship between you and the firm that you used to construct these buildings.

Tim: I would say in the North Woods most of what you see, and this is coming from our contractor, is square boxes with roofs on 'em. But uh, you don't see... like the DEN plans are simple to build, but they have big window walls, you know, window, curtain walls. They have unique architectural features.

Extremely high pitched roofs or unique angular designs. That's what captivated his interest initially is it wasn't just another four walls with a standard gable roof and no real architectural appeal. Does that make sense?

Mike: Definitely! We've heard this like time and time again. Builders who have built the standard gabled roof box are genuinely excited to pursue constructing DEN designs. Because, they're both easy to construct, but innovative, in ways that matter.

Right? And like we just get GCs who are just stoked to build them. 

Tim: Yeah. The Alpine Plus does not have eaves, so there was a lot of concern like, 'can you do eave in the Northwoods?' 'Cause everything has eaves. And I'm like, 'well, they've been building these in style in Scandinavia, which is pretty cold from what I understand and snowy for a long time. You know, so I, I think we'll be okay'.

But we researched it, we did spray foam insulated walls and ceilings. You know, it's a very harsh environment up there. So we used maintenance free decking and siding that looks very realistic. Which is really important to me. I didn't want the project to look like a lot of those products that you see out there that look fake, you know? 

Mike: Yeah. Yeah. On that note, like, if you can remember, like what decking and cladding product company did you use? 

Tim: We used a company called, Millboard siding and decking, and I think they were from the UK and they came to the US and we were looking at the burnt wood, what do you call the burnt wood again? 

 Mike: Shou Sugi Ban 

Tim: Yeah. I was very excited about that and that that still would've been a great choice. But they sent me their sample of their version of that, and I was somewhat blown away.

And then they sent their decking material and it also looked great. Especially for the decks, if you look at the short term rental listings up there, they all look crappy after just a few years. So. 

Mike: Mm-hmm. 

Tim: We spent a little more on Mill Board, siding and decking. We did some other unique features like, we had a custom fabricator create custom railings.

We did higher end Marvin Elevate windows. Particularly in the Outpost. Those are just beautiful windows. and I mentioned the Jotul stoves and Bosch appliances, and it really does have a unique, high-end look. But honestly for what we got from a true value point of view, I mean, I feel like we got our money back in spades because the end product just looks so amazing.

I just feel it's also a good investment. We didn't build it to sell it, but it's good to know that. I feel like it's a good investment, you know? 

Mike: Yeah, no doubt. I'm looking at Mill Board's product right now. The marketing photos that they have are like, they're pretty compelling.

The siding looks really nice. It doesn't look like a composite product, which is wild. Wow. 

Tim: No, I mean, and they were happy to work with us. it was an exciting project for them. That was fun talking to their US president and getting him stoked on our project.

So that worked out. Also, one of the benefits to doing the project all at once, we put together a wishlist of things, so we were able to like stub in our gas, so all our gas grills are all stubbed and ready to go with gas. 

Mike: Nice. 

Tim: We did, uh, in floor heat electric heating, which my wife in particular loves not just in the bathroom, but it turns out, it wasn't that crazy expensive to do the whole cabin.

I mean, they're 900 and 325 sq ft, so -

Mike: Right, right. 

Tim: You know? 10 below 0 and you're up in the cabins with those hot, in floor heat. That's just such a luxurious feature. Again, going back to this idea of a very small, intimate space, with creature comforts that you might not normally see in spaces like that is very cool.

Mike: Right, right. You know, you clearly have a lot of familiarity like within the architectural industry. Have you built, did you build anything from the ground up before this project? 

Tim: My wife and I have built multiple homes actually over the years. It's one of my passions, I guess you could say.

We've worked with architects, we've worked with semi-custom builders. So, um, yeah, we have built homes in the past and we selected DEN for this project. There was just so many companies out there, and I kept on going back to DEN, DEN, DEN, you know, and - actually, I don't know if this is interesting at all, but we went up on a Facebook ad to look at the property, to look at one piece of property and we ended up buying three. 

Mike: Nice. 

Tim: And then the idea kind of born itself and then all of a sudden it's like, 'okay, let's build three little cabins', and then our kids had some input on what design and they were the ones that were really... my wife, to her credit, is very practical. And she's like, 'they're too small, you know, they look great'. But my kids really loved that, those Outpost designs and I did too. Essentially what you got is Mama and Papa bear in the middle and then the two baby bears -

Mike: Oh man 

Tim: - on the side. 

Mike: That makes a ton of sense. You guys are winning parents of the year award, for getting these cabins done for the family. That's so cool to hear that you have like, just so much kind of comfort within the process of construction.

With that, what was your favorite part of this project and then what was like your least favorite, or kind of maybe most stressful part of this particular project? 

