Lake Lydiard Home
LAKE LYDIARD HOME
Wittman Estes
ARCHITECTS
Wittman Estes
BUILDER
Nor-Son Custom Builders, Aspect Design/Build
DESIGN TEAM
Matt Wittman, Hayley Snider, Angela Yang
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Wittman Estes
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Align Structural
PHOTOGRAPHS
Daniel Jenkins
AREA
8945 ft²
YEAR
2024
LOCATION
United States
CATEGORY
Houses
English description provided by the architects.
Remodel of fashion designer's new family home unlocks hidden potential of historic estate. A major renovation reimagines a historic 3-acre country estate in Minnesota.
A new floor plan layout and interiors modernize the home with a contemporary look and flow for a young California family.
The sprawling, serially remodeled historic house on the shore of Lake Lydiard had dim, disconnected interiors that blocked the sightlines between rooms.
The mismatched styles of five successive renovations over the last century left the expansive 8,945-square-foot house feeling small and dark.
Disjointed remodels included one for the art collection of the editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. A 1980s postmodern exterior overhaul layered on thickened trim, oversize square posts, and a smoked glass half-round port cochère.
The 1990s kitchen remodel added heavy, dark surfaces and trim and multiple small islands.
Originally from California, the new homeowners and their two children were accustomed to indoor-outdoor living.
They bought the Lake Lydiard estate and needed to adapt their warm California lifestyle to the cold Minnesota climate.
Used to sunshine and surf culture, the family was new to the snow and ice and uncomfortable with the dark inward emphasis of the new house.
The client, a fashion designer, called on architect Matt Wittman, whose firm, Wittman Estes, designed two previous houses for the family in Seattle.
Wittman Estes based the new design on natural beauty surrounding the house, opening views to the lake and forest.
In the foyer, a blocky central stairwell was replaced with a sculptural, curving stair. New expanded windows and doors open onto an outdoor terrace with a new trellis.
A new white oak entry door and steel and cedar trellis bring a California vibe to the quiet classic façade, weaving together old and new.
In the entertainment room, a plaster fireplace with precast concrete hearth replaced the 1990s brick. New wood soffits and terrazzo tile floors add warmth and texture to the room.
Expanded doors and windows were raised closer to the ceiling to bring in lake views. Kitchen walls were opened up to connect sightlines to the foyer and stairway.
The architects removed the small islands and simplified them into a single, central bi-level island. Dark-stained maple and black granite counters were replaced with white oak casework and marble countertops.
Having worked together for over ten years, the collaboration between architect and fashion designer yielded a fresh style rooted in a historic house and a common passion for outdoor living.
The formerly inconsistent spaces are now connected, enabling the family to enjoy outdoor decks, pool, and the lake through the seasons.
Entertaining both small and large groups is made easy with the new flow through the house.
