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CommentsThe Golden Years
This Wayzata home offers windows on the green—literally
By Lucie B. Amundsen
Photo by Amos/Smith Photography
Inside and out, no wood treatment was spared in this home built for a retired executive. The luxury starts at the pergola-covered entry and continues with the oak hardwood floors that meet broad baseboards. Wainscoting graces walls that give way to elaborate crown moldings, corbels, and box-styled crossbeams—even thick, freestanding wood case openings are used for definition within the open floor plan. “This use of wood is almost old-timey, back when things were built with such elegance,” says interior designer Karen Narr of Narr Construction.
To balance the abundance of wood tones in the home, cream-colored walls, trim work, and windows galore add radiance and light. Twenty-foot ceilings in the great room and formal dining room open up the house with a spaciousness that can be seen, and felt, from one end to the other.
Even while admiring all there is to see within, there is no way to miss the view—it’s like a wall-sized, high-definition TV tuned to the golf channel. The verdant Wayzata Country Club golf course is perfectly framed in the large expanse of windows. It is simply gorgeous.
More windows, this time for indoor viewing, comprise three walls of the home’s not-so-private library. One can select a book from enormous cherry built-ins and not miss a beat from the piano in the nearby music alcove.
Along this corridor sits what seems to be a large cedar closet, but it’s simply smart planning. Should the home’s residents ever wish to have an elevator for ease of mobility, the pre-planned space will ease installation. These foreword-thinking details are evident throughout the home, including an accessibility-sized shower with an adjustable hand-held showerhead.
Photo by Amos/Smith Photography
The owner’s bath, with polished-nickel fixtures in the spa tub and dual-headed shower, is tiled with attractive porcelain, “because it is less slippery when wet,” says Narr, explaining the thoughtful design. The room’s built-ins provide plenty of storage for towels and a charming cubby with a television to enjoy while soaking.
When guests come calling, the kitchen’s gourmet appliances, such as a six-burner stove and wall-mounted warming drawer, will be able to handle any affair. A clever pass-through pantry ensures that there is no wasted or dead-end space.
Even the over-sized eat-around island in the kitchen will not keep the party from the cheery dinette, wet bar, and attractive sunroom. A bank of windows overlooking the ironwood deck and one of the home’s three fireplaces make the sunroom a retreat. The 16-foot vaulted wood ceilings with ship-like dormer windows make it truly extraordinary.
Fortunate overnight visitors will enjoy one of three guest rooms located in the lower level. One guest suite boasts extras such as a sitting area, a built-in desk, and a private bath for an enhanced stay. The other two share a Jack-and-Jill bath.
The fun really begins with entertainment extras, such as a mirror and window-lined workout room with flat-screen television. A full bath with steam shower is nearby, as well as a wet bar for cooling down post-workout. Snacks can be ushered into the home theater, which features an 8-foot screen and custom sound engineering with acoustic wall panels, for the top-notch experience you’d expect from this Narr Construction project.
This home offers everything a retiree needs to make the most of his golden years.
Lucie B. Amundsen is a Minneapolis freelance writer.
Builder
Narr Construction
Home location
Wayzata
Suppliers
The Brass Handle
Cambria
Cartier Lighting
Enhanced Home Systems
Guyer’s Builder Supply
Haferman Water Conditioning, Inc.
Harmony Melamine Creations
Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies
Martha O’Hara Interiors
Marvin Windows and Doors
Minneapolis Glass Company
Peters Billiards
RBC Tile & Stone
11 ISSUES (1 YEAR)
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