One of the most recognizable houses on Lake Michigan
In September 2026, Propellr Photography was asked by the current owners to photograph one of the most recognizable houses on the Lake Michigan shore: the "Crayola House" at 10010 Windpoint Lane in Oostburg, Wisconsin. Here is what we shot, and a little of the story behind the house.
The house
Designed by Chicago architect Margaret McCurry of Tigerman McCurry Architects and completed in 2005, the 4,400-square-foot, five-bedroom home sits on about 3.5 wooded acres with 190 feet of private beach. The exterior is corrugated metal, chosen to stand up to lake weather, trimmed in bright yellow, red, green and blue. Locals call it the Crayola House, the Lego House and the Clown House. It has no connection to the crayon company.
McCurry described the design as "playful, fun and mischievous." She built it for folk-art collector and Lake Michigan shipwreck diver Paul M. Bentley and his wife as a home for their Americana collection. Architectural Digest featured the house soon after it was built, the architect's model is in the Art Institute of Chicago's permanent collection, and when it went on the market in 2020 it was covered by Bloomberg, Crain's Chicago Business, Realtor.com and Fox News. It sold that December for $1.2 million.
The shoot
Every color on that facade is deliberate, and it reads very differently depending on where the sun is. We planned the shoot around a clear September morning, flew the house from the lake side and from the entry court, and finished with a twilight composite that shows the house lit against the evening sky. The corrugated siding reads silver in flat light and almost white in full sun, and the painted columns shift with it, so we worked the exterior sequence from mid-morning into early afternoon as the sun moved around the house.
- FAA Part 107 drone aerials, HDR-merged, from low over the water and from above the tree line
- Beach-level exteriors along the private shoreline
- The entry court and gabled roofline from the drive
- A twilight composite from over Lake Michigan
- Interiors, including the curved stainless kitchen, the corrugated-metal sunroom and the lake-facing bedrooms
Inside, the problem is the opposite: white walls, white floors and a lot of glass, which have to be exposed so the rooms stay bright without losing the lake in the windows. The drone video below follows the same route as the stills, in from the lake, along the beach and up over the roofline.
Photographing lakefront and architect-designed homes
Lakefront properties in Sheboygan, Ozaukee and Milwaukee counties present the same problems this house did: the best angle is from over the water, the light changes fast, and the house has to be shown in context with its shoreline. That is what drone photography is for. We photograph real estate, architectural and short-term-rental properties across Southeast Wisconsin, and we are a Metro MLS Preferred Photographer Network member, an approved photographer in Airbnb's Pro Photography program, and an FAA Part 107 certified remote pilot.
Have a lakefront or architecturally significant property to list? Call or text (414) 215-0204, see our real estate photography pricing, or send us a note through the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you photograph a lakefront home from over the water?
Yes. Propellr is an FAA Part 107 certified drone operator, and for lakefront listings we fly out over the water and shoot back toward the house, the way it is seen from a boat. It depends on wind and airspace, so we watch the forecast and pick the calmest window of the day. Low passes along the beach and higher views above the tree line are both part of a standard lakefront aerial set.
Do you photograph homes outside Milwaukee, such as Sheboygan County?
Yes. Oostburg is about 50 miles north of Milwaukee, and we regularly photograph listings in Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha counties as well as the city itself. Send us the address and we will confirm availability and any travel details.
Who designed the Crayola House?
Chicago architect Margaret McCurry of Tigerman McCurry Architects designed it for folk-art collector Paul M. Bentley and his wife, and it was completed in 2005. The architect's model of the house is part of the Art Institute of Chicago's permanent collection. Despite the nickname, the house has no affiliation with the Crayola company.