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CommentsBronze and Beautiful
Lakeside home invites a family to connect
By James Walsh
Photo by Jon Huelskamp, Landmark Photography
“This home is for a family with two or three kids,” says Mark Englund, vice president of design at Hanson Builders. “[Families] know what they want now, and what they want is a little bit of elbow room.”
Mahogany doors welcome visitors into the front foyer. To the left is a study, to the right, the formal dining area. Main-floor rooms include a corner music room, a great room with a see-through fireplace, and an informal breakfast area that opens to the cozy hearth room and stunning kitchen. Views of the lake flow into nearly every space.
The kitchen features appliances with an oiled-bronze finish, the first available in Minnesota. The soft patina of the appliances blends seamlessly into the warmth of the natural cherry cabinetry. A massive center island is a perfect place for family to gather, snack, chat, and catch up on the news of the day. The island is topped with green-toned granite and its woodwork is glazed with a sea foam color.
“It looks Old World,” Englund says, pointing to the double sink of hammered copper in the island.
Photo by Jon Huelskamp
Landmark Photography
The back stairs lead from the kitchen to the second floor, which is “perfect for the midnight snack or for hitting the Cheerios in the morning,” Englund says.
Upstairs, a modern laundry area is adjacent to another study that overlooks the great room. The kids’ rooms are connected by a Jack-and-Jill bath along a corridor that also is open to the great room below and its lake views.
The nearby owners’ suite opens off the same corridor, making it easy to listen in on the rest of the house. A fireplace warms the bedroom, while the adjoining bath boasts a large doorless shower with a walk-around glass-block wall. Even a bather in the jet tub is treated to an expansive view of the lake below.
On the lower level, past the “Wii” game room, another entertainment area holds a pool table and a wet bar. A hammered copper sink and oiled-bronze cabinet hardware and faucet lend their rich hues. To the left of the bar is a home theater that features a high-definition projector and can comfortably seat six in wide, plush recliners. A guest bedroom and bathroom finish the lower level, which walks out to a fire pit and patio near the dock.
Luxury and warmth intertwine in this family-focused home. “If you build a family home, you want to be connected to lots of other families, guests, and friends,” Englund says. “There is no gate in front of this house. It invites you inside.”
James Walsh is an education reporter at the Star Tribune.
Builder
Hanson Builders, Inc.
Home location
Blaine
Suppliers
Guyer’s Builder Supply
Harmony Melamine Creations
Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies
Jenn-Air
11 ISSUES (1 YEAR)
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