You don’t always need a realtor to find your dream home.
TEA2 architects have helped many families find the home they’ve always wanted in the home they already own. We see beyond earlier remodels and limitations, creating spaces that truly enable modern living and entertaining. All while preserving or even enhancing the character and integrity of your original home, and working within the same footprint, if need be. These constraints demand a level of creativity and invention that new construction doesn’t (and, frankly, many new-construction-oriented firms just don’t have).
This 1901 cottage had a maze-like interior and begged for more street appeal.
In addition, our deep understanding of historic architecture helps us think in period-complementary ways, meaning your renovated home will always feel right at home in your neighborhood.
If you’re thinking about moving, call us first. You might find that the best home is the one you already have. Visit TEA2architects.com to learn more.
General contractor: Dovetail
Every home has a story.
photography by spacecrafting
I t ’ s W h e r e Y o u B e l o n g . Globally Inspired | Locally Designed
honeybee and flower
photo by
Diamond and 14k yellow gold pendants from The Honeycomb Collection. #Queenbee
From the Publisher
Dear Friends,
While I love each issue of Lake Society Magazine equally, there’s always something extra-special about our annual Spring issue—probably because we haven’t seen green grass, flowering gardens and leafy trees since last September!
Like Scott
Endres’s
lush St. Paul garden brimming with native and exotic plants, this issue is filled with beautiful homes and stunning outdoor environments,
including a mid-century-inspired swimming pool designed by landscape architect Jonathan Blaseg, and a modern pool house by architect Jackson Strom.
You’ll also find other fun features in this issue, including two intriguing stories of houses that called in their new owners. One is the home of Jessica and Peter Prudden, and the other is the Schutt house on Lake of the Isles, now the home of avid gardeners Tom Hoch and Mark Addicks.
I hope their story inspires you to visit Tangletown Gardens, say hello to Scott and plant your garden with colorful plants that’ll bloom through September.
Happy Spring!
Karen
–Karen Stoeckel, Publisher
770 Lake St E, Wayzata MN
DEA Italy - Trudon - Carleen - Lizzie Fortunato - Santa Maria Novella
ON THE COVER
Together with David Heide and Brad Belka, Scott Endres of Tangletown Gardens turned a derelict 1880s cottage into a grande dame.
E R E S O U R C E F U L R E N O VA T I O N a m y t h ?
The concept of renovation is to transform what exists, work creatively within limits. Chisel
5 2 . 4 2 6 . 8 6 6 3
Photo:
Partners: Highmark Builders / Prospect Refuge Studio / Spacecrafting Photography
Contents
SPRING 2025
34 IMAGINATION STYLE
Artist Richard Merchán welcomes gardening season with “White Picket Fence with Roses,” a painting that creates a warmer spring feeling to feed his soul.
36 THE TASTEMAKER DIARIES
From top-stitched aprons to rubber clogs and flowered raincoats, garden style is inspiring Andréa Dixon and Jen Ziemer of Fiddlehead Design Group to get outside and get their hands dirty.
38 MODERN HARMONY
Led by interior designer Martha Dayton and architect Bennett Bossert, a small renovation project in Linden Hills became the catalyst for a beautiful transformation.
46
SERENE RETREAT
The team at Francis King, Ltd. at International Market Square shares their favorite new selections from some of their premier outdoor furnishings brands.
48 HOUSE & GARDEN
When David Heide saw Scott Endres’s 1880s improbably ornamented Queen Anne cottage, he knew exactly how to put it back together to create a background for Endres’s fantastic gardens.
50 BLUEBIRD RISING
When a raging fire destroyed much of a family’s 1950s ranch house, architect Ben Awes and builders Rob and Mark Michals reimagined the home with a fresh modern spirit.
Landscape Issue
58 EARTHLY DELIGHTS
As stewards of the landmark Schutt house on Lake of the Isles, Tom Hoch and Mark Addicks have created an extraordinary garden for celebrating the solstice and other special events.
62 ANDREW ON DESIGN
Andrew Flesher loves designing kids’ rooms because they encourage a sense of whimsy, imagination, and fun—qualities he doesn’t often get to explore with grown-up spaces.
64 OLD SOUL
A new family home blends into its Lake of the Isles neighborhood as if it's been there all along.
