Ready to wake up in the fresh coastal air of Door County? Be sure to get a good night’s rest before you begin exploring. Visitors can settle in and make themselves at home in one of the individual, beautifully appointed bungalows and small houses that make up Loma Cottages (“loma” is Finnish for holiday), located in Egg Harbor. A former farmstead dating back 100 years, the property is bordered by cherry orchards and offers relaxation options that include two barrel saunas, pickleball, basketball, a putting green, walking trails and bonfires.

Individual in size and configuration, each private structure is fitted with elegant furnishings, fully equipped kitchens, and sumptuous bedding and textiles. There’s even a signature scent, Sea Salt Orchid, part of West Elm’s Rove Homescent Collection with tranquil notes of rose, driftwood, marine mist, amber and orchid.

Farmhouse primary suite © Loma Cottages

We spoke with the forces behind the transformation, owner Tom Klister and Nathan Litt, director, operations & marketing, to find out what was involved in the project.

Global Traveler: Once you’d made the decision to purchase the old farmhouse property, how long did it take to complete renovations before your opening?

Tom Klister: Renovations of the Farmhouse and Applewood Cottage started in January 2024 and were completed by July 2024. Alma, Andern, Juniper and Shade Tree cottages were all newly constructed on site. Ground-up construction began in May 2024 and was completed by December 2024. We moved quickly! Renovation projects are always much more challenging than new construction. The renovation portion was difficult to know when to start and stop, as we wanted the cottages (Farmhouse and Applewood) to retain their original character, but to feel luxurious and brand new. We are very happy with how it all turned out.

GT: What was it that inspired you about this particular setting?

Klister: We wanted a site set amongst nature and allowed the cottages to appear as if they were dropped into a natural setting. But we also wanted a central location, easily accessible to nearby restaurants, shops and recreation. This property was a natural fit: It’s bordered by apple and cherry orchards on two sides, while still being a short distance into all the major towns and attractions.

© Loma Cottages

GT: Can you tell us a bit about the old farmstead’s history and original use?

Nathan Litt: The Farmhouse was constructed around 1905. As best we understand, the property was used as an apple orchard and small working farm for nearly a century. This is consistent with many of the neighboring properties, a few of which still operate as commercial apple and cherry orchards. Eventually the property transitioned to a hobby farm before becoming a private residence. Around 1995, Applewood Cottage was relocated to the property from a nearby inland lake and used to house seasonal guests visiting Door County.

GT: What was the driving factor in your décor choices?

Klister: Our design choices have a lot of European influences. The remodeled cottages are much more classically designed, closer to English Cottage-meets-Cape Cod, while new cottages have more Scandinavian influences, with an abundance of cedar siding and glass, set amongst nature. Soon enough the cedar siding of the new cottages will grey out and the structures will blend beautifully into the surroundings. Our intent was to create spaces that feel modern, but warm. And luxurious, yet comfortable.

GT: What do you hope guests take away from their experiences at Loma Cottages?

Klister: That a stay here sparks creativity, allowing guests to reconnect with what they are passionate about, and create memories with loved ones. Loma means “holiday” in Finnish. Holidays are really special times for all of us, so we hope when a guest stays with us, it feels truly special and memorable.

GT: Do you have plans in the works for expansions or additions to your current offerings?

Litt: We are currently focused on perfecting the guest experience. Looking ahead, we could foresee the possibility of adding infrastructure that would support larger group and event-based reservations, as well as continuing to expand our on-site guest activity offerings.