Dream Come True

the exterior of a Bruce Lenzen home
Michelle Baltus is a freelance writer and editor from St. Paul.
Photos by John Huelskamp, Landmark Photography.

A couple’s weekend getaway becomes their ultimate home.

A short paver driveway quickly leads to this cottage-inspired residence, but owners Bill and Barb Ritter took a less direct route to their new home. The couple already had a small weekend retreat on the site, which offers panoramic views of the St. Croix River. The location inspired them to make a permanent move. “I realized I didn’t want to live in paradise two days a week,” Bill says. “I wanted to be there every day.”

Building restrictions wouldn’t allow for an expansion, however, so the couple began searching for a larger home along the river. They even sent letters of interest to area homeowners. When nothing materialized, the Ritters chose to re-build on their existing site. A friend introduced them to builder Bruce Lenzen, and the couple reviewed his work.

“We immediately liked what we saw,” says Bill. “He took our ideas and gave us a design we fell in love with.”

What’s not to love about postcard-quality views from virtually every window in your home? Lenzen’s creative floor plan embraces the river at every opportunity and features two inviting family rooms, richly drawn reading and music rooms, a sophisticated galley kitchen, and a sumptuous treetop master suite. A profusion of glass ushers light into the home, while wall cutouts and dappled transom panels above the doors visually connect and extend already airy spaces. “I wanted the house to feel as if light was flowing through it,” Lenzen says.

Blonde maple cabinetry and birch millwork and doors further illuminate the 4,400-square-foot home. The highly functional kitchen links an open great room and more intimate reading room, replete with gorgeous built-ins and a stone fireplace. Maple soffits warm the lofty kitchen, while a split-level island with counter seating serves the kitchen as well as an informal dinette.

Custom Craftsman-inspired art glass in the front door and transom speak to the modern cottage motif envisioned by Bruce Lenzen Homes interior designer Julie Speer. Shaker cabinet panels modified with decorative molding and a simply angled fireplace mantel characterize the blended look. An earthy color palette ties the home to the landscape, as does stone flooring and yellow birch floors with Brazilian cherry accents.

“The feeling of comfort was key. We wanted something soft and warm,” Bill says.

The carpeted second-story family room certainly succeeds, affording unrivaled views. A built-in bar area and card room provide some of the expected amenities. The tree-house feeling continues in the raised owners’ suite, tailor made with custom vanities, a glass-block walk-in shower, and a 6-foot soaking tub. The owners’ bedroom and family room both access a private deck with hidden screens that slide down to keep out the bugs.

A gallery-style hallway leads to two bedrooms and a bathroom over the expansive heated garage. Atypical amenities, including a urinal, shower, LCD TV, and integrated sound system, delight the man of the house. “The garage is really an extension of the home and a place all my own,” Bill says.

The home’s exterior belongs to the waterfront landscape. Traditional side gables, charming porch posts, and rustic cedar shakes are among the architectural elements that merge Cape Cod and bungalow styles. Multiple patio doors allow quick access to the river, which widens in this spot to become tranquil lake St. Croix. A mechanical chair lift conveys the family to a private beach and dock.

While the Ritters never anticipated living full time in this locale, they couldn’t be happier. Says Bill, “This is meant to be our final home.”

BUILDER
Bruce Lenzen Homes, Inc

HOME LOCATION
Lakeland

SUPPLIERS
The Brass Handle
Cambria® Natural Quartz
Surfaces
Harmony Melamine
Creations by Scherer
Bros. Lumber Co.
James Hardie
Kinetico / Aquarius Water
Conditioning
Marvin Windows and Doors
Muska Lighting
Phantom Screens
Rubble Tile

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