72 REGARDING TRAVEL WITH KELLY CARUSO
Having spent decades traveling to New York, interior designer Kelly Caruso finds inspiration everywhere from the High Line to Hudson Yards and the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum.
74 POOL PARTY
Taking cues from a 1953 mid-century-modern home, landscape architect Jonathan Blaseg designed an outdoor living environment with a cool, minimal, California-style vibe.
82 INSTANT HAPPINESS
When serendipity brought Jessica and Peter Prudden back home to their favorite neighborhood near Lake of the Isles, it made total sense and gave them instant happiness.
86 IN THE SWIM
Having known architect Jackson Strom for many years, Austin and Laura Morris knew he’d understand their vision of a modern pool house for year-round swimming, entertaining and being close to nature.
IMAGINATION
Style
WHAT’S YOUR ZONE?
My what? Your gardening hardiness zone. Sounded like the lame question we used to ask: what’s your zodiac sign?
Why is it important for all gardeners to know their hardiness zones? For one, plants, shrubs and flowers can be temperamental. Some are sensitive to sun, some are sensitive to shade, some don’t do well with severe temperature drops while others are not tolerant to droughts. Gardeners need to know their soil and not only where bushes, trees or flowers are planted but when they are planted and the ideal time prune and trim. All of that is super time-consuming but I find that our Midwest gardening neighbors are generous about sharing their wisdom and also their plants.
This part of gardening, learning about zones is about as deep as I’m qualified to go. But what I can relate to is the emotional rewards from seeing, feeling and walking through a beautiful garden. Gardens from the beginning of time have inspired artists like VanGogh, O’Keeffe, Monet, and many others. The design of a garden and arrangement of different colored flowers juxtaposed against various textures and shades of greens, differing heights or even a water feature becomes an art installation on all its own.
It’s believed that gardening and digging in the dirt is a great antidote to those suffering with mental health challenges. First, the physical activity of gardening itself can boost one’s mood. And for those of us who don’t garden – the joyful benefit of seeing a beautifully designed and maintained garden is pure bliss.
This piece, WHITE PICKET FENCE WITH ROSES, a 12 X 12 inch acrylic on wood panel, was created on a cold Wintery day when I needed to feel closer to the earth. While the white snow covered all the beauty that was patiently waiting underground for its Spring arrival, I imagined it on canvas. This small painting was less about depicting any species of flower or type of fence, it was more about creating a happy and warmer Spring feeling to feed my soul.
Gardening season is upon us once again. I tell myself, regardless of your hardiness zone, don’t take any garden for granted. It’s a miracle how plants can survive our Winters, and the artistry of the gardener is often underappreciated. By the way, my zone is 4B. What’s yours?
Richard Merchán is a painter and sculptor creating in Minnesota and California. Learn more @ richardmerchan.com Merchán is represented by Hollie Blanchard hollie@artgirlsmpls.com 612.834.6565
–Minnie Aumonier
BODEGA CLOG
MODERN
Harmony
Led by interior designer Martha Dayton and architect Bennett Bossert, a small renovation project in Linden Hills became the catalyst for a beautiful transformation. written by melinda nelson, photography by bo carlock and rob grosse // spacecrafting
WWhile Martha Dayton is known for designing luxe new homes and condos, renovation is one of her many superpowers. She spent her formative years in Aspen, Colorado, so she has a reverence for classic homes in jewel box communities. “Renovation is both challenging and fun,” says Dayton. “I find it very rewarding to design within the walls and create beautiful spaces that look and feel cohesive and harmonious to the home.”
When Patrick Hargarten and Dore Niver commissioned Dayton to update the primary bathroom in their 1952 rambler in Linden Hills, she was delighted to help. She invited architect Bennett Bossert and artisan builder Dale Berns to lend their talents to the renovation. “Bennett has a gentle way of introducing the right designs in a manner that allows our clients and partners to participate in the process,” she says. “Dale is a true artist and an amazing finish carpenter, so I knew he’d bring exceptional craftsmanship to this special project.”
