Photos by Scott Amundson
Minnesotans seem to share a universal affinity for heading up north during the summer months—whether it be a peaceful lakeside getaway or a long weekend at a Boundary Waters campground. But Barb and Jack, homeowners of this rustic Bay Lake residence, took their love of the classic Minnesota experience to new extremes when they decided to ditch suburban life and embrace lakeside living. (When they aren’t snowbirding in Florida for nearly half the year, that is.)
“Jack has three sisters on the lake, [and it’s] where he grew up, so we always knew we wanted to live there,” says Barb, a retired designer and current artist. Luckily, a cabin on a 1.3-acre lot with ample shoreline came for sale, and they knew immediately they wanted to buy it. “It was a 1960s contemporary, and it was too small for our family,” she recalls. “When we bought it, we knew we were going to tear it down and rebuild.”
So, after one season in the original home, they recruited the help of Nor-Son Custom Builders, an Eden Prairie-based design-build firm, to remodel the existing cabin. “The project evolved to one that left only the original foundation and floor system on the main level intact,” explains Jeremy Bjorge, senior project manager. “Everything else was new.” With its wooded setting and natural wetland on the west, “the home needed to maximize the wonderful lake views and capture the summer sunsets,” adds Senior Project Architect Paul Maki, AIA, CID, who navigated the lot’s key topographical considerations.
The project scope also grew to involve reimagining and renovating three detached garages original to the property—one of which had been used as a three-bedroom guest house. “We took it and turned it into a two-bedroom with a sitting room in the front,” Barb explains. “We tore one of the [other] garages down, and the last one is still used as a triple-car garage.” By completing the guest house first, the couple were able to stay on the property amid the main home’s construction process.
“[Barb and Jack] wanted the structures to look like they were one of the original developments on the Bay,” Maki says. “They wanted to use original surfaces [and] reclaimed wood materials wherever possible.” While Barb and Jack knew they desired the look of a classic log cabin, it wasn’t until they stumbled upon the reclaimed work of Big Wood Timber Frames that the full picture truly came together. Barb recalls, “Walking into Big Wood and seeing that showroom, it just looked old and cozy.”
The rest, as they say, was history. The home’s design embraces these rustic materials throughout, with a combination of reclaimed pine, oak, and fir showcased in each space. Complemented by native Minnesota fieldstone, the hand-hewn timber siding encompasses an old-world feel. Maki explains, “We tried to maintain a century-old look while using modern elements,” such as the maintenance-free, aluminum-clad, insulated windows that mimic the appearance of painted wood. Bjorge continues, “The fact the structure is new, but still has the character and age of all the timbers and logs, gives [the home] the look and feel of an old cabin.”
Other modern additions were implemented with sustainability in mind. For instance, cell spray foam roof insulation was used to maximize R-value (insulation’s ability to resist heat) and minimize air filtration, while the windows were ordered with Low-E coating and filled with argon gas between the glass panes to maximize energy efficiency. Likewise, the home’s heating system employs a highly efficient, variable flame and fan speed, and the gas furnaces are propane-fueled.
But the focus on sustainable elements did not affect the home’s classic cabin style. One of its most notable elements is the great room’s two-story masonry wood-burning fireplace—complete with a gas log set—which acts as the focal point of the main level. Above the firebox, a stone mantel provides display space for decor, while on each side, crystal cabinets frame the fireplace with a hickory veneer edging.
In the kitchen, the lived-in feel continues with red-coated cabinetry and a reclaimed range hood that was painted 50 years ago. To maintain aesthetic continuity, integrated wood-front undercounter refrigeration and dishwasher units blend with the surrounding cabinets.
When it came to decorating, Barb took the lead on the home’s interior design alongside Nor-Son’s in-house designer Maiah Maki, ASID, NCIDQ, ensuring each room exemplified the cozy, charming atmosphere she adores. “I love my stuff,” says Barb. “I like [having] little things around that remind me of where it came from. That’s why there are a lot of accessories. Sometimes, I wish I had another really contemporary home, but I could never live in it.” Instead, Barb’s prized collection of decor and trinkets lends to a cluttered, yet collected aesthetic that just so happens to be the perfect backdrop for showcasing her own artworks.
The picture-perfect lakeside setting provides her oodles of artistic inspiration, with expansive windows on each side of the home framing views of the surrounding woods, the water, and her art studio—a converted icehouse. “The studio is 10 or 15 feet from the water,” she says. “We had windows we took out of the old cabin to use for it, and now, that’s where I paint.”
Considering their love of nature, the couple frequently use the lakeside patio, which boasts a fieldstone base and is covered in flagstone. Above, a recycled light fixture crafted from an old wagon wheel hangs from the vaulted ceiling. “We use our porch a lot—it works well for entertaining guests,” Barb says. Meanwhile, turf stone permeable pavers between the garage and front entrance provide a porous and eco-friendly option for dropping off groceries without damaging the lawn.
After two years of anticipation, Barb and Jack were able to move in at last. “When things were finally delivered to our house, I knew exactly where everything was going to go—everything just fell into place,” Barb says. “I just love my house. It truly is my happy place.” And lucky for her, the couple are back for the season, thrilled to savor every up-north moment in their serene summertime escape.
