Sodon Lake House by Disbrown Iannuzzi
Sodon Lake House sits above a rare dichothermic lake in Bloomfield, Michigan, its mid-century ranch profile masking a layered interior by Disbrown Iannuzzi. The house, a renovation for a family of four returning from Southern California, pushes material performance and daylight while holding onto the site’s measured calm. It’s a house, but it’s also a study in restraint and endurance.
A white volume sits above a wooded slope, the lake’s surface down below catching sky. From the road it reads as a low, modest ranch; inside, the stepped plan and the lifted light tell a different story.
This is a house in Bloomfield, Michigan, reworked by Disbrown Iannuzzi for a family returning from Southern California. The bones are mid-century, but the ambition centers on material performance and craft. The renovation tightens the envelope, pares back finishes, and lets everyday use guide every move.
Wrap and Weather
Uninsulated brick becomes a high-performing shell with an exterior insulation system that cuts heat loss and evens interior comfort. A white finish bounces daylight deep into the rooms, reducing reliance on artificial light during long Midwestern winters. The new standing seam roof is chosen for longevity and recyclability, turning a maintenance liability into a durable cap that manages rain and snow capably.
Lighten the Shell
Rotted wood cladding gives way to a cedar rainscreen that vents, shades, and breathes. The assembly encourages passive cooling and keeps bulk water off the structure, extending service life while sharpening the exterior’s lines. Left unstained, the cedar will weather to silver and sit quietly with the trees—nothing forced, nothing fussy.
Flow and Level
Inside, intermediate floor levels stitch together living, dining, napping, and entertaining without a single dominating room. Circulation tightens to clear views to the lake, making movement feel direct and unbroken. Bright surfaces and open sightlines gather daylight from multiple exposures, a practical counterpoint to the site’s slope and canopy.
Finishes That Last
The concrete slab is exposed and polished, shedding layers that once hid its thermal mass and easy care. Low-maintenance surfaces and no-VOC finishes set a healthier baseline, tamping down off-gassing and routine upkeep. Material choices read simple but deliberate, meeting daily mess with resilience and a clean, quiet grain.
Warmth with Restraint
A SoCal sensibility comes through as lightness rather than theme—white brick, pale interiors, and cedar that softens without pretense. Rooms hold texture where it matters and fade where they should, keeping attention on family ritual and the lake’s shifting weather. Completed in 2023, the house returns to essential materials and measured detail, right-sized for durable use.
Morning catches on the white walls, then travels down the steps toward water. By afternoon the cedar has warmed and the roof throws a slim, protective line. Nothing shouts; the build does the work.
Photography by Christopher Payne / ESTO
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