The bathroom had dark cabinetry and granite countertops, and the couple wanted to banish the darkness and create a peaceful, spa-like ambiance with a refined palette of organic colors and natural textures. As they began reimagining the space with Dayton and her colleague Alex Loosigian, the conversations sparked an exciting transformation. “Martha and Alex took the time to get to know us, and then they brought all of these options to us that represented what we were saying about ourselves,” says Hargarten. “As we started working with them on the design of the bathroom, it was such a leap forward in the house. Once we had the feel of the bathroom, it just seemed natural to carry that through the rest of the house.”
Always game for a big idea, Dayton and her team began redesigning the living room with new lighting, modern furnishings (including a table from Timber & Tulip in Wayzata), original art and a statement fireplace wall with an innovative panel that conceals the television when it’s not in use. Berns was demo-ing the bathroom when Hargarten and Niver had another design epiphany. “They called and said they wanted to also refresh the kitchen, which made perfect sense,” says Dayton. “Alex and I quickly reconvened with Bennett and Dale and created a plan that allowed the kitchen and living room to talk to each other.” Without changing the footprint of the narrow galley kitchen, the team created a stronger visual connection to the living room and a more efficient layout with a coffee bar, and Berns finished the space with Dayton’s palette of warm finishes, custom cabinetry, flooring and lighting.
“Dore and I surprised ourselves at how calm and at ease we stayed during the whole process, because renovation can be stressful and a big deal,” says Hargarten. “Bennett, Dale, Martha and Alex are really talented individuals, so they made it easy and fun. They’re at the top of their game in terms of their areas of expertise, which really made it wonderful to work with them.”
“I find it very rewarding to design within the walls and create beautiful spaces that look and feel
cohesive and harmonious to the home.”
– MARTHA DAYTON
•
•
•
project credits:
interior design: martha dayton and alex loosigian, martha dayton design
architecture: bennett bossert, bennett bossert studio
builder: dale berns, metro homes
“Bennett, Dale, Martha and Alex are really talented individuals, so they made it easy and fun.”
–PATRICK HARGARTEN
SERENE Retreat
Francis King Ltd. located at International Market Square, shares a few favorites from their premier outdoor furnishing brands.
Summer Classics
Palecek
Lane Venture
SAVOR SUMMER IN STYLE
Transforming outdoor spaces into serene, comfortable retreats starts with the right furnishings. Summer Classics, Palecek, and Lane Venture are known for their blend of timeless design, durability, and all-weather performance. From cozy lounge chairs to elegant dining sets, these collections offer versatile options for creating inviting outdoor environments.
Francis King offers a curated selection of outdoor furnishings that highlight quality craftsmanship and thoughtful design, helping designers bring their clients’ visions to life.
Palecek
Lane Venture
When David Heide was growing up in Des Moines, his favorite place was Salisbury House, a gracious 1920s manor house that had been commandeered for the Iowa State Education Association. Heide’s mother was a board member, so he’d tag along to her meetings and then disappear into the 22,000-sq.ft. home, a portmanteau of Tudor, Gothic and Carolean styles.
“Being at Salisbury House was a formative experience,” says Heide. “As I explored the 44 rooms, the gardens and the woodlands, I came to understand the relationship between the house and its natural context. I learned that style is a language, a set of rules that create a sense of connection to time and place. Most importantly, I learned that these rules can be followed, played with and ultimately broken.”
Heide went on to study architecture, classical languages and interior design, and in 1997, he established David Heide Design Studio to provide clients with architecture, interior design and historic restoration services. While Heide’s work has taken him all over the country from Palm Springs to Boca Grande, one of his favorite restoration projects is in St. Paul’s Summit-University neighborhood.
Scott Endres, owner of Tangletown Gardens in Minneapolis, was restoring a derelict 1880s cottage, and he asked Heide to help recreate the construction and detailing. “I walked up the path and the cottage, an improbably ornamented Queen Anne, spoke to me in an exuberant Victorian sonnet,” Heide recalls. “I loved what remained of the porch, the vestiges of exotic Moorish references, the pointed arches and the saw-cut fretwork, and I knew exactly how to put it all back together as a background to Scott’s fantastic gardens.”
Heide and his colleague Brad Belka designed the façade with a wraparound porch with dentil molding, narrow cigar columns and wide steps expertly crafted by Wayne Petrie. Endres and colorist Earl Gutnik selected a vivacious, historically appropriate palette of avocado, mustard and cinnabar. The colors spark a fascinating dialogue with the gardens, a fearless juxtaposition of tropical and native plants that spill over the wall and onto the boulevard, inviting passers-by to stop and say good day to the grandest dame in the neighborhood.
