A Contemporary Twist

a kitchen with marble counter-topsSuzy Frisch is a writer who lives in Champlin.
Photos by Jon Huelskamp, Landmark Photography.

Setting accentuates the details of this gracious home.

These days most homebuyers in search of a private, wooded retreat would find themselves out in the country. This updated Prairie-style home not only sits in the heart of Minnetonka, its exotic materials and striking architectural details exude sophistication and livability.

On a corner lot next to a conservation easement, the home nestles purposefully into its landscape. Dark sandstone, cedar, and copper give the exterior an organic solidity. Inside, light-filled spaces and contemporary cabinetry lend a modern feel.

“If you look detail for detail, it’s a contemporary house. But we warmed up the materials and made it more transitional to appeal to someone who might not like contemporary architecture,” explains Steve Kleineman, owner of SKD Architects and MS&I Building Company, which designed and built the home. “We felt the owner would be someone who appreciates details, warmth, and the rich use of materials.”

Part of this home’s distinction comes from the liberal use of exotic woods. The display dazzles: from Brazilian walnut floors to dark African mahogany and wenge cabinets in the main floor study to African sapele and avidore cabinets and vanities in the master bath.

The house offers countless opportunities for displaying art in its many niches and coves, while other details are practically works of art in themselves. The two powder rooms on the main floor have lush faux finishing. Kleineman designed a decorative metal railing that looks like a free-flowing pick-up sticks game for the stairway leading to the lower level and for the deck.

Both casual living and entertaining are easy to envision in this home. The great room features a mahogany and wenge entertainment center and a corner fireplace that shows off gold, gray, and rose granite–all contrasting beautifully with the honey-colored stone floor and walls. A marble mosaic border ties all the colors together.

The dining room catches the eye with its built-in buffet and striking chandelier. The room has high ceilings, but horizontal beams with indirect lighting above give the space a cozy feeling. A large deck off the dining room puts the backyard ravine on display.

The kitchen gives cooks a highly functional U-shaped space with a large island. This room is another study in contrasts, with the Brazilian walnut floors, top cabinets of figured anigre, lower cabinets of African mahogany, and a marbled granite countertop. The gold and brown glass tile backsplash unites the elements. Floor-to-ceiling cabinets line one wall, providing ample space for storage.
The owner’s suite is a retreat unto itself. The bedroom’s large windows overlook the wooded lot, while a vast walk-in closet and built-in linen closets offer loads of well-organized storage space. The bathroom’s sunken tub is topped with marbled granite and surrounded by mosaic tile; two separate vanities have matching granite countertops.

The lower-level entertainment area features a stone fireplace, a mahogany and wenge entertainment center, and plenty of room for a pool table. A full bar is equipped with granite countertops, lighted glass-door cabinets, and a refrigerator. A glass door behind the bar leads to a large walk-in wine cellar. A mirrored exercise room for indoor workouts, three spacious bedrooms, and two bathrooms complete the lower level.

Kleineman and his team emphasized unique and top-of-the-line materials and graceful spaces for entertaining and relaxing in this house. “To me, it’s not about size. It’s about sparkle and really developing a smart plan that’s got excitement,” he says. “I want something that stimulates the senses.” This Minnetonka home does just that, in every inch of its 5,889-square feet.

BUILDER
MS&I Building Company
with SKD Architects

HOME LOCATION
Minnetonka

SUPPLIERS
Cambria® Natural Quartz Surfaces
Cartier Lighting
Enhanced Home Systems
Guyer’s Builder Supply
Harmony Melamine Creations
by Scherer Bros. Lumber Co.
Hedberg Masonry &
Landscape Supplies
Industrial Door Company, Inc.
Kinetico / Aquarius
Water Conditioning
Meadowood Inc.
Minneapolis Glass Company
RBC Tile & Stone
Roth Distributing Company
Rubble Tile
Shaw/Stewart Architectural Millwork



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