This 1905 Craftsman-style lakefront home was completely reimagined by Chicago-based David Heide Design Studio, located in Deephaven, Minnesota. When the owner first saw this home, it was advertised as a tear-down. With its sweeping porches and breathtaking views of Lake Minnetonka, she opted to purchase the home and rescue it from a wrecking ball. The goal was to restore the home and return it to its former glory.

The scope of this project entailed a large addition and extensive renovation of the basement, first and second levels of the residence. Following preservation principles, the character of the structure was not compromised. Despite the addition of 2,855 livable square feet, the home retains a consistent human scale and is both expansive and enveloping. Thoughtfully considered site lines throughout the home meant breathtaking views of the lake could be experienced from several vantage points, including the rear of the dwelling.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT David Heide Design Studio BUILDER Welch Forsman Associates INTERIOR DESIGN David Heide Design Studio CABINETRY Frost Cabinets

The project team had a new boathouse built in the location of an existing one. Treated as an extension of the house, it’s a vital component of the lake experience and serves as both the front and back door within its context. The structure draws on precedent from the main residence with authentic rafter tails to unify the character of the property.

What We Love: This Craftsman-style lakefront home was beautifully restored to feel intimate yet welcoming for entertaining guests. The woodwork is incredible, throughout this home, and all of the custom details such as the light fixtures and area rugs. It’s hard to imagine that this home was originally considered a teardown. We are delighted with the owner’s vision to restore this remarkable piece of architecture. Overall, we love every detail of this warm, comfortable, and inviting home nestled on beautiful Lake Minnetonka.

Tell Us: What details do you like most in this restored home and what would you change if this were your personal residence? Let us know in the Comments below!

Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other incredible home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Minnesota: Dream Home Tour: A beautiful and inviting Tudor home in Minnesota and Tour this charming modern farmhouse with rustic elements in Minnesota.

The homeowner loves to garden and created lush and colorful gardens throughout this beautiful property.

Backstory: This house was originally designed by noted Prairie School architect Hugh Garden in 1905. He once worked for Frank Lloyd Wright before creating his own architectural firm in 1895. This home once served as a summer home and did not have insulation or even an access road. The owners and their guests and even the mail had to arrive by boat!

New stone retaining walls frame the path to the house from the lake. Great care was taken to protect the tree roots near the addition, and native prairie grasses have been planted on the hillside and are burned once a year.

Above: The front door was original to this Craftsman-style lakefront house. The door was refinished, and the glass panel was added to increase natural light in the entry. The light fixture was custom-designed by the architect specifically for this project.

Above: Very little was updated in this warm and welcoming living room. Original to this space are the fireplace tiles from Rockwood, the ornate corbels, the beams on the ceiling, the flooring, and the built-ins. This home has several seasonal living areas, including the winter porch that can be viewed through the windows.

This kitchen is large enough to accommodate the homeowner’s friends for Sunday Supper, yet intimate enough for daily use. Within the new kitchen is a workspace crafted for one, which connects to multiple prep areas able to expand in scope depending on the number of cooks in the kitchen.

Above: This Craftsman-style table serves as an additional island for serving. It features a cork top and a red birch base with a striking tiger-eye effect.

Above: The cabinets are made of red birch, and the finish is several coats of a hand-rubbed amber shellac. The counters are a natural granite called Jungle Green, though names and slab selection can vary depending on where the stone was sourced. The kitchen measures approximately 28′ from the front window to the buffet, and 16′-4″ from the refrigerator to the peninsula seating. These measurements don’t include the pantry area, which extends off the kitchen area to form an “L” shape.

Above: Both the rug and the ceiling light were custom-designed by the architect for this space. This rug was fit specifically for this room and has an unusual shape in order to accommodate the corner fireplace.

Above: Wall-mounted faucets provide a clutter-free, easy-to-clean countertop.

Above: The wicker furnishings were purchased years ago by the homeowner and were restored for the project. The floor is brick pavers.

Above: The majority of the windows in this project are either original or custom-made. The architect had the original windows restored and re-installed, and for the addition insulated windows in sash were custom-made with restoration glass to replicate the original windows. The remaining windows in the house are Marvin.

Above: An outdoor sink makes garden cleanup easy. 

PHOTOGRAPHER Susan Gilmore Photography