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A couple hired architect Josh Kjenner—their brother-in-law—to create a compact getaway with durable materials, vibrant common areas, and a cantilevered bedroom.
Mike Ringrose and his wife, Elaine, had long imagined building or buying a cabin to enjoy with their family and friends. The couple live in Edmonton, Canada, and they both grew up kayaking and snowshoeing while vacationing at lakes in Alberta. They wanted their two children, aged six and three, to have the same formative experience.
Mike owns an escape-room company called Escape City, and after being cooped up inside their Edmonton home during the pandemic, you might say he and Elaine were looking for an escape of their own. Wabamun Lake, just 45 minutes away, became their focus.
Mike and Elaine’s Wabamun Lake cabin, just 45 minutes from their Edmonton home, is nestled in a wooded setting just steps from the water.
Hayden Pattulo
Though the cabin (third from the left) is somewhat close to other houses, its setting feels secluded thanks to the preponderance of trees on the site.
Hayden Pattulo
"We could pick the kids up after daycare or school, rip out there, and spend most of the weekend there before heading back, or even go just for the day," Mike says.
At first, the couple considered purchasing an existing house. "But a lot of places on the lake were quite large, out of our budget, and not necessarily the style we were looking for," Elaine explains. "I really like modern design, mostly because I find it more relaxing. So, we decided that building was our best bet."
Architect Josh Kjenner devoted the majority of the square footage to the ground-floor kitchen/living/dining area. The stools are by Bouclair.
Hayden Pattulo
See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: They Built a Lakeside Canadian Cabin With a Twist for $412K
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By: Brian Libby
Title: Budget Breakdown: They Built a Lakeside Canadian Cabin With a Twist for $412K
Sourced From: www.dwell.com/article/budget-breakdown-wabamun-lake-cabin-josh-kjenner-architect-canada-fd6f4906
Published Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:09:22 GMT
