Custom Lakeside Sauna Build on Lower Eau Claire Lake in Gordon WI

This one was special. Perched on a bluff overlooking Lower Eau Claire Lake near Gordon, WI, this Superior Model build from our Northern Steam lineup was designed from the ground up to be a gathering place - not just for today, but for generations. The homeowners are great-grandparents, and they wanted something the whole family could share for years to come. That context shaped every decision we made.

We paired our Superior layout with a large viewing window in the hot room so the upper bench seats look straight out over the lake. It sounds simple, but getting that right takes planning - the window placement, the bench height, the line of sight. When it all lines up, you get that moment where you're sitting in the heat and the water is right there in front of you. That's the whole point.

The IKI Original wood-fired heater was the right call for this build. It's a Finnish-made unit, loaded with stones, and it delivers a soft, enveloping heat with serious löyly when you pour water over those rocks. There's nothing quite like a wood-fired sauna. The smell, the sound of the fire, the way the heat builds - it's a completely different experience from electric. For a property like this one, it just fits.

For the exterior, we used Diomode Kote siding in a color selected to complement the cabin and blend with the landscape. The covered entry with cedar ceiling and recessed lighting gives the structure a finished, intentional look. It doesn't stick out - it belongs there. The cedar tongue-and-groove throughout the interior carries that warmth inside and gives the whole space a clean, natural feel that holds up to heavy use.

We're genuinely proud of this one. It's not just a sauna - it's a place where this family will make memories for decades. That's the kind of work we love doing, and we're grateful these homeowners trusted us to bring it to life.