Pride & Panorama
Stillwater’s premier Victorian gets an outdoor sanctuary worthy of its pedigree
In 2004, Jeff and Julie Anderson approached long-time family friend Edward Hawksford with what seemed like a fairly routine renovation project. With Jeff putting in long hours at his law office in St. Paul and Julie overseeing their joint venture, the Rivertown Inn bed-and-breakfast in Stillwater, the couple wanted a pool and a fire pit where they could catch some much-needed downtime with their three sons, Darrow, now 18, and twins Drew and Casey, both 16. By the time the project wrapped two years later, the Andersons had an outdoor sanctuary that would forever change the way they spend time together as a family. ¶ From downtown Stillwater, the Andersons’ 1881 Victorian Queen Anne home resembles a lavish dollhouse perched on a bluff overlooking the stunning St. Croix River Valley. A specimen par excellence of the flamboyant, late nineteenth-century architectural fashion, the home is a masterpiece of scalloped siding, delicate spindlework, multiple gables, and even a turret shaped like a candle snuffer. A fanciful polychrome palate articulates the textured exterior in 14 luscious hues of paint including brick red, terra cotta, and olive.
“This house is one of the most elaborate Victorians in Stillwater, and probably the most photographed,” says Hawksford, owner of Hawksford Design in Stillwater. “Many Queen Annes offer one or two of the style’s defining details. This one exhibits several, and the ones you don’t typically see. It’s very special.”
Historic charm and architectural embellishments aside, it was the home’s auspicious location that seduced Jeff away from Minneapolis in 1979. After Julie joined him in ’82, the couple completed several structural updates, including the latest one, in 2008, that transformed the kitchen from a dark, cramped space on the west side of the house to a spacious chefs’ atelier on the east side that opens directly onto the outdoor dining room and views of the river. All capitalized on what both feel is their home’s greatest asset. “The view from up here is an unbelievable panorama of sky and river and trees,” says Jeff. This commanding vantage ultimately inspired the Andersons to set their sights beyond a standard pool addition in 2004. “We needed a way to take full advantage of our surroundings,” Jeff continues. “Ed created a space that lets us comfortably share this great locale with family and friends.”
The Andersons knew Hawksford would be the key to their project’s success. Although his work runs the gamut of architectural styles and eras, the interior designer specializes in period homes. Since 1999, Hawksford has provided the artistic vision behind the Rivertown Inn.
Keeping in mind the Andersons’ flair for entertaining and desire for a timeless, functional design, Hawksford mapped out an open-air living environment that did away with the existing, diminutive deck in favor of a raised deck that resembles a terrace in style and feel. “The deck was a complete surprise,” says Julie. “I never would have guessed we could find that much room in this tiny backyard.”
From there, Hawksford created a series of interconnected activity areas, including a gazebo, pool house, hot tub, fire pit, and border gardens. “All on a hilly plot that required extensive land-mass removal, soil testing, and zoning accommodation before construction could even begin,” laughs Hawksford. “It was quite the obstacle course.”
From a design perspective, Hawksford’s primary challenge was uniting the undeniably urbane Queen Anne home with its pastoral backdrop in a way that would showcase the beauty of each. “The addition had to complement both the house and its natural surroundings,” he says. “It had to become a visual transition between the two.” To accomplish this scenic segue, the former architecture student blended the structural formality of stone staircases and curlicued wrought iron banisters with casual elements such as timber framing and informal landscaping. The result is a rustic-yet-refined nod to the quintessential English garden.
Photo provided by Maki
Strunc Photography
The elevated deck sits directly off the back of the home, where it acts as a visual anchor for the entire space. Limestone piers lend an air of permanence to the gazebo, while tying in the natural stone foundation of the house. The herringboned brick masonry around the pool transitions to a cozy hot tub nook and a hardwood-floored, sun-dappled lounge area. On the opposite side of the pool, a fire pit encircled with flagstone pavers makes the perfect late-night gathering spot. Throughout the courtyard, European statuary and flowering urns add a hint of spontaneity that further breaks with prim Victorian protocol.
Although Jeff and Julie have nothing but praise for the addition overall, they agree that its pièce de résistance is the gazebo adorned with elaborate timber framing and stained-glass windows. Situated on the deck directly off the kitchen, the comfy, screened-in shelter has become the family’s de facto dining room whenever weather permits. It also provides a visual gateway to the pool, letting mom and dad be part of the action without feeling like constant chaperones. “We love being able to look out and see the boys enjoying themselves,” says Jeff. “They’re teenagers, so they’ve all got different interests and different groups of friends. But this space brings everyone together. That’s what makes it so brilliant.”
The multi-functional pool house offers further evidence of Hawksford’s innovative touch. Tucked away below the deck, the European-inspired structure boasts a private bathroom and shower area and provides ample storage, while concealing the pool’s mechanical components. The beamed ceilings are accented with limestone tiles, and the floors are cast concrete made to look like limestone. “I don’t know what I would have done without this space,” says Julie. “Can you just imagine 30 wet kids running in and out of the house to use the bathroom?”
For the entrance to this wine cellar-inspired hideout, Hawksford chose a Spanish-style door with leaded glass insets from architectural salvager Art + Architecture in Minneapolis. “The door was pure genius,” says Julie. “After a few coats of stain and a couple buckle-strap hinges we have a piece that looks like it belongs in a castle.” The best part, she adds, is that the colored glass discs are actually the bottoms of wine bottles from a wedding. “This was another family’s front door,” she says. “I love that it tells a part of their story. And I’m so glad Ed saw its potential, because now it’s telling ours.”
For Hawksford, the Andersons’ outdoor addition allows the house to better communicate with the land on which it rests. “The new space balances and softens the house,” he says. “Instead of rising up suddenly out of a steep slope, it settles nicely into the hill.”
But for the Andersons, the payoff has little to do with placement or proportion. “It’s amazing how opening up our living area has actually brought us closer as a family,” says Julie. “This house is more than a place to live. It’s a way of living.”
Erin Anderson is a Minneapolis freelance writer.
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Reader Comments:
Is there a listing of contractors who actually did the landscaping and painting of the home?
I'm can't speak for the fabulous landscaping but I know the painter personally. Painting was done by Steve Thompson of J&S Painting & Restoration 612-803-3847.