HOUSE &
David Heide, Brad Belka and Scott Endres
turn an 1880s Queen Anne into a grande dame. written by melinda nelson, photography by david heide design studio
Garden
BLUEBIRD
When a raging fire destroyed much of a family’s 1950s ranch house, Ben Awes and Rob and Mark Michals reimagined the home with a fresh modern spirit.
written by melinda nelson, photography by vondelinde
Rising
“Rob and Mark are outstanding architectural builders, and more important, they’re great people.”
–BEN AWES
IImagine coming home from traveling and finding your house on fire. For Shane Mechelke and Angela Cavalier, the unthinkable became reality when they discovered smoke billowing from their 1950s ranch house. Fortunately, the St. Louis Park Fire Department came to the rescue and extinguished a raging fire in the attic. In more good news, the house was well-built, so even after the firefighters spent several hours soaking the house, the foundation and several walls were intact and the front wall with a vintage bay window and stone façade were still standing in testament to the family’s love of their home and neighborhood.
The couple owns a business in creative technology and they both have a passion for design, so they seized the opportunity to re-imagine their home from the ground up. They called Ben Awes of CityDeskStudio, an architect whose work they admired, and he introduced them to Mark and Rob Michals, brothers and co-owners of Ridge Construction. “Rob and Mark are outstanding architectural builders, and more important, they’re great people,” says Awes. “They’re a full partner in the design and construction process and they work hard to ensure that the design is realized and the budget and schedule are met.”
Cavalier and Mechelke share a sophisticated design sensibility and an appreciation for mid-century modern architecture, so they wanted a two-story modern home unlike anything else in the neighborhood, with a butterfly roof, more light and a natural connection to the outdoors. In addition to exciting architectural ideas, the couple brought materials, colors and a collection of art from around the world for reference and inspiration. “Angela and Shane have fantastic taste and diverse interests, and they entrusted us to interpret and reimagine their rich visual language into a new home that’s eclectic yet unified and layered with life,” continues Awes.
Working closely with the couple and the Michals, Awes designed several variations of a butterfly roof with the wings going every which way. The resulting design became Bluebird, an inspired combination of a butterfly roof and a flat roof in an innovative expression of the couple’s daring aesthetic. "The unusually high level of collaboration throughout the design and building process made this a unique and fun project,” says Mark Michals.
When the couple shared their obsession with herringbone parquet floors, Awes used them throughout the main floor and designed a walnut staircase and millwork, sleek white and walnut cabinetry, whitewashed wood ceilings and custom shoji screens inspired by the couple’s love of Japan. “The design process is one of discovery, of uncovering ideas that resonate with our clients while always keeping our eyes open for the ordinary and extraordinary,” says Awes. To the delight of the couple’s three boys, he designed a Hardy Boys-style secret space on the lower level, accessed by a blue firepole in their bedroom. When the Michals were finished building Bluebird, Cavalier curated the family’s mid-century-style furniture, original art, colorful rugs and lush plants to bring it to life and make it feel like home.
“ The design process is one of discovery, of uncovering ideas that resonate
with our clients while always keeping our eyes open for the ordinary and extraordinary.”
–BEN AWES
project credits:
• architecture: citydeskstudio
• builder: ridge construction
• interior design: angela cavalier
EARTHLYDelights
As stewards of the Schutt house, Mark Addicks and Tom Hoch transformed the barren yard into an enchanting garden for parties and celebrations.
written by melinda nelson, photography by eyelovephoto unless noted photo by bo carlock // spacecrafting
MMore than a century ago, Mendon Schutt surprised his fiancée Clara with a house on Lake of the Isles and the newlyweds moved into the house on their wedding night. Clara was a dear friend of Eloise Butler and she gave her plants for what is now the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary. The Schutts’ daughter Elizabeth, who inherited her mother’s love of gardening, was a longtime member of The Friends of the Wildflower Garden. She lived in her family’s house until her passing in 1998 and the home remained in the family until 2012, when Tom Hoch and Mark Addicks bought it with a promise to have and to hold, and to never tear it down.
