An Architect Couple Turn an Urban Eyesore Into a Home That’s Both Peaceful and Playful

When architect couple Rick Galezowski and Maggie Bennedsen noticed that the house next door—"the ugliest house on the street" and a clear teardown—was on the market, they snapped it up. What came next, they describe, was a design that indulged their "own quirky lifestyle."

The outdoorsy, athletic pair wanted a base camp for adventure, but also a private escape that would take advantage of the neighborhood’s canopy of mature oaks and maples. Bellwoods Lodge is just that: a fuss-free home with an easy-access bike prep station on the lower level, and a forested backyard with a picnic bench and fire pit—perfect for at-home camping.