Tech-Savvy Lodge

a room with a large fireplaceRuth Paarman is an Iowa editor and writer who frequently visits the Twin Cities.
Photos by jon huelskamp, landmark photography

Accoutrements lend modernity to a secluded château.

Old-fashioned building techniques and reclaimed