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CommentsCreekside Comfort
Entertainment flourishes meet built-in charm in this casual home
By Ruth Paarmann
Photo by Jim Kruger, Landmark Photography
The 7,400-square-foot layout is peppered with fun flourishes to please a busy family. Meanwhile, the home is clad in low-maintenance siding, roofing, shingles, and Wisconsin stone for easy care.
TC Homebuilders’ designer, Ken Kragness, let the site, neighborhood, and lifestyle guide the layout. “We aimed for luxury, but at the same time, we wanted people to walk in and feel like it’s comfortable. We also wanted it to have everything in the way of entertaining,” says Kragness. The creek and natural light were vital design considerations.
The foyer of the home features an artisan-painted, 20-foot, barrel-vaulted ceiling. A balcony overlooks the space and its black walnut floors. The chandelier lowers for cleaning with the flip of a switch. A transom window tops the doorway to the adjacent den, while a bath, laundry, and mudroom line the family’s entrance through the garage.
In the great room, cherry shelving keeps media neatly organized around a blended stone hearth. Walnut flooring borders inset carpet. Ceiling artistry, display niches, and white crown molding add dimension, while three-piece windows welcome light and give the space an airy feel.
Columns and arches define entry points to the kitchen, the heart of the home. A black, enameled island with a single, 57-square-foot granite slab takes center stage, serving as a second casual dining area with a window-lined alcove and dinette. Cherry cabinets with granite counters fill the walls. A wood stove hood and pot-filler faucet accent the cooking area, while windows flood the space with light.
Photo by Jim Krueger
Landmark Photography
The lower level’s cherry-paneled movie theater—complete with a lobby and concession stand—offers additional entertainment options. The eight-seat theater features a 137-inch screen, 7.1 surround sound, and sound-absorbing textured silk wall treatments.
The wine vault with brick and mortar walls and stone flooring adds a bit of Old World ambiance, as does the mahogany bar with its stone corner hearth. A clear-ice machine caters to Scotch enthusiasts. Sliding doors lead outside to terraced areas. A hallway behind the fireplace accesses the workout room, which features an exterior door. A travertine-tiled bath completes the layout.
At the top of the carpeted staircase to the second floor, the balcony and built-in display case dress up the mezzanine. Two children’s rooms share a full bathroom, while a guest suite has its own private bath. A second laundry room maximizes convenience.
The expansive owner’s suite is all about unwinding. In addition to the serene vista of Minnehaha Creek, a 500-plus square-foot walk-in closet features cherry cabinetry and a cappuccino maker. Bay windows and a tray ceiling reflect sunshine in the bedroom, which offers a small deck perfect for enjoying coffee and a bird’s-eye view of the backyard water features, fire pit, and pond.
In the bath, the homeowners can enjoy the air-jet tub opposite a fireplace. Dual white vanities and travertine tiles add elegance. In-floor heating—also found in the walk-in shower with dual showerhead and multiple body sprays—warms even the coldest days and nights.
According to Kragness, the creek-side setting remains charming year-round, with the local kids clearing snow from the creek to play hockey. “It’s almost like a Norman Rockwell painting,” he says.
Ruth Paarmann is an Iowa-based writer and former Minnesota resident.
Builder
TC Homebuilders, Inc.
Home location
Edina
Suppliers
Guyer’s Builder Supply
Haferman Water Conditioning, Inc.
James Hardie Siding Products
Martha O’Hare Interiors
Marvin Windows and Doors
11 ISSUES (1 YEAR)
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