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CommentsSense of Discovery
A hilltop manor reveals stunning views and gracious amenities
By Michelle Baltus
Photo by Jon Huelskamp, Landmark Photography
“The house is angled such that every view is different and distinctive,” says builder Gene Posthumus, president of LeGran Homes. The home’s sloped, wooded approach lends a natural sense of presence to the two-story walkout, which features an elegant, peaked profile. Prairie-style elements, such as a cultured stone and shake exterior, and wide eaves with decorative brackets, give the home a casual demeanor among the towering oak trees. “The idea was to really integrate the home into the site,” Posthumus says.
A custom, 8-foot mahogany door with iron details and arched sidelights heralds the home’s open front entrance. Inside, the five-bedroom, five-bathroom residence offers a comfortably luxurious mix of wood, stone, and carpet finishes throughout nearly 6,000 square feet of living space. Gleaming American cherry woodwork and wide-plank, white-oak floors add visual warmth to the first level, which promotes relaxed family living and easy entertaining.
The soaring great room, defined by square columns and exposed ceiling beams, provides a glorious centerpiece to the home. Two single-paned glass patio doors frame a wall of tiered, stacked windows and offer access to a spacious deck with cultured stone columns and iron railings. Custom cabinets and shelves flank the granite-lined fireplace, which is capped by a large recessed, wood-paneled arch.
The adjacent eat-in kitchen boasts a spacious floor plan, glazed enameled cabinetry, and expansive granite counters. Gourmet amenities include a walk-in pantry, double ovens, and a six-burner stove top and griddle topped with a custom cherry hood. A patterned limestone backsplash creates visual interest, as do the unique iron pendant lights that extend from the ceiling through the hood. The kitchen island and the attached screen porch offer convenient seating for casual meals, while a formal dining room with leafy views waits across the hall.
Photo by Jon Huelskamp
Landmark Photography
There are three additional bedrooms on the second level, which features an interior balcony that overlooks the great room. A nearby bonus room offers ample space for hobbies, toys, or exercise equipment. A fifth bedroom resides on the lower level, where entertaining takes center stage. Dark, knotty alder woodwork and cabinets around the fireplace and a fully equipped bar area set a distinguished mood, which is enhanced by the walk-in wine cellar. A pool table makes perfect sense in the open recreation room.
The home’s more functional spaces, including a tiled mudroom with built-in home office space, lockers, and bench seating, perform beautifully. Even the finished garage shines inside and out, with an epoxy floor and three individual redwood doors.
The neighborhood does much more than showcase the landscape; it encourages homeowners to actively explore it. Miles of walking paths wind through the area, offering picnic spots, fire rings, and benches to enjoy. There’s even an apple orchard ripe for autumn outings. “This home and its surroundings are something to remember,” Posthumus says.
Michelle Baltus is a St. Paul freelance writer.
Builder
LeGran Homes, LLC
Home location
Lake Elmo
Suppliers
Guyer’s Builder Supply
Harmony Melamine Creations
Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies
IDC Doors
Jenn-Air
Orion Home Systems
Pipeline Supply
11 ISSUES (1 YEAR)
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