‘Modern, rustic, farmhouse’
Photos courtesy Amanda Schultz The Ruhland lake home near Vergas is a blend of modern and rustic farmhouse design.
A blend of styles and the use of reclaimed materials help make this Vergas lake home a one-of-a-kind family gathering place
Energy-efficient windows provide a beautiful view of the surrounding lake country in the Ruhland lake home.
BY ROSALIN ALCOSER Summer Home
Craig and Jess Ruhland lake home, built in 2016 near Vergas, is a “modern, rustic, farmhouse blend of styles,” says Kelli Wegscheid, the home’s architect and owner of Harmonious Architecture in Perham. “It’s a fabulous lake house that the owners wanted to create not only for their family, but also for their extended family.” “My wife and I were trying to create a really great place where our family could all gather,” says Craig Ruhland. The house was featured in the 2019 Lakes Area Home Tour, put on by the 549 Foundation, and is energy efficient, uses reclaimed materials from the Ruhlands’ family farms in North Dakota and southern Minnesota, and is a beautiful and fun place for family gatherings. “It has SIPs, which is structural insulated paneling,” Wegscheid says. “It’s a piece of insulation between plywood, so it’s like a foam panel that they’re using instead of walls and ceiling, which is like super insulation.” The house also has an in-floor heating system and 4 | Summer Home 2020