Cottage Charm
Open to the vista of Lafayette Bay, this Minnetonka Beach home brims with amenities
As soon as the house comes into view at the top of a nearly hidden driveway, it’s apparent this is something special. From the wide eyebrow entry over the front door to the charming dormers and brackets of the garage, the cottage-style home speaks of thoughtful detailing and careful craftsmanship. Inside, cedar shingle and stone gives way to a roomy foyer, with a striking granite compass inlaid in the 5-inch walnut flooring and a great room that looks out on Lake Minnetonka’s Lafayette Bay.
Even this panoramic view takes a back seat to the luxurious detail that Erik Olsen, president of Cobblestone Homes, built into this 8,300-square-foot house. From the great room’s coffered ceiling and stone fireplace to the kitchen’s distressed finished island, not a thing has been overlooked. The formal dining room, surrounded by windows and lake vista, is the perfect setting for a formal dinner party or a Sunday brunch for a crowd. A fully equipped butler’s pantry and a nearby breakfast nook offer another dining space, one that is perfect for casual family meals.
Upstairs, the owners’ suite includes a seating area and marble-draped bath with built-in dressing table. Bedrooms customized for the owners’ children—the daughter’s suite, complete with a pink, built-in dressing table in the bath, and the son’s room, with a raised platform for his drum set, sensibly located over the garage—demonstrate the same care. On the lower level, the Irish pub-style bar of walnut is surrounded by additional luxe touches: walnut-paneled and coffered ceilings, and a piece of antique stained glass mounted over the wine-cellar door. —C.L.
- Numerous exterior details reinforce the home’s cottage demeanor—stone, shutters, dormers, and brackets. The house features four fireplaces, a swimming pool, an octagonal screen porch, and geothermal heating and cooling.
- The gourmet kitchen off the great room shows off its sizable granite-topped, distressed-finish island, as well as 5-inch walnut flooring.
- A charming breakfast nook, with built-in banquette seating, offers a sunny place for coffee and croissants. When weather allows, the deck overlooking the backyard pool is just steps away.
- The great room features a coffered ceiling, built-ins surrounding the stone fireplace, and wonderful views of the lake beyond.
- A girl’s bedroom suite in rosy shades of pink includes its own bathroom with a built-in dressing table.
- The owners’ bath is a study in luxury, with its marble countertops and floors, and panoramic view of Lafayette Bay. The suite includes a sitting room and gas fireplace, and a second-floor laundry room is nearby.
BUILDER
Cobblestone Homes Inc.
HOME LOCATION
Minnetonka Beach
SPONSORS
Delta Vacations
Designer Secrets
Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies
Home Entertainment Solutions
Minneapolis Glass Company
For more information on featured products and suppliers, please see our Buyer's Guide.
6 ISSUES (1 YEAR)
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