According to McMartin, it was a team effort with regards to his many building projects.
“I have had great help along the way,” remarks McMartin. “Pete Theilen of Foltz buildings introduced me to carpenter Steve Swanson and several of the other contractors that worked on the shop and eventually were used in other parts of the property.”
Drawing on a plethora of local talent such as Stenerson Lumber, Malstrom Electric, Winter Masonry, and Stan Seaberg Heating-Plumbing, Land Elements of Fargo who designed much of the landscaping / patio projects that Lakes Area Landscaping implemented, and interior finishes from Skye Fingalson of I’ll Tile and Stone, McMartin’s dream lake escape has uniquely taken shape over the course of nine years, and he couldn’t be happier.
Build One: The Shop
McMartin’s first construction project was a shop which he erected in 2009. “I built the shop first, a Foltz building, in 2009,” he explains. “It was a great investment.”
Eventually the shop became a hub for all of his other building projects.
“You know as you go,” explains McMartin of his building process. “I kind of find my way through each building project.”
Build Two: The Cabins
After the shop build, McMartin went on to tackle the property’s two existing cabins in 2010. Situated on the shores of Island Lake, one was built circa 1904 and the other in 1972. Nestled along 1500-feet of picturesque shoreline, one of his main concerns with the cabin renovations was to keep each structure’s distinctive character.
“The one cabin [the 1904 cottage] was a total tear down. It had a sturdy fireplace but the foundation was literally falling away from it and sinking into the ground,” notes McMartin.
Due to setbacks and various waterfront building restrictions, McMartin had to follow footprint of the old 1904 cabin which was 25-foot by 25-foot. To optimize the constrained space, he added a decked-out galley kitchen; unique, vertical-stacking fireplace; and a hydraulic-powered staircase that can be quickly lifted to afford more entertaining space.
Ron s favorite detail though ─ after the amazing galley kitchen which he notes provides more space than kitchens twice its size and an extremely convenient, 5-foot crawlspace ─ is a door-less, walk-in in shower with rustic river rock tile floor.
“I’ll never go back to a door on a shower again. It is just perfect,” says McMartin.
The 1972 “cozy cabin” as McMartin refers to it, is located just a few yards from the 1904 cabin. It is a vintage gem with low-hanging, tiled-ceiling; classic stone fireplace; smaller windows and knotty pine walls. Combined, the various nostalgic elements exude a true north woods look and feel, allowing Ron’s guests to step comfortably back in time.