French Import

a kitchen with classic accentsLucie Amundsen writes from her home in St. Anthony Village.
Photos by Jon Huelskamp, Landmark Photography

Continental charms abound by the bay.

Along the narrow wooded roads of Minnetonka, the lake effect is palpable. Even if you can’t see the water, your mood lightens somehow with each curve.

The pleasant feeling carries into the Crosby Cove neighborhood near Gray’s Bay, where a French country-styled home perches high on its steep lot. Butter yellow stucco and blue-washed trim pay homage to the owners’ extensive European travels, as does the provincial turret. The heavy, milled-cherry front door hints at the visual feast on the other side.

A mesmerizing six-paneled, arched window dominates the great room, spanning 9 feet and soaring to 12 feet. Exposed beams and heavy trim soften the 22-foot-high ceilings, giving this formal room a distinctly welcoming feel. Abundant sunlight and knotty white-oak flooring offer everyday luxury. The cast stone fireplace invites the family to gather around. For more formal get-togethers, a dining room awaits through a foot-thick archway.

The gourmet kitchen beckons with its inviting red walls—just one of the classic colors that the designers at L. Cramer Designers + Builders pulled from the French-inspired palette. The refrigerator door, range hood, and cabinetry are all of fine, furniture-grade wood finished to a soft patina. This slightly aged look, along with details such as artfully handpainted tiles, hearty oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, and extra thick doors, augments the European feel.

The adjacent gathering room’s cushy seating and wall-mounted plasma television make gathering near the kitchen a comfortable pursuit. “This is where the informal eating and relaxed living will take place,” says Jennifer Cramer-Miller, vice president of sales and marketing for L. Cramer Designers + Builders, adding, “and it’s so near the lovely screened porch.”

The view from the porch and patio showcases the retreat-like backyard. A pool landscaped with decorative rocks and a cascading waterfall takes center stage.

A wet bar is located within the home’s walkout level to service both the water recreation area and an adjacent media room. Double doors, hardly a towel’s throw from sunbathers, welcome wet-footed guests onto slate-tiled floors.

And company will certainly be calling to this 6,800-square-foot home. Six bathrooms and three guest bedrooms can handle a crowd. A private air-jet bath and a rain-style showerhead await the guests of honor.

The same bathing amenities can be enjoyed by the hosts in the generously sized owners’ suite. A room-sized walk-in closet offers convenience, and elegant details, such as intricate crown molding, add style.

An elevator stands ready to whisk visitors or residents to any of the three levels. “People are starting to plan ahead so that they can always be in the home they designed and continue to love,” Cramer-Miller says of the accessible amenity.

Sure to be loved by visitors and residents alike is the unique library loft. Peering down the heights of the great room, this bookshelf-lined space has a long window seat overlooking the water. This cozy sanctuary cries out for the New York Times and a mug of coffee. French Roast to be sure.

BUILDER
L. Cramer Designers + Builders

HOME LOCATION
Minnetonka

SUPPLIERS
The Brass Handle
Elnapress
Guyer’s Builder Supply
Minneapolis Glass Company
Orion Home Systems
Roth Distributing Company
Rubble Tile

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