True to their word, they’re extraordinary stewards of the Schutt home and gardens, which they’ve lovingly restored and reimagined. With the help of architect Laurel Ulland, they renovated every inch of the house from the roof to the front porch footings. Both men are avid gardeners, so their green thumbs were itching throughout the construction process. When the house was finally finished in 2013, they turned their talents to the barren yard, which had served as a parking lot for the construction vehicles.
Addicks, a Master Gardener, and Hoch rolled up their sleeves and did most of the work themselves. They nourished the earth with hundreds of pounds of fortified soil from the University of Minnesota and with the help of Sticks and Stones Designs, they defined the garden with walls and curving bluestone pathways. Following in Clara and Elizabeth Schutt’s footsteps, they planted the beds with nearly 2,000 astilbe, allium, hydrangea, sedum, pulmonaria and other flowering perennials from Stockholm Gardens in Wisconsin and Tangletown Gardens in Minneapolis so their garden would bloom all season long.
The following June, the couple invited friends to a Summer Solstice party on the longest day of the year. With the sun high over Lake of the Isles, guests strolled around the garden, perched on the porch and sat on the wide steps as the sounds of laughter and the cascading antique fountain filled the air. Midway through the party, Addicks and Hoch clinked their glasses and surprised their guests with some delightful news.
While their house was under construction, the State of Minnesota had remodeled its outdated marriage laws, so on the morning of the solstice, the men were married on their porch. In a sweet repeat of their home’s happy history, the Summer Solstice Party was also their wedding reception, complete with champagne, buttercream frosted cupcakes and hugs all around. When the sun finally set at 9:04 p.m., the celebration was still in full swing and the house and gardens were aglow with love—and, no doubt, blessings from the Schutt family.
project credits: • landscape design: mark addicks, tom hoch and sticks & stones designs
ANDREW DESIGN on
Designing kids’ rooms takes me back to my childhood, when my parents bought me shelter magazines and gave me free rein to design my bedroom. In grade school, I was feeling country, so my room had rustic wood paneling and Shaker pegs for my clothes. I was a voracious reader of Architectural Digest, House Beautiful and Metropolitan Home, so by the time I was in high school, I was a modernist. I painted the walls in a pale linen hue, added custom glass shelves, took up the carpeting and refinished the floors to create a clean, minimal backdrop for my life. Designing my own room allowed me to be curious, creative and adventurous, and I love helping my young clients discover their own unique style.
photography by spacecrafting
“I love brainstorming with kids because they approach design with pure imagination, unrestrained by practicality or rules, and their enthusiasm inspires me to think outside the box.”
“ A child’s room is a little corner of the world that’s entirely their own.”
–Andrew Flesher, interior designer
“Designing a child’s room is about creating a cherished memory. The space becomes part of their childhood story and long after they’ve outgrown it, they’ll remember it and smile.”
“Children’s rooms encourage a sense of whimsy, imagination, and fun— qualities I don’t often get to explore with grown-up spaces.”
“The best part about using quirky patterns, bright colors and bold themes? The design doesn’t have to be set in stone since kids grow quickly, and by middle school, their room will likely need a refresh.”
“Designing kids’ rooms allows me to tap into my inner child. It’s a rare opportunity to let go of the constraints of timeless trends and embrace playful creativity.”
OLDSoul
A new family home blends into its Lake of the Isles neighborhood as if it’s been there all along. written by berit thorkelson photography by mike
and michael green // spacecrafting
mccaw
“We’ve traveled and lived around the country, and I can’t think of another city that offers anything like Lake of the Isles’ particular vibe.” –THE HOMEOWNER
IIt was mid-winter when the family of four moved to the Twin Cities from Texas. The plan: Cozy up in a home in the western suburbs as they found the right spot to build something uniquely theirs.
A few months later, parents dropped off kids at a Saturday activity as the weather warmed on their first Minnesota spring. They found themselves in a neighborhood they hadn’t been to yet, along a beautiful, busy lake with city views. In all their moves and travels, they’d never seen anything like Lake of the Isles. “We fell in love,” the homeowner says. “There was one lot available on the lake at the time, and we snapped it up immediately.”
They were lucky to have found it, the former site of a sprawling garden for the house next door. The challenge lay before them: Build a lake-loving home that took full advantage of the deep, narrow lot, with enough space for an active young family. Also — and this was key — it must fit in among the century homes in its established Lake of the Isles neighborhood.
