Houzz Tour: A Family Creates Its Own Mom-and-Pop Vacation Retreat

Photos by Scott Amundson Photography

House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple uses this as a vacation retreat
Location: Northern Minnesota
Size: Five bedrooms
Architect: Amy Dirkes of Nor-Son

The homeowners have history in this area of northern Minnesota. For many years, they would meet at a nearby lakeside resort for family vacations. So when a lakeside plot of land became available, the empty nesters decided to build their own retreat for hosting extended family and friends. The design of the vacation house incorporates the same woodsy charm they enjoyed at the mom-and-pop resort nearby but with airy, light-filled interiors.

The project started with the building of the garage with living quarters above. This is where the homeowners stayed for several summers until the main structure was complete. The garage and guest quarters feature half-log siding. Architect Amy Dirkes says the homeowners didn’t want the same siding on the exterior of the main house, so she went with complementary dark-stained cedar shingles instead.

The main entrance opens to a grand living area that features a mix of rustic and coastal looks. The reclaimed timber beams and large stone fireplace provide the feel of a woodsy lodge while the white-washed paneled walls and natural light help soften the look. The X-shaped railings on the second-floor balcony provide an additional wood accent in the room.

The front door also opens to a floor-to-ceiling view of the lake. “We needed a large volume in the great room to capture the lake views,” Dirkes says. The massive fireplace of gray-toned ledge stones in a dry-stack arrangement anchors the space.

A custom-built bar in the back right corner of the great room is a popular spot for the homeowners and their adult friends to gather in the evening.

The homeowners can enjoy views of the fireplace from both the dining area and kitchen. The reclaimed wood dining table is surrounded by six chairs covered in gray linen slipcovers that can easily be removed for cleaning.

Dirkes used mosaic tiles to create the plaid-patterned back wall in the kitchen. She then brought in metal elements such as the brackets and foot rail attached to the island, the wood-and-metal counter stools and the custom zinc range hood to bring an industrial touch to the rustic space. White upper cabinets brighten the space, and the lower grain ash cabinets appear to float with LED strips lighting underneath. The countertops are marble.

Browse industrial counter stools

One of the guest suites on the main level of the house features mosaic tile on the bathroom floor in a checkerboard pattern and a beachy blue-gray-painted vanity and walls. The accent wall behind the bed in the background is covered in wallpaper.

The laundry room features two washing machines and dryers that come in handy when the house is packed with guests. A large porcelain farmhouse utility sink is ideal for hand-washing delicate items. The blue-green-painted cabinets add a splash of color to the space.

Find porcelain farmhouse utility sinks

During rainy summer days or winter blizzards, the family can gather on the lower level to play games while enjoying views of the lake and weather from large horizontal windows. They chose the wallpaper because it resembles wood slats.

“Whenever the homeowners ask their kids where they’d like to go on a family trip, they always say their own lodge in Minnesota,” Dirkes says. “It’s the perfect place for bringing the whole family together for relaxation and play.”

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