Photographs by Troy Thies
Lakehouse
Triple Views: “This home brings the lake in and brings us to the lake,” says the homeowner, who enjoys watching bald eagles and other wildlife from his third-floor office, overlooking the lake. The contemporary design follows the subtle curve of the shoreline and has a glass link in the middle to capture light throughout the day.
A desire for a more visceral connection to the lake was the motivating force behind this new Medicine Lake home, built by a couple who lived next door for 35 years. The husband and wife, who are of retirement age but not retired, had also begun considering accessibility issues and aging in place. So, when the property next to theirs became available, they bought it and built a bespoke house and a little peace of mind.
“We wanted immersive lake views and, at the same time, an elevator, wide doorways, and really nice guest quarters with a full kitchen. With a shortage of in-home health care professionals, we believe offering a comfortable lakefront suite will be attractive to someone. In the meantime, it’s a great place for guests,” explains one of the homeowners.
Architect Randy Buffie carefully plotted the house along the curve of the shoreline to capture water views and natural light on three levels, using a glass link between two metal-clad wings to refract sunlight throughout the day. “I thought a lot about how to illuminate the interior, as the lake view is to the north and the sunlight comes from the south,” says Buffie.
Originality in both design and materials was another driving force, and the couple wasn’t shy about bringing ideas to Buffie and builder Mark Williams. One example is the exterior panels, made with a smooth metal called Alucobond—more commonly found on commercial buildings—which the homeowner spied near his office. “It’s extremely expensive but also extremely cool, so we just had to do it,” he says.
This philosophy extended to the interior, where distinctive stone and exotic wood species hold their own against floor-to-ceiling lake views. This home isn’t just a contemporary statement; it’s this couple’s statement—a confident expression of their taste and lifestyle.
Williams agrees. “They were hands-on at every stage. When I look at this home, I see the warmth and quality of their character expressed in every detail.”
"This home brings the lake in and brings us to the lake."
— Homeowner
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Glass Wall
Smooth Moves: A sandblasted sliding glass wall creates privacy without sacrificing natural light in the office, which overlooks an impressive floating steel staircase (by Bauer Metal in St. Paul) that keeps things airy despite weighing several tons. “It’s awesome,” says builder Mark Williams. “Mike Bauer is like the Enzo Ferrari of metal art.”
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Fireplace
Fire and Water: Limestone from the exterior garage repeats on the fireplace, and avodire cabinets create a worthy companion to the lake view in the main living room, which is also open to the kitchen and dining areas.
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Surface Appeal
Surface Appeal: “We knew what cherry and oak looked like and wanted something different,” the homeowner says of the unusual wood species they chose for this house. In the kitchen, avodire, a lustrous African hardwood, shows up on cabinetry in two different stains. The window wall is slightly angled to follow the shoreline and open to lake views.
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Make a Splash
Make a Splash: In the pantry, 3D tiles infused with copper create a reflective backsplash that plays with light and emulates the look of waves. Extra-deep drawers offer easy-to-see storage for pet supplies, and a tall broom closet is conveniently located for quick-cleaning the mudroom entryway.
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Backsplash
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Angle of Repose
Angle of Repose: Unexpected angles on walls and ceilings subtly animate the house. “When you’re here, you’re aware of an energy but not sure what it is,” the homeowner says. This means lots of time with a protractor for Williams and dynamic results in the primary bathroom, which also showcases more African woods, including fiddleback (so named because it’s used on violins), makore, and sapele.
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Waterside Dreams
Waterside Dreams: Architect Randy Buffie incorporated the homeowners’ love of sailing into the architecture, including in the primary bedroom. “The sloped ceilings are inspired by boat sails and have LED-lit edges, so they appear to float,” he says.
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Glass Addition
Glass Addition: The glass room above the garage wasn’t part of the original design but was added to complement and balance the three-car garage. “The initial designs respected the clients’ space goals, but when they saw this concept, they had to have it,” Williams says. “It was the final piece to really make the front architecture complete.”
"I thought a lot about how to illuminate the interior, as the lake view is to the north and the sunlight comes from the south."
— Randy Buffie, Architect
Architecture and Interior Design: Buffie Architect, Randall M. Buffie, 612-747-3150, buffiearchitect.com // Builder: Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, 332 2nd St., Excelsior, 612-251-9750, mdwilliamshomes.com // Landscape Design: Livit Site and Structure, 651-755-4513, livitsitestructure.com // Cabinetry: Hipp Cabinetry, 4265 SE 28th St., Buffalo, 763-267-1784, hippcabinetry.com