The couple interviewed a few potential architectural firms, and this fit, too, quickly made sense.” This wasn’t a site we could take a chance on, and Dan and Tyler at TEA2 knew exactly what it needed,” the homeowner says, referring to TEA2’s Dan Nepp, principal, and Tyler Hillger, senior project manager. “They came up with what we call their masterpiece.”
To create it, TEA2 proposed a modern translation of English Arts and Crafts style with a trio of gables that run parallel to the street, establishing a contemporary rowhouse form to maximize the lot. The front gable is narrower, and flanked by the entrance and windowed study, effectively granting natural light and lake views to rooms farther back in the home. It also minimizes the home’s street presence — the airy, nearly 10,000 sq. ft. two-story reads like a smaller storyand-a-half.
They managed the site’s height to great design advantage, too. “We saw it as a way to get prospect, but also privacy,” Nepp says. That meant dual brick walls to ease the transition to private space, namely a terrace with pocket doors that open to connect it seamlessly to the home’s living room. This allows both living spaces a lake view that bypasses the sidewalk and street below.
Similarly, the kitchen sits a few steps up from the living room, allowing it better vantage. Off this central core, sunny nooks for casual and formal dining deliver intimacy, intrigue and flow.
Behind the kitchen, a skylight caps the open stairwell, which warms all three levels with natural light and wood. The bedrooms are consolidated upstairs, including the owners’ suite with den and dual walk-in closets, plus a bank of windows and a balcony featuring lake views.
The lower level’s exposed structural steel, recessed wood panels and layered lighting set a casual tone for connected gathering spaces, including a sunken movie-viewing pit open to two bowling lanes that run the length of the home.
The homeowners love everything about it, inside and out, and say it definitely delivered on its promise to the neighborhood. “People stop and tell me, ‘This was my favorite house on Lake of the Isles growing up.’ They think it's been there forever,” he says. “And that, to me, is the best compliment.”
project credits:
• architect: tea2 architects: dan nepp, aia, principal, and tyler hillger, aia, senior project manager
• builder: anderson reda
• landscape design: travis van liere studio
Simone de Beauvoir once said, "There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless”, a sentiment echoed by interior designer and travel aficionado Kelly Caruso of Regarding Design. Having spent decades traveling to NYC for work, she finds the city an endless source of creative and professional inspiration.
From historic brownstones to the sleek modernism of Hudson Yards, New York’s architectural diversity fuels her passion for design. Institutions like MoMA and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum offer insights into evolving styles and craftsmanship.
Beyond design, the city's role as a global business hub shapes trends and opportunities. The fusion of commerce and creativity— reflected in luxury showrooms, high-end retail, and cutting-edge hospitality—has influenced Kelly’s work. Whether exploring Brooklyn’s creative hubs, admiring Bushwick’s street art, or uncovering hidden architectural gems, she sees New York as a constantly evolving canvas, fueling both artistic vision and business innovation.
Regarding
Travel
with KELLY CARUSO
Art and Architecture Excursions:
~Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
Dedicated exclusively to historical and contemporary design, showcasing an extensive collection of decorative arts, textiles, and cutting-edge innovations.
~Hudson Yards
Development on Manhattan’s West Side, featuring sleek skyscrapers, luxury shopping, world-class dining, and cultural landmarks like The Vessel and The Shed, making it a dynamic hub for architecture, business, and design innovation.
~The High Line
An elevated park featuring architectural installations, landscape design, and rotating public art pieces.
~The Met Cloisters
A stunning museum in Upper Manhattan dedicated to medieval European art and architecture, offering a unique design experience.
~Wall Street
If you know people, get a behind the scenes look at the New York Stock Exchange. If not, don’t worry. You can take a guided tour to learn about the district’s influence on world markets and architecture.
~Bushwick Street Art Collective
Located in Brooklyn, it is a vibrant open-air gallery, featuring bold murals and graffiti from worldrenowned and emerging artists, transforming industrial buildings into a dynamic canvas of creativity and urban expression.
~DUMBO Art District
Features galleries, pop-up art installations, and some of the best industrial-chic architecture in Brooklyn.
Party
designed a modern pool house for entertaining in every season.
