Harmonious Architecture
Design Team: Kelli Wegscheid, AIA; Craig Ruhland, PLA
Project Type: New Construction
Location: Frazee, MN
Home Sponsor: Pella Windows & Doors
Project Story
This environmentally friendly home combines comfort with luxury, featuring “framed” views of the lake from visitors’ first drive up to the home to the expansive indoor windows and large porches. This modern, rustic cabin features contemporary materials like corrugated metal mixed with wood timbers, wide decks, and the big windows of a traditional lake-home style. Large porches protect the south-facing glass from the summer sun. A covered breezeway connects the home and garage while ensuring the picturesque lake view is not lost.
The homeowners wanted to accommodate as much family as possible, so two large bedrooms and a bunk room for children will allow multiple generations to visit and be comfortable. The loft above the garage provides a separate yet connected space for visiting parents or acts as a hideaway for teenagers. The lake home also features age-in-place design elements, such as a no-step entry and wide doorways.
The importance of quality family time is expressed through the home materials, as well. The corrugated steel featured on the home exterior as siding and also on the interior was reclaimed from the homeowner’s family farm in Watkins, MN. Accent interior wood for walls, ceilings, and the custom barn doors was salvaged from their grandparents’ ranch in southwestern North Dakota.
Connect with this architect during a virtual Live Chat on September 28 at 12:00 pm (exclusive to ticket holders), and an Instagram takeover on September 27!
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to see a full-size view. All photos by Kip Johnson, Lake & Home Magazine.
