Beguiling Beauty

a living room as seen from the stair landingPhotos by Jon Huelskamp, Landmark Photography

This classic blends in with its established neighbors.

The goal, says Brad Johnson, project manager for Wooddale Builders, Inc., was to “bring a stately, luxury home into an established neighborhood without people saying, ‘What’s that?’”

Mission accomplished. Resting at the top of a 200-foot, tree-lined drive, this classic American design manages to blend into its Edina surroundings yet to be breathtaking at the same time. The exterior combines stone and cedar shakes, accented by copper roof dormers. But when Wooddale Builders owner Steve Schwieters says “classic American,” he refers specifically to features such as the inviting, wraparound front porch, its pillars rising from stone columns, and the charming piano room just off the dramatic, two-story foyer.

Beyond the foyer, with its five stately columns, and past a grand curved staircase lies a two-story great room, with towering windows to invite the sun. The fireplace, with granite surround, nestles into a wall of custom cherry cabinetry and bookcases, which accommodates a big-screen television as well. A paneled cherry “chimney” rises all the way to the towering ceiling high above.
The open transition between great room and kitchen is set off by a spacious informal eating area, where a chandelier descends from a small ceiling cove. The kitchen features elegant cherry cabinetry with over-glazing for an aged look. The detailing is exquisite, from the carved corbels supporting the island’s two-level granite countertop to the mosaic tile surrounding the built-in range.

Toward the rear of the house, the kitchen opens to a large cedar screen porch, complete with wood-burning fireplace, which opens in turn to a generous deck. Toward the front, past a butler’s pantry with granite counter and cherry cabinets, lies the formal dining room, its chandelier recessed into another ceiling cove. As in the entry, piano room, kitchen, and eating area, the dining room is floored in rich American black walnut.

The great room is carpeted, as is the office behind it. The fireplace in the common wall efficiently serves both rooms. Cherry wainscoting, cabinetry, and a built-in desk give this study an executive ambiance.

Upstairs, the owner’s suite boasts a tray-vaulted ceiling and an enormous walk-in closet with center-island dresser. The bath features a chandelier, a platform air-jet tub, a vanity area, and a walk-in shower, as well as a heated marble-tile floor. Over-glazed custom cabinets of enameled ivory are elegant and plentiful.

A dramatic open hallway overlooking the great room leads to three additional bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet. One is served by a three-quarter bath, the others by a Jack-and-Jill. Two of the bedrooms feature custom window seats with pullout drawers beneath. The handsome crown moldings that appear in rich cherry throughout the main level are repeated in ivory in all of the bedrooms.

The walkout lower level is outfitted for maximum recreation and comfort, with in-floor heat throughout. A big-screen television tucks into a wall of cherry shelves and cabinets surrounding a fieldstone fireplace. The billiard area offers a built-in, glass-fronted cabinet to hold cues and paraphernalia. The adjacent wet bar, with its ceramic tile countertop, includes a microwave and refrigerator among its accompanying shelves and cabinets.

A spacious sauna resides next to a three-quarter bath that also serves a fifth bedroom with walk-in closet. Built-in racks in a temperature-controlled wine cellar accommodate more than 200 bottles. A two-tiered home theater with projection screen gains formality from cherry wainscoting and offers a built-in equipment cabinet accessible from inside or outside the theater.

Should one begin to feel cramped in a five-bedroom home with 6,961 square feet of finished floor space, a 760-square-foot bonus room lies in wait above the huge, heated, four-car garage. In perfect luxury, your visiting in-laws could watch from barrel-vaulted dormers as you rock on your front porch.

BUILDER
Woodale Builders, Inc.

HOME LOCATION
Edina

SUPPLIERS
Appollo Systems
CarpetMax Design Studio
Guyer’s Builder Supply
Harmony Melamine
Creations by Scherer
Bros. Lumber Co.
Hedberg Masonry &
Landscape Supplies
Peters Billiards
Pipeline Supply
Roth Distributing Company

11 ISSUES (1 YEAR)

Only $9.95!
  • Less than $1 an issue.
  • 77% off newsstand price.
  • Includes annual HomeBook.


Everything Home. Everything Local.

You can also add Minnesota Monthly
(12 issues a year) for just $13 more.