Architect Jackson Strom
written by melinda nelson, photography by michael green // spacecrafting
LLike the Red River that flows north through the prairie, Fargo has always been a wellspring of great design and architecture. It’s the home of North Dakota State University, renowned for its art and architecture programs, the art-filled boutique Hotel Donaldson, and the Plains Art Museum, host of Progressive Architecture Dinners that showcase the work of top Fargo architects and chefs.
The city’s appreciation for the arts was one of the many reasons that architect Jackson Strom, a South Dakota native and NDSU alum, opened his own studio in the heart of Fargo nearly six years ago. He and his team work with clients from Montana to Lake Minnetonka, designing homes with an organic connection to mountains, prairie, rivers and lakes.
Like many of Strom’s clients, Austin and Laura Morris have a beautiful property on the Red River. With four young children and countless friends in and around Fargo, the couple wanted to create a place for year-round swimming, entertaining and being close to nature in every season. Having known Strom for many years, Austin knew that Strom would understand their vision of a modern structure that had its own personality, yet would play well with their home, which they’d built eight years ago.
“Austin and Laura are very creative and enthusiastic collaborators,” says Strom. “They envisioned an immersive, multi-faceted environment with an outdoor patio and a firepit, an enclosed swimming pool, a living green wall, comfortable places for hanging out while the kids are swimming, a kitchen and bar, a bathroom, shower and laundry.”
“Working with Jackson and his team was visually exciting and dream-spirited,” says Austin. “Every meeting had a spirit of care for our goals, ideas, and aesthetic. Laura and I appreciated seeing in 3D what was possible, and we had fun getting to the final design.”
Inspired by the couple’s ideas and sketches, Strom designed a 1,200-sq.-ft. modern structure with clerestory windows and other details that create a lively conversation with the main house. Working hand in hand with landscape architect Bryan Leininger, Strom sited the pool house to create long views of the wooded riverfront while concealing the structure from the street. “Together with Bryan and builder Eric Berg, we engineered the house like a Swiss Army knife with sliding doors, phantom screens, an outdoor audio system with landscape-integrated speakers and even a projector and a drop-down outdoor video screen for movie nights,” says Strom.
Leininger carried the design language through the landscape with spruce decking, custom pavers and steel planters. To create a strong sense of place, he planted pollinator-friendly species from the Tallgrass Prairie ecosystem including prairie dropseed, miscanthus, echinacea and rudbeckia, and installed integrated lighting systems so the pool house glows like a lantern when dusk falls on the prairie.
“Great designers enhance the lived experience,” says Austin. “They marry form and function without compromising either, and Jackson and his team did that in our project. It’s a joy just being in our pool house and we wouldn’t change a thing.”
“ Working with Jackson and his team was visually exciting and dream-spirited.
Every meeting had a spirit of care for our goals, ideas, and aesthetic.”
–AUSTIN MORRIS
“Like the Red River that flows north through the prairie, Fargo has always been a wellspring of great design and architecture.”
project credits:
• architecture: jackson strom and shea selly, strom architecture
After renting a house near Lake of the Isles, serendipity brought Jessica and Peter Prudden back home to their favorite neighborhood. written by melinda nelson, photography by bo carlock // spacecrafting
“This house is a proud moment because it reflects our life and the properties we represent.”
– JESSICA PRUDDEN
LLike the paths that wind around Lake of the Isles, life has come full circle for Jessica and Peter Prudden. As real estate brokers, the Pruddens are known for their uncanny ability to find unusual properties and off-market opportunities for their clients. If there’s a secret to their success, it’s a powerful combination of their elevated aesthetic, down-to-earth style, tireless work ethic, and their belief that timing always leads them to the right destination.
When they launched Prudden Company in the North Loop, they were living in a loft at International Market Square. But their dog Morgan was getting older, so they started looking for a house to make his life easier. Serendipitously, one of Jessica’s clients was moving to Australia for 18 months, so she and Peter offered to rent his house near Lake of the Isles while he and his family were overseas. “Even though the house had a quirky layout with a narrow galley kitchen, five bedrooms and a full bathroom off the foyer, it was a great fit for us and our daughter Lily,” says Peter. “We loved being able to step out the front door, walk to Brim and Tao Organic Café, and go to the dog park.”
