Final

The patio extends the living space outside in warmer months and is connected to the interior via Marvin Modern Multi-Slide Doors and Marvin Modern Direct Glaze windows. A small path leads through the towering trees, directly to the lake.

The clients—a family of five with three children in college—wanted to create an “urban cabin” that embraces the tranquil forested site on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. The solution was to use vast expanses of glass to dissolve the boundaries between inside and out.

Terra-cotta tile from Clé adorns the guest bathroom. The couple gutted both bathrooms and had custom concrete countertops made for the vanities.

"The open kitchen/dining room was designed as much for everyday use as it was for editorial spreads, with an astounding amount of storage and work space, a matte brass range hood perched above dual ovens, and a custom semi-oval island whose facade alludes to the exterior of the home,

Original tile wraps around the primary bathroom, complete with a large step-in shower.

In the bathroom, white subway tile was inspired by a 1905 ceramic shelf Elena found at a nearby antique shop and put in the shower as well as a desire to keep the overall design simple, says Cobb.

While right now it’s all a happy blend, Vanbesien has made considerations for a future where he might not necessarily need or want to work a staircase away from his bedroom. “If I stopped working in that office, or we outgrow that office, it wouldn’t necessarily be easy to rent this space to someone else, so we have thought about how we can close it in a bit if we ever need to.”

Everything is custom designed, from the light fixtures to the bedroom headboards and desks.

Copper cladding will patina over time. Horizontally articulated windows and standing seams give the facade a sleek, streamlined presence.

The architects used cedar slats to enclose a steel-and-concrete staircase that leads to the master bedroom upstairs.