Lakeside Luxury in Minnesota

Written by Laura Shimko

Photography by Landmark & Minneapolis

Modern farmhouse style meets energy efficiency in this lakeside farmhouse outside Minneapolis.

This 5,941-square-foot Minnesota home embodies lakeside luxury. It has five bedrooms, three bathrooms and is comfortably perched on a bluff overlooking Lake Prior. In it, farmhouse style blends with modern elements and energy-saving design to create a cozy home with gorgeous views.

Minnesota lakeside luxury home exterior — “This modern farmhouse model has the beautiful timeless look of a farmhouse with a white exterior, front porch and cedar posts, yet the modern spin comes with black windows, a standing seam metal roof, and board and batten,” says David.

Functionality is one of the keystones of American farmhouse style. It lets homes look and feel inviting, while also allowing for the realities of life and the need for practicality. This concept is exemplified in spaces like the traditional mudroom that allows for extra storage. Farmhouse functionality can also be extended into the realm of energy efficiency.

Minnesota lakeside luxury entrance way — Wood beams and lantern light fixtures add farmhouse charm to the bright and breezy foyer.

Quality and Lakeside Luxury

For architect David Zweber of David Charlez Designs, a love for design began in his childhood. “As a child, I enjoyed Tinker toys, erector sets and Legos, and they all served as the means to construct my imagination’s creative visions,” he says. Now with years of experience at a thriving company, David says he continues to learn and grow. “I enjoy looking at architecture in every city I visit, to be inspired with new ideas I can incorporate into my next design,” he says.

When beginning the process of designing a home, the key is to find a way to meet the clients’ needs while bringing together beauty and functionality with an eye for luxury. “I understand that custom homes are deeply personal ventures, and I relish walking with clients through their finished homes, experiencing spaces that grew from imagination to reality and how that reality impacts my clients’ lives,” he says.

Minnesota mudroom — Dark tiling contrasts with the white paint and wood accents in the mudroom. The elegant light fixtures add a touch of luxury, while bits of greenery add color and freshness.

Blending Style and Function

Bringing together a client’s wish list and all the elements of architectural design can be a challenging balance of style and function. An added layer is determining what is a contextually appropriate design. For this home, a modern farmhouse style blended well with the suburban setting. Due to the home’s proximity to the lake and location atop the bluffs, the homeowners wanted to take full advantage of their view in their home design. They asked to maximize window space on the backside of the house to allow for a full experience of the stunning scenery. “The process to accomplish this was to have an open floor plan and to design the main living areas to the back of the home, including the great room, dining area, screen porch and owners’ suite,” David says. This open concept also allowed for the kitchen and foyer to have glimpses of the lake.

Minnesota window seat — This window seat serves as the perfect nook for an afternoon read with natural lighting, while also providing a glimpse of the lake.

While lots of windows and an open concept achieved the homeowners’ goal of having their lake view unobstructed, it also created the potential for trouble in the often frigid temperatures of Minnesota winters. “There isn’t anything worse than having frost on the inside of your windows on a cold Minnesota winter morning,” David says. To combat this issue, he recommends investing in high-quality windows that will help regulate the temperature in your home, providing an eco-boost to help with sustainability.

A Farm-Cottage Fall

Minnesota kitchen — Wood accents, a large sink and shiplap detailing on the island give a farmhouse feel to the kitchen.

In addition to the view, the abundance of windows and the open concept let in a great deal of natural light in the daytime, reducing the need for electricity. This energy-saving measure is both beautiful and functional. The luminous, open spaces of the living room, kitchen and dining area are perfect for hosting. Farmhouse charm is visible in the white paint exterior, exposed wood beams, the cozy all-seasons porch, custom woodwork, cedar posts, mudroom and rustic lighting. All these elements come together to create a bright, airy and comfortable home with gorgeous views and a nod to energy efficiency.

lakeside living room — The open concept lets the home take advantage of its lakeside location and contributes to a luxurious sense of space.

lakeside kitchen — Large windows illuminate this comfortable living room. Exposed wood beams stand out against the soft neutral tones, and a pile of cut firewood adds more wood accents under the window seat.

Minnesota lakeside home exterior — Cedar pillars, which are natural and unpainted, are a striking feature of the front porch of this lakeside Minnesota home.

Minnesota lakeview living room — Windows from floor to ceiling allow natural lighting to illuminate this cozy space, while providing more breathtaking views of the lake.

Minnesota lakeside bathroom — The shiplap in the master bathroom combines with the farmhouse and modern elements of the sleek mirrors and wood vanity.

Minnesota bathroom vanity — Modern, clean lines blend with farmhouse textures in this bathroom. The tile flooring adds a pop of color and a classic feel.

Minnesota lakeside laundry room — Even this laundry room is bright with natural lighting. The floral wallpaper gives the room a touch of springtime elegance.

Want to see more Minnesota modern farmhouse inspiration? See “How to Get the Best Staircase Design.” Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!