By Kristine Hansen from realtor.com - December 21, 2018

This lighthouse-themed property overlooks Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in one of the country’s most dynamic sailing destinations. Listed for $2 million with Victor Sacco of Edina Realty, it's currently the second-most expensive listing in Bayfield, WI, a tiny town with around 500 residents.

Designed by TEA2 Architects of Minneapolis to mimic a lighthouse, the 2,175-square-foot home with two bedrooms and three baths was built in 2000 and has had only one owner. Sprinkled throughout the home are unique design details, including a red door sourced from a Chinese freight ship and recycled balsam fir from a Twin Cities high school gymnasium’s bleachers.

“The owner is a sailing enthusiast. He wanted something that was unique and connected to this nautical feeling of the area,” says Sacco. Because of his nautical bent, the property overlooks the Point, where passenger-ferry boats depart for Madeline Island and sailboats launch during the warmer months.

The entire living area is on the second level to take advantage of the view. Inside, a circular staircase connects the two levels, with shiplap and porthole windows hammering home the lighthouse theme.

“The craftsmanship is fantastic,” says Secco. “It’s like living in a work of art.”

Window seats feature built-ins below to store games and reading materials, and there's an octagonal window embedded into the floor just like you might find sailing on the high seas.

For the entertainer, the open floor plan includes a circular bar crafted from wood. An outdoor deck off the home’s second level is suited for summertime dinners. Above the sink in the kitchen is a custom stained-glass window cut into a porthole shape.

Also on the property is a boat barn (its height allows for easy boat storage) with an attached wood shop to maintain watercraft. The barn building also has living space and an office, so it could double as guest quarters.

As grand as the property is, there’s potential to expand the footprint of living space given that it sits on a 14.8-acre lot.

“This is basically just a guesthouse to what could be built next door,” says Sacco.

As for a potential buyer? It'll be someone who's “a sailing enthusiast,” according to Sacco. “It’s got to be somebody who is not overly concerned about the price per square foot, and they’re not looking for a master suite. The bedrooms are modest in size.”

The home's been on the market for nearly a year, waiting for the perfect buyer to sail on in.

While spring and summer are high season in Bayfield, winter means skiing and snowshoeing.

“You can be on the grande dame of all lakes,” says Sacco about Lake Superior, noting “how clear it is, how deep it is, and how pristine it is still.”

The homeowners—who are getting older—plan to move on.

“They feel like this special place should be enjoyed by someone who can get here more often,” says Sacco.