Tuscan Haven

a glass-enclosed porchRuth Paarmann is an Iowa writer and editor who frequently visits the Twin Cities.
Photos by Jon Huelskamp, Landmark Photography

Family focus meets Italian heritage in a lakeside masterpiece.

With a stone turret rising amidst golden stucco, this standout Tuscan-style villa delivers Italian flair and the Minnesota outdoors to a busy family of five. The Shorewood home, across from Lake Minnewashta, was designed to reflect owner Jesse Bertogliat’s Italian heritage as well as his family’s interests.

“We were looking for a family-oriented location with the lake for the kids to enjoy year round,” says wife Sarah Bertogliat. The backyard landscaping, for example, will include a skating rink, where Jesse can help the children with their hockey.

“We also wanted to include a gourmet-style kitchen because Jesse and I both enjoy cooking,” Sarah continues. Handpicked touches and commercial-grade appliances create a kitchen that meets their needs.

But these are mere details in this majestic 6,507-square-foot home, sited on a wooded rise to take full advantage of the lake setting. “The rooms are designed with multiple directions to look and interesting views,” says John Boyer, a principal of Boyer Building Corporation.

A tile floor medallion creates a focal point in the the sunroom—if you can pull your eyes away from the sight beyond its wall-to-wall windows. “It gets sun all hours of the day, and it’s beautiful with the windows,” Sarah says. “I see us spending a lot of them there, taking advantage of the lake view.”

The neighboring front foyer features a herringbone walnut floor and an Italian statue next to the grand spiral staircase. In the living room, a large gas hearth repeats the stucco found in the exterior. Walnut floors and alder beams accent the floor and ceiling.

A wide archway opens to the kitchen, where the eye is drawn from a long island to antiqued cabinetry with carved flourishes. “The deep, rich island cabinets look like furniture,” Boyer notes, adding that the single-level rectangular island is ideal for food preparation or doing homework. Granite counters and tile details add durable style.

For their cooking paradise, the Bertogliats selected an antiqued copper farmers’ sink and top-of-the-line appliances, including a steam oven. An adjacent semi-formal dining room overlooking the deck accommodates their extended family.

The family can head upstairs to a computer gallery in the hall, where the children’s activities can be monitored. Three of their bedrooms are located down the same hall.

The owners’ suite bedroom features French doors to a balcony, accented with ironwork, and ample windows with lake views. Amber gold limestone counters, a walk-in shower, and a white claw-foot tub adorn the bath, which leads to an exercise room as well as laundry facilities.

In the lower level, the home theater, sunken bar, and fireplace serve as family magnets. The builder thoughtfully positioned the fireplace to be viewed from as many points in the room as possible. An adjacent guest suite features a stone floor, among other amenities.

Hidden behind a bookcase, a playroom under the stairs awaits the kids. “They’ll have their own special little hideaway,” says Sarah.
The house is heated and cooled with geothermal technology; the system’s coils lie hidden beneath the driveway—no air conditioning unit clutters up the gold and olive exterior, Boyer says. The system has a high-efficiency gas furnace backup, and some floors are heated.

An arched front door, arched windows down the turret, and ironwork accents reinforce the Italian demeanor. The Bertogliats look forward to hosting summer and holiday gatherings to share their Tuscan-style family home and its elegant aesthetics with family and friends.

BUILDER
Boyer Building Corporation

HOME LOCATION
Shorewood

SUPPLIERS
Allegiance Millwork Solutions by Scherer Bros. Lumber Co.
The Brass Handle
Cartier Lighting
Elnapress
Granite Tops
Guyer’s Builder Supply
Hedberg Masonry &
Landscape Supplies
Minneapolis Glass Company
Orion Home Systems
Peters Billiards
RBC Tile & Stone
Roth Distributing Company
Terraforma Design

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