Rustic Luxury

a kitchenSuzy Frisch is a writer who lives in Champlin.
Photos by Jon Huelskamp andJim Kruger, Landmark Photography

Northwoods flavor imbues home with warmth.

When John and Nancy Zimmer bought their 5-acre lot in Greenfield, they imagined building a rustic home with all the modern finishes—a place where they could watch their children grow up and they could grow old together. Set amidst gently rolling hills, farm fields, stands of trees, and few neighbors, the Zimmers’ new home achieves their goals with comfort and style.

While John really wanted to design a log cabin, Nancy wasn’t on board with that plan. Instead, the couple incorporated woodsy touches throughout the home with the help of McNulty Construction. Rough-sawn cedar pillars and a cedar-beamed vaulted ceiling in a sunken great room reinforce that rustic feeling. The focal point of the room is the two-story stone fireplace situated next to a wall of windows.

The outdoors serves as a centerpiece in most rooms of the nearly 5,000-square-foot home. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the great room and two walls of windows in the dining room offer views of the wooded lot and a backyard swimming pool. An open floor plan makes it comfortable for the whole family to be together, yet variations in the ceiling and floor heights define separate spaces.

“With all the windows, you can see everything that’s going on,” notes John. “There aren’t too many areas of the house where you can stand and not be able to see the backyard or the kids playing or the snow or the leaves falling.”

The rustic theme continues in the kitchen, which is framed with more rough-sawn cedar pillars and beams. Overlooking the great room and dining room, the kitchen feels spacious and functional, with a pie-shaped island, black countertops, and ample cherry cabinetry along three walls. Those using the black farm sink can peer out into the front yard and take in the picturesque landscape.

This house includes several work spaces that allow for privacy and for staying close to the action. A spacious office with built-in cherry cabinets and a large window seat sits off the great room. Upstairs, a lofted area between the children’s bedrooms and the owners’ suite contains a large desk for a computer or other equipment. A handy person’s dream space adjoins the garage and overlooks the backyard. “It’s unusual to have the workshop off the garage; it’s every guy’s dream,” comments builder Jim McNulty, noting that the space has enough lighting, countertops, and cabinets to handle almost any project.

The four-bedroom home has a comfortable guest room and bath on the main floor with a French-door closet. The lofted office space overlooking the great room makes the owners’ suite a more secluded getaway for the adult Zimmers. They can really relax in their bathroom, with its glass-block walk-in shower and sunken tub. Another option for unwinding is the small deck off the bedroom that offers a peaceful view of the wooded backyard—the perfect place for sharing coffee or cocktails.

The lower level provides more opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and entertaining. A large-screen television, bar, pool table, and exercise room make it a fun spot for the adults, while the kids can quickly get to the patio and swimming pool outside. A changing room with a bathroom and shower are easily accessible for those using the pool. The floors downstairs keep off the chill with radiant heat. A geothermal system efficiently handles heating and cooling needs throughout the home.

With its appealing mix of maple trim, cherry floors and built-ins, and cedar beams, the Zimmers’ house feels like a modern Northwoods cabin. It’s also a forward-thinking abode with plenty of room for expansion: a spacious and light-filled bonus room and bathroom above the garage can be finished later for a children’s play space or for the Zimmers’ parents to live with them.

“The house turned out just how I wanted,” says John. “We’re not planning on having a lake home, so the backyard will be our lake home with the swimming pool and croquet court. We wanted something fairly secluded that would be a place for entertaining and having fun.”

BUILDER
McNulty Construction Company

HOME LOCATION
Greenfield

SUPPLIERS
Allegiance Millwork Solutions by Scherer
Bros. Lumber Co.
The Brass Handle
Cartier Lighting
Guyer’s Builder Supply
Hedberg Masonry &
Landscape Supplies
Industrial Door Company, Inc.
James Hardie
Minneapolis Glass
Company
Orion Home Systems
Peters Billiards
RBC Tile & Stone

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