The client and his family came back to Minneapolis so the Pruddens said goodbye to their neighbors and bought a 1938 Cape Cod in Golden Valley. They were planning to update the interiors but the renovation never came to fruition. “We
couldn’t put our finger on it, but we decided there must be a reason why it wasn’t happening, so we paused our plans,” says Jessica.
Jessica’s client eventually decided to return to Australia, so he asked her to list the house. She did 50 showings, but there were no buyers. “The floorplan was challenging, so many people didn’t want to take on a complex renovation,” recalls Jessica. The house had been on the market for six months when she had another idea. “Jessica suggested we buy the house, which made total sense and gave us both instant happiness,” says Peter. “It just felt right, so we couldn’t pass it up.”
Knowing the house inside and out, the couple understood exactly what it needed, including a more organic flow, more natural light and no wasted space. Cabinetmaker Mark Hurley recommended architect Bennett Bossert, and Bossert brought in Chris Marsden, a builder who’d renovated many homes around the East Isles neighborhood. The 3,400-sq.-ft. house had great bones, so Bossert and Marsden opened up the rooms and created an intentional purpose for each space. New windows create more light while providing privacy, and a steel staircase and a glass and steel door by artisan Mark Bouchard lend a gutsy North Loop vibe to the palette of serene colors and luxe textures.
“This house is a proud moment because it reflects our life and the properties we represent,” says Jessica. “We wake up every day and we’re so happy to be back in our house in the neighborhood we love.”
IN THE Swim
Jonathan Blaseg turned a Golden Valley backyard into a luxe alfresco living environment.
written by melinda nelson,
photography by vondelinde
WWill and Erin Cochran loved everything about their mid-century modern home in Golden Valley, from the abundant natural light to the unusually private backyard. But, with two young daughters, the 1,000-square-foot home wasn’t ideal for their family’s active lifestyle. And, when the pandemic made the spaces feel even smaller, the couple decided to pull up their roots and find a new home.
But, as they quickly realized, there’s no place like their 1953 home, so they decided to add a new primary suite, a powder room and a family room, and eventually, an outdoor living environment with a swimming pool. Erin’s friend Patti Soskin, owner of Yum! Kitchen & Bakery, suggested they call Tommy Everson, an architect with a unique understanding of mid-century modern homes. Everson recommended Jonathan Blaseg of PEBL Design, an award-winning landscape architect, and Bob Near of Near & Streeter Custom Builders.
It was 2021 and lumber prices were still fluctuating wildly so the couple decided to put the renovation on the back burner. They dove headfirst into the pool and landscape design project with Blaseg. “Jonathan is a fantastic partner,” says Will. “Even though he’s designed high-profile landscapes all over the world, he’s down to earth and approachable, so Erin and I had an instant connection with him.”
The Cochrans have a passion for good design and they love doing the AIA MN Homes by Architects Tour and the Artisan Home Tour, so they had a clear vision for their project. “We wanted our backyard to feel sophisticated, stylish and authentic to our home, with a cool, minimal, California-style vibe,” says Erin.
Taking cues from the mid-century modern aesthetic of the Cochrans’ house, Blaseg designed a luxe alfresco living environment with a swimming pool with wide steps for soaking up the sun, a patio for lounging and entertaining, and a grove of birch trees that create a serene, shady space. The couple admired a statement bench in singer Mandy Moore’s Pasadena backyard, so Blaseg designed and fabricated a custom bench that does double duty as a piece of art. Working together with Everson and Near, Blaseg designed the swimming pool to time out perfectly with the addition so that when the renovation was complete, it would appear to be original to the home.
The Cochrans were thrilled with the results and impressed by Blaseg’s thoughtfulness and attention to detail. “In addition to developing an amazing design, Jonathan made sure there weren’t going to be any surprises in terms of the costs,” says Will. The following year, the couple finished the addition with Everson and Near. Between the azure swimming pool, the lush lawn and the light-filled hallway with a vibrant diptych by artist Colter Jacobs, the Cochrans’ backyard looks like a glossy spread from a vintage copy of Sunset Magazine, chronicler of the OG California lifestyle.
“We wanted our backyard to feel sophisticated, stylish and authentic to our home, with a cool, minimal,
California-style vibe.”
–ERIN COCHRAN
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