Homeowners Ray and Therese Carlson split their time between the western suburbs of Chicago and Geneva Lake, and in 2021, deep into the pandemic, they decided to pursue their vision for a new lake home. They turned to Lake Geneva’s Matustik Builders. Established in 2011, Matustik Builders quickly emerged as a local building leader, thanks to owner John Matustik’s extensive experience in the homebuilding industry spanning three decades.
As co-owner Kathy Matustik explains, John’s passion and expertise in construction were deeply rooted in his childhood, where he eagerly assisted his father in renovating rental properties. “As a teen, John explored his love for building by actively engaging in various home projects,” she explains. “He continued his passion for building in college, obtaining a degree in urban planning and design.” From there, John honed his construction skills by working with other builders before ultimately striking out on his own, sensing an opportunity to provide a superior homebuilding experience to his own clients. That’s when Matusitk Builders started to make a name for itself among discriminating homeowners.
Knowing this, the Carlsons approached Matustik Builders to build their new, 4,000-square-foot lake home. They knew they wanted to build something in a contemporary style, one that is more commonly found in mountain resorts. The final architectural design they settled on achieves the mountain look they wanted and boasts five bedrooms and 41⁄2 baths, with breathtaking lake views. To optimize entertaining, the kitchen seamlessly blends into the dining and living room, creating a perfect great-room space for hosting family and friends. An additional support kitchen adjacent to the main kitchen adds convenience and versatility for entertaining purposes, and ensures that the home’s unique design effortlessly caters to gatherings for groups both large and small.
The Carlsons were equally thoughtful about the home’s exterior appearance and living areas. The height of the home allowed the Carlsons to make use of all the available space on a relatively petite, 50-foot-wide lot. A spiral staircase provides convenient access to the breathtaking panoramic views from all three levels of the house. “The exterior features that make the home shine include the arbor over the garage as well as the walnut wood accents on the front of the house” says Therese. “We also love the windows on the lake side, as the colors of the water reflect onto the house. Additionally, the outdoor patio off the lower level is perfect for entertaining, boat watching and relaxing.”
The Carlsons describe how Matustik Builders expertly managed multiple challenges related to the pandemic, including supply-chain delays and difficulty finding workers, while still delivering the home in record time. The project took just six months, start to finish, while continuing to focus on top-quality workmanship and attention to detail.
“John attributes his remarkable success in achieving this feat to the incredible team he has assembled, as well as his adept organizational skills and rigorous scheduling,” Kathy says. “Their collective efforts culminate in the creation of remarkable homes that exemplify Matustik Builders’ unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, client satisfaction and the realization of homeowners’ dreams.”
The interior of the Carlsons’ home is full of these artisan details, including a dark wood coffered ceiling in the great room and brick herringbone tile inlay in the entryway. Kathy Matustik says this attention to detail and quality craftsmanship is part of what sets Matustik Builders apart. “[John and the team] take immense pride in their impeccable craftsmanship, attention to detail and unparalleled dedication to nurturing client relationships,” she says. In addition, Matustik Builders prides itself on working with their clients to efficiently build homes in a remarkably short time frame. This seamless execution allows homeowners to relish every moment of “a summer at the lake.”
“Collaborating with the Carlsons to transform their dreams to reality brought so much joy and satisfaction to our team,” Kathy explains. “The process was truly a delight, as the line between work and enjoyment seamlessly blurred. Matustik Builders thrives on bringing clients’ ideas to fruition, ensuring that every step of the journey is thoroughly enjoyed by everyone involved.”
