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During the pandemic, Brooklyn-based couple Lindsay Giambattista Cox and Chris Cox dreamed of buying a nature-surrounded plot of land (like so many of us did at the time) with their network of creative friends—artists, designers, and entrepreneurs.
Cut to this past fall, when the duo, along with their friend Matt Moffitt of Studio Bardo, debuted Parcel Friends—a seven-acre plot with two Scandinavian-inspired cabins built from the ground up in Michigan’s Leelanau County, a maple-tree-filled peninsula on Lake Michigan. Outside, cedar exteriors blend into the natural surroundings, while inside, sunny Hay sofas, vibrant Dansk cookware, and Danish posters bring the Scandi-bright energy.
Parcel contains two rental properties: the Meadow Cabin, which sleeps six, and the Forest Cabin, which sleeps four. Here, the trio explains how they turned a shared design dream into a pair of wildly charming, Scandi-meets-Midwest escapes.
What was your initial design concept?
Cox: We were inspired by the artist’s studio as a place for collective imagination. We see Parcel as an experimental prototype for our group’s collective thinking. Rather than a polished design vision, we hope Parcel feels as if it came from a library of ideas from a group of designers and friends, special in its rawness and ad-hoc aesthetic.
How did the surrounding area influence the design?
Moffitt: The architectural vernacular of northern Michigan and the natural beauty of Leelanau were foundational in establishing the architectural and design vision for the project. We spent time driving the state highways, absorbing the unique forms of the native landscape, singular barns, humble family cabins, and long forgotten masonry foundations. We took direct influence from the region while carefully referencing the restrained character of the Scandinavian cabin.
How do you imagine guests using the space?
Moffitt: The Meadow Cabin was designed around a large kitchen and dining space, with the shared gathering in mind. The Forest Cabin, within shouting distance of its larger counterpart, was conceived as a space for the artist, with soft northern light.
Giambattista Cox: The guest experience extends beyond the walls of the two cabins. A concrete block sauna is tucked into the woods, a meandering boardwalk leads you to a secluded waterfront on Little Traverse Lake, and an outdoor kitchen with monolithic fireplace and built-in parilla grill encourages settling in. We are all food enthusiasts—slowing down to cook and share a meal with friends and family is the heart of Parcel.
What was the very first thing you bought for the project?
Cox: We were sourcing posters and artworks for the project before we even started designing the cabins. Lindsay and I took a design trip to Copenhagen in 2022 and went to Kunsthal Charlottenborg, a small contemporary art museum with the iconic Apollo Bar located inside. We found numerous exhibition posters from their shows of the year’s past, and knew they would anchor the gallery walls we envisioned for each cabin. In particular we found a Hito Steyerl poster, who I have long admired as a contemporary artist, that piece is a special one. During a dinner at [Brooklyn restaurant] The Four Horseman in late 2021 while dreaming about what Parcel could be, we bought a series of posters designed by [artist] Mike Paré. Before we really even had a design vision, we knew we wanted to nod to places that were important and inspiring to us.
What design decision felt like the biggest risk?
Moffitt: We designed a bespoke sculptural sauna, clad in concrete block and dropped in the middle of the maple forest adjacent to the cabins. The interior of the sauna is finished in cedar, while the exterior is meant to evolve over time. We imagine, years from now, the walls of the structure will be overgrown with moss, feeling like a ruin from an industrial past. The sauna features a concealed sloped roof with a custom cast concrete scupper that sheds water down its facade during rainstorms.
What was your biggest save?
Cox: The biggest savings were with our window choices. We really wanted to source the best windows possible—ideally a custom product from Europe. But it wasn’t in our budget. So we went with Pella, a very reputable and high-end American window company.
What piece of storage felt like a real game-changer?
Giambattista Cox: When you’re building Scandinavian-inspired cabins for short-term guest stays, storage can become an afterthought, but we really tried to thoughtfully squeeze out any storage where possible. The biggest game changer for us was our tile-clad storage nooks in each bathroom. It gave us the ability to house guest towels and paper supplies, while also giving guests enough room for their own toiletries. Those stored nooks, paired with oversized ADA sinks, which have sort of their own storage shelf, create a really efficient and beautiful storage solution in our bathrooms.
What was the most unique or exciting material you used in this home?
Giambattista Cox: We were so excited to utilize Durat in the project for our kitchen counters and backsplashes. We love the texture of it, and that it’s 100 percent post consumer plastic. We decided to go pretty wild with color choices for the countertops and backsplashes. We wanted the kitchens to feel like you were in a very joyful bakery in Finland.
What do you consider your biggest splurge?
Giambattista Cox: We splurged on heated flooring throughout each bathroom. It might seem simple, but during winter when you’ve just come in from a sauna session, the indoor fireplace is burning bright, your toes sink into a cozy 85 degree floor, and you’re back in the cabin taking a refreshing shower—it’s lovely.