“You think you’re just building a house,” says homeowner Pam Axberg. “But really, you’re building a life. You just don’t realize it until you’re standing in it.”
For Pam and Joe Axberg, building their new home on Lower Cullen Lake wasn’t just about replacing an old cabin. It was about honoring decades of family memories while creating space for what’s next.
Pam first discovered the lakeside property years ago, and she and Joe bought it sight unseen. Over two decades—and through countless relocations—it became their anchor point.
“It was our longest home, in a way,” Pam reflects. “The kids have known this place longer than any of our other houses.”
Then came the pandemic, and with it, an unexpected stillness. What started as a brief escape turned into weeks—and then months—of living full-time at the cabin. That experience sparked a realization: maybe it was time to build their dream cottage now, not “someday.”
Within weeks, the Axbergs were working with Dotty Brothers Construction to bring their ideas to life. “We wanted someone local,” Joe says. “Someone who knew the area, had history here, and could guide us with a sense of place.”
The vision: a cottage that looked like it had always belonged—simple, timeless, and deeply rooted in the landscape.
For Pam, the design started with one nonnegotiable: windows. “I wanted to see the lake from the kitchen,” she says. “I’m always cooking or doing dishes—and I wanted to let in all the light.”
Joe focused on modern essentials like strong Wi-Fi and an integrated sound system. “It’s part of how people live now,” he says. “If we were building from scratch, we wanted to build it right.”
The couple also worked with an interior designer who helped them blend practicality with style—durable Luxury Vinyl plank flooring, quartz countertops, and easy-to-clean tile in the bathrooms.
For all their focus on durability, the Axbergs also made room for joy. A kitchen foot-pedal faucet. A built-in griddle cooktop that’s become the heart of family gatherings.
“We were going to go with the basic appliances,” Pam admits. “But Joe and I had talked for years about how fun it would be to have a big griddle. So we finally did it. Now everyone wants to cook on it—pancake breakfasts and smashburger dinners are a big hit.”
From the start, the home was designed to feel lived-in and loved. “We wanted people to feel like they could settle into the space,” Pam says. “Like they aren’t going to break something just by being there.”
With the help of Dotty Brothers and their interior designer, they created flexible guest spaces—like a shared upstairs bathroom with separate zones—and made practical decisions that would help the home adapt over time.
As with any rebuild, there were surprises. When they pulled up the old carpet, hoping to save a piece for nostalgia’s sake, they discovered beautiful hardwood floors underneath.
Later, during excavation, they uncovered an entire second basement—a mystery that remains unsolved. “No one knows why it was there,” Joe says. “It’s a story we will likely never know.”
Every decision circled back to one question: How do we want to feel here?
Joe and Pam chose materials and colors that created warmth and calm—white trim, knotty alder doors, soft neutrals, and subtle blues. And they built with the future in mind: main-level living, pocket doors, and outlets everywhere.
Even new DNR setback rules that pushed their home farther from the lake became a blessing. “Our builder encouraged us to embrace it,” Pam says. “And of course he was right. Now we have this big lawn—and a better view of the lake.”
Looking back, the Axbergs wouldn’t change much. “It’s not perfect—and that’s exactly what we needed,” Joe says. “It’s about creating a place that feels like home, that holds space for everything our life is and might become.”
Pam agrees. “Some things you keep. Some things you let go—old carpet, for example.” She laughs. “And sometimes, in building something new, you’re invited to continue holding what was essential all along.”
