Hand Hewn

The homeowners envisioned a house connected to the roots of Minnesota vernacular farmsteads with a country western undertone and an eclectic evolved sensibility with a touch of rustic glam to top it off.

We looked to the multiple simple buildings on the surrounding farms as inspiration. The main house, guest house, and garage are arranged to be in conversation with each other – each one clad differently but all coming together to shape an entry courtyard in the open landscape. A few steps away, the barn is also in the mix, its gable centered on the house. Reclaimed wood in weathered grey and red from old barns in Wisconsin and Minnesota ties the collection to the local past and landscape. A mix of roofing materials, galvalume and red steel standing seam and cedar shingles reinforce the eclectic aesthetic that could have evolved over time. The classic look of the collection is contrasted by the dramatic gable of glass on the house and the front porch that becomes a playful bridge leading to the guest house.

A step inside the barn-red front door offers a view past a generous dining room to the lake beyond. This gracious space is an appropriate welcome for a couple that loves family and entertaining. Reclaimed hand-hewn timber columns and beams along with plaster walls and ceilings frame “just right” scaled rooms that are casual and comfortable. The granite that visually supports the front gable and clads the foundation shows up on the interior as though these were true masonry bearing walls providing texture and a hefty compliment to the timber. At each turn there are composed views, a mix of materials, and delightful details.

This new “barnhouse” thoughtfully walks the line between past and present, farmhouse and barn, midwestern and western, comfortable and elegant, to create a launching pad base for all that will come in the next chapter in life.