Tim: My favorite part was when - building a house can be stressful - so when the whole thing was complete and we bought all the furnishings and it all came together and it just exceeded all our expectations in terms of like, 'wow', so seeing the final product, I think, was kind of the icing on the cake. Without going into too much details, we did have an issue with our first general contractor. We worked that out and we found some really good quality people to help get us to the finish line.

And we also general contracted out quite a bit ourselves as well. But I won't, we won't, we won't talk about that. 

Mike: Sure, sure. But you would say, like somewhat par for the course, as far as your experience goes and, even if it got a little hairy, you're like, okay, like 'we, we got this figured out' essentially.

Tim: I mean, the interesting thing is, is the schedule for the windows is there. You know, you've basically got everything you need on the plans to subcontract out whatever you need to subcontract out. And we built enough homes that, I actually enjoyed that process because I kind of knew who I was hiring, and you just get a sense from talking to people.

It's like, 'yeah, this guy is capable, but he's also excited about the job'. there's something about when a contractor comes out and you could feel their excitement and it's like, that's someone I want working on my house. It's not just another. Job, if that makes sense. 

Mike: Yeah, that makes complete sense.

That makes complete sense. 

Tim: Another thing that's really interesting is we hired an incredible landscaper. This guy Mark Stroede from Outdoor Rooms, and we put in bluestone gravel, so when you pull up, you can hear your tires kinda on the gravel driveway.

Tim: And he put in fire pits and lots of big stones and outcropping and, we've got a hot tub up there. And this guy, I would send him inspiration images and he would take those images and without a plan, he would just, his guys would be out there from morning to night. We have trail cams out there. You almost have to, and those guys just work their tail off. he just, you know, he's doing more work for me next year, 'cause I'd love some, everything he did. We're gonna put in a horseshoe pit. We're gonna do some other neat things to the property. My one contractor joked with me, he's like, 'we're in the north woods with a million trees and you're the only customer I've ever seen plant more trees'.

Mike: That's awesome. 

Tim: But we put in some more pine trees for privacy and just, I don't know. So. 

Mike: Yeah. No, I think that's cool. You know, we certainly advocate for that type of conservancy. In the early days of DEN, I like wrote this 80 page manifesto, right?

That advocated, you know, for keeping the land like as untouched and undeveloped as possible. Why have like a rolling lawn when you can just, do like a very lightweight cut-in that enables like the structure to live in the space, without cutting down, acres of trees, to support a lawn, you know, so. I certainly appreciate the idea. It's, it's funny that your contractor made that joke, but, you're the ideal steward of the land, you know? 

Tim: Yeah. An example would be: we wanted to open up our views to the lake, but I was very careful to tell our tree guy.

I'm like, 'let's just take out just enough to, you know, but let's not just clear cut it', you know, 'cause you're allowed to clear cut a percentage, I think 30% of a hundred feet. So we were very selective in terms of what trees we kept and which ones we took out. 

9. Product Choices & Materials

Mike: Oh, that's awesome. That's awesome.

If you had like a friend or colleague, who's endeavoring to do a similar project and, you know, use a set of DEN plans or DEN designs to get it done, what type of advice would you give somebody? 

Tim: Boy, that's a really great question.

I would say, 'don't overthink it and just do it'. 

Mike: Nice. 

Tim: I mean, I owned a business for many years. Like you an entrepreneur. We didn't talk much about that, but what I've always taught my kids is: just, just do it. You know? talk is one thing. Dreaming is one thing, but sometimes you just... 

DEN makes it pretty much possible for anybody to do it, right? You've got anything from very small plans, and I think you're getting some larger plans now, but, I feel like it's attainable for a lot of people. In our case we added lots of luxurious features.

I met another guy on Instagram that built an Outpost that in many ways I mean, I love it, but his budget was a lot less and he was able to do a lot with a lot less. and it still has its own unique charm and everything. So, to answer your question, my biggest advice is just do it and don't overthink it.

Mike: That's awesome. Tim, you know, it was great to hang with you, on behalf of the whole DEN team, you know, allow me to say thanks. Thanks for spending some time with me today. And yeah. You know, like the project looks incredible. You know, if there's some time this summer, like, would love to come up there and visit you guys and like take some 

Tim: Oh, that's great.

Mike: Yeah. Take some like onsite videography and maybe sit with you guys around a fire then and, you know, talk a little bit more about, how it's going for you guys. But, yeah. And just once again, like, thanks, thanks for advocating for DEN Online. Like I see you in the trenches with these folks and I really appreciate that.

Well done on the project. 

Tim: Ah, and we appreciate you. Thanks for, thanks for bringing something unique and special to the market.

Mike: Awesome. Awesome.