 One
lightening bolt and it was all gone for Chris and Carolyn Eigel.
Shortly after completing extensive remodeling on their second home in
November 2005, it burned to the ground.
"We were in Milwaukee having
dinner with Chris’ cousin when we got a call from our son, Jeff,
whose daughter was going to stay overnight with us," says Carolyn
Eigel. "She was having dinner across the lake at Chenequa Country
Club when she saw the fire and called her dad."
Seven fire departments and 30 fire
trucks could not save the home. "The only items from inside the
house to survive were the king bed in the lower level bedroom, my dad’s
boyhood maple bedroom set and the anchor, which is now above the cook
top," says Eigel.
The couple sat down at the drawing
table again. "We rebuilt the house on the same footprint as the
original, but added a kids’ dorm room and another bedroom above the
pool. Our son, Jeff, is a general contractor, so reconstruction was
painful, but with his help not nearly as bad as it could have
been," says Eigel.
The result is a spacious home for
friends and family to escape on the weekends. "Even though this
is not our primary residence, it sees a lot of activity. Our grown
children bring friends and families with them and, of course, we do
too," says Eigel. "We’ve filled all nine bedrooms with our
friends on New Year’s Eve and have had memorable sightseeing trips
around Beaver Lake. We were very fortunate to have found such a
beautiful, friendly lake," she says.
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A
breath-taking view of Beaver Lake can be seen from the windows
in the spacious kitchen. Slate tiled backsplashes and granite
countertops provide an earthy feel to the space. "I really
loved picking out all the granite for the kitchen and baths. It’s
amazing to see the fossils and the flow of colors and think
about how it might have been formed," says Carolyn Eigel.
The anchor displayed above the stove was one of the few things
that survived the fire. Floral arrangements provided by Bank of
Memories & Flowers in Pewaukee.
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The
staircase leading to the second floor provides an interesting
architectural element with entry from two sides. The open
concept on the second floor gives the impression of a grand
historic lake home, including the quiet nook that is home to
several antique pieces. The antler chandelier in the stairwell
carries the lodge look to the second floor.
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The large
dining room seats 12 comfortably and is perfect for family
gatherings. The living room is adjacent with two separate
seating areas flanked by a massive fieldstone fireplace on one
end and the kitchen on the other. Two sets of French doors open
onto a deck with a beautiful lake view and an additional spot
for summer meals.
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