Country Elegance

a stone fireplace in a living roomAlecia Stevens is a Minneapolis interior designer and writer.
Photos by Jon Huelskamp & Jim Kruger, Landmark Photography

Intimacy and grandeur coexist in this Orono estate.

This beautiful, unusually private, 6-acre lot in Orono provided the inspiration for the country cottage that calls it home. Builder Hickory Fine Homes formed a partnership between its own team members and the homeowners to design the home to meet the needs of a young family.

The exterior of the house, with its light-colored stone and white shake shingles and trim, sets off rather than competes with the beauty of nature. And within, every room takes full advantage of the lush country setting.

The process of entering the estate is a romantic adventure in itself. It begins with the meandering driveway, skillfully carved out of the surrounding woods. At the end of the drive, without another house in sight, the stately home commands the highest elevation on its acreage.

“We wanted the feeling of a country estate with the long, winding driveway,” says Steve Bohl, owner of the company.

Large columns, supported by a stone foundation, flank broad central steps that welcome visitors to a landing covered by a pergola and furnished with outdoor seating. Just a step up, the entry door becomes a focal point on yet another landing with a dramatic barrel-vaulted ceiling.

Inside, Bohl points to the trend toward mixing materials and finishes. Here, a variety of woods and stains, as well as enamel, stone, and metal contribute to the sense of a home that has grown over time. “It is so much more interesting in the end,” he notes.

Although the house is 6,313 square feet, the rooms are moderate in scale, contributing to the feeling of intimacy requested by the homeowners. “These clients wanted a great room on the main floor that was not too large—they preferred an intimate room. Still, they liked the idea of a soaring ceiling so there was a sense of formality and grandeur,” explains Bohl. This direction clearly informed the design of the remaining rooms as well; intimacy and grandeur coexist throughout the home.

A double-sided fireplace can be enjoyed from both the great room and the adjacent hearth room attached to the kitchen. The hearth room amply accommodates a large table and chairs, as well as an area for relaxing in comfortable furnishings with tables nearby for drinks and books—all while the chef is at work in the open kitchen. A wonderful deck offers further opportunities for enjoying the outdoors.

Other rooms on the main floor include the formal dining room, which interior designer Renée LeJeune Hallberg of William Beson Interior Design finished in a coppery Venetian plaster. There is also a piano room and an intricately designed mudroom—the nerve center of the house. Custom cabinets, including a desk with cubbies and individual locker spaces for family members, are crafted in cherry.

The second floor consists of four bedrooms, including an elegant owners’ suite with a bath that features marble tiles and countertops and a workout and laundry room nearby. Across a catwalk and separate from the bedrooms, an office appointed with custom cherry cabinetry creates a comfortable getaway for work or leisure.

The lower level boasts a roomy 10-foot ceiling with a bank of traditional doors that open to a back terrace, a bar area, wine storage, and game areas. A guest suite (or teenager’s dream room) is also tucked into one end of this level.

This elegant residence welcomes from the moment it comes into view at the final bend of the driveway. The textures of the exterior shake, stone, and wood complement the eclectic, but traditional finishes within, making this a new home that seems to have a storied past.

BUILDER
Hickory Fine Homes, Inc.

HOME LOCATION
Orono

SUPPLIERS
The Brass Handle
Cambria® Natural Quartz Surfaces
Cartier Lighting
Hedberg Masonry &
Landscape Supplies
James Hardie
Pipeline Supply
Rubble Tile
Warners’ Stellian
William Beson Interior Design

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