Polished Yet Playful

Fall 2025

Polished Yet Playful

September 11, 2025

Featured

Mountain-inspired living finds a lakeside match at Lake Winnebago.

Words
Katy Schamberger
@katywrites

Photos
Matthew Anderson
@matthewaphoto

Architect
Craig Leubbert Architecture
clarchitecture.com

Designer
The Bespoke Property
@thebespokeproperty

cozy, contemporary ranch retreat beckons beside the calm waters of Lake Winnebago, a nod to the homeowner’s passion for the outdoors and mountain living. For designer Will Higgins, the home is so much more than a project; it represents a professional milestone he’ll never forget.

This waterfront oasis for Josh Wilson, his wife, and their three kids is Higgins’ first full residential design project since launching his business, The Bespoke Property. Higgins first met Wilson while working for a furnishings company, and a casual conversation sparked the idea of a partnership.

“Josh was already working with an architect but came to me and said, ‘I want to live in a really incredible house, but I don’t know anything about design,’” Higgins says. “I told him I was considering starting my own interior design firm and asked if he’d want to work with me.”

The rest? Well, you know what they say…

A contemporary exterior on a wooded backdrop at Lake Winnebago sets the tone for a welcoming, modern interior built for gathering.

As the designer got to know his client better, he understood that this striking painting of a buck would speak to Wilson’s love of the outdoors. “The stag is so noble but also lighthearted, too, given the joyous and energetic brushstrokes,” Higgins says.

Custom wood cabinetry adds warmth to the kitchen and cleverly disguises appliances and a coffee bar.

With Wilson’s approval, Higgins splurged on an alabaster chandelier for the dining room (visible at top right) to create cohesion with the quartzite.

Taj Mahal quartzite creates a sophisticated backdrop in the kitchen and dining area, highlighting the kitchen’s waterfall edge island and a full bar and wine refrigerator in the dining area.

Pale stone provides a textural and eye-catching finish for the primary bedroom’s feature wall.

The home is filled with cozy nooks and spots that invite relaxation after a lively day on the water.

Soaring 8-foot oak doors create a dramatic entry point into the primary bathroom and also coordinate with the cabinetry tucked below a double vanity.

My philosophy is focused on how a client uses a space 90 percent of the time. And I think every room in a home should be used on a daily basis.
—Will Higgins

Designed to entertain

Wilson, having previously owned a residential construction company, felt confident in working on the design with the architect and then building the house. The home’s design provided Higgins a blank slate, an opportunity that proved equally exciting and daunting.

“It was initially overwhelming to take everything in,” Higgins says. “My design work included everything up to the decor—all of the furniture in the house is new. But one of the things I loved about working with Josh is that he gave me the opportunity to say who I am and to show my viewpoint on how a home flows and functions.”

Part of Higgins’ process includes prioritizing time with his client to understand what they love and how they want to use the home. For example? Entertaining is high on the Wilson family’s priority list, which influenced the home’s open layout that partially encircles a backyard swimming pool and outdoor living area. The resort-like outdoor space is easily accessible from points throughout the house, including the living area, kitchen, and an inviting pool house that’s already a favorite hangout spot for Wilson and his two sons.

“The pool house is where the boys spend time,” Higgins says. “We wanted the space to feel a bit heartier and more modern, but also maintain the polished aesthetic you see throughout the home.”

Another priority? Balancing connection and space. Wilson opted for the pool house instead of a lower level that might make family members feel more disconnected from each other.

“I loved designing in this way,” Higgins says. “My philosophy is focused on how a client uses a space 90 percent of the time. And I think every room in a home should be used on a daily basis.”

Despite the seasonal emphasis of the pool house, it also fits that criterion. Features like a fireplace and heated flooring make the lounging-focused area usable year-round.

The rear exterior of the home partially rings the swimming pool, creating easy access to outdoor living throughout the ranch floor plan.

Blurring the lines between outdoor and indoor living pays homage to the Wilson family’s love of nature and spending time outside. With views like this, who could blame them?

Full-length doors fold open to a pool house that provides the perfect post-swim hangout, complete with comfortable seating, a second kitchen and custom cabinets that stash gadgets like a PlayStation. Higgins helped guide Wilson through the creation of an intentional, layered lighting plan that unites a range of light sources including chandeliers, pendants, sconces, and recessed and art lighting. The result is a customizable glow that’s as striking from an outdoor view as it is inside the home.

A project highlight for Higgins included the opportunity to design bedrooms for each of the three Wilson children, creating spaces that reflect each personality.

Playful animals, a pastel-focused palette and wall-mounted books create a comfy retreat for the Wilsons’ youngest.

Nature: the ultimate inspiration

Browse photos of this waterfront estate, and one of Higgins’ key design themes quickly emerges. Higgins prioritized the serenity, beauty, and appeal of nature, infusing the nearly 4,000-square-foot home with textural materials like stone, linen, leather, and wood—a lot of it.

“We selected big, eye-catching wood pieces throughout the home,” Higgins says. “Craftsmanship was a top priority for Josh; we agreed that he’d rather invest in fewer pieces with higher price tags instead of amassing a collection of smaller finishing details that would confuse the eye.”

The entrance into the primary bathroom is one example. Soaring, eight-foot custom white oak doors set the tone for the warmth and relaxation that awaits within the space. Another eye-catching feature in the home is an alabaster chandelier suspended above the dining room table. The sophisticated lighting fixture is itself an investment, but the glow that it radiates is the perfect finishing touch to a room designed for relaxed, cozy gatherings around a favorite meal.

Nature means so much to Wilson, and Higgins wanted each of the three kids’ bedrooms to have the same degree of meaning. This project gave Higgins his first opportunity to design kid-focused rooms, and he used a similar approach with his younger clients.

“Being able to get to know their kids, see the things that they like, then be able to come with a full design presentation and have the kids love it—that was incredibly rewarding,” Higgins says.

Rooms are designed to reflect the interests and tastes of each child, but are also created to evolve as the kids grow. For the Wilsons’ three-year-old daughter, for example, pastel-hued bedding covered in woodland creatures inspired a playful take on nature. The room “can grow with her,” Higgins says. “The vibe of the room doesn’t need to change as she gets older.”

Consider this calm, welcoming oasis a success for both client and designer. The Wilsons are thriving in their new home, and Wilson and Higgins continue to collaborate on landscaping, outdoor furnishings, and more. For Higgins, this pivotal first project for The Bespoke Property fulfilled his goal.

“I wanted this home to be magazine-worthy,” he says.

Mission accomplished.

Resources

Architect: CL Architecture + Design
Designer: The Bespoke Property
Doors and Moldings: Pleasant Valley Millworks
Hardware: Locks and Pulls
Stone Hearths: Dimensional Stoneworks
Countertops: Rocktops