We’ve had the privilege to design this and several other projects for a lovely couple who own multiple residences including homes in Europe, Atlanta, California and Minnesota. They came to us with a wish for a very small cottage with an abundance of character and warmth. Remotely set on a discreet spoke of Lake Minnetonka, this gardener’s cottage provides the perfect escape. The 1545 square foot home rests on the site neighboring the host home and is designed to mirror the fine architectural details found in that structure. As such, we incorporated stone, plaster, and raw timbers into the bold and rustic architectural forms, utilizing a staggered slate roof to allow the cozy, cottage-like residence to feel perfectly at home over-looking the lake beyond.
Contractor: Thomas Bren Homes
Interior Design: Willis Watts (Atlanta, GA)
Landscape Architect: Brian Butterfield
Photography: Best Light Environments
Hand-cut stone corbels envelope the main floor corner window, while graceful stone brackets flank the entry
Hand-cut stone corbels envelope the main floor corner window, while graceful stone brackets flank the entry
Original hand-sketched elevations capture the dream for our client
Original hand-sketched elevations capture the dream for our client
View of the keeper’s workshop wrapped in stone and waney wood
Historical iron clavos, stone finials, tudor-arched timber lintels, and gas-flamed lanterns complete the keeper’s workshop
View of the keeper’s workshop wrapped in stone and waney wood Historical iron clavos, stone finials, tudor-arched timber lintels, and gas-flamed lanterns complete the keeper’s workshop
Leaded glass servers and rough-hewn chamfered timbers provide a balanced mix of formality and ease for diners
French doors open to the lake Minnetonka shore just 40 feet beyond the kitchen
Leaded glass servers and rough-hewn chamfered timbers provide a balanced mix of formality and ease for dinersFrench doors open to the lake Minnetonka shore just 40 feet beyond the kitchen
Custom fabricated iron island and hand-painted artisan wall tile by Adex
Suspended iron and glass shelves and windowed walls allow the outdoors, indoors
Custom fabricated iron island and hand-painted artisan wall tile by AdexSuspended iron and glass shelves and windowed walls allow the outdoors, indoors
Hand-troweled plaster tudor arch
Hand-troweled plaster tudor arch
Living room with timber rafters looking to curving stair hall beyond
Entry stair hall with curving plaster ceiling and walls with deep recessed leaded windows
Living room with timber rafters looking to curving stair hall beyondEntry stair hall with curving plaster ceiling and walls with deep recessed leaded windows
Upper hallway opened with natural light and dormers
Upper hallway opened with natural light and dormers
Arched timber ceiling calls focus to the juliette balcony beyond
Sweeping, staggered-slate roof folds in to the waney edged wood siding
Arched timber ceiling calls focus to the juliette balcony beyondSweeping, staggered-slate roof folds in to the waney edged wood siding
The lakeside features a juliet balcony off the master suite, with a screen porch built of arched stone. The triple-stack diamond chimney includes a base which houses wood storage for the nearby porch fireplace
The lakeside features a juliet balcony off the master suite, with a screen porch built of arched stone. The triple-stack diamond chimney includes a base which houses wood storage for the nearby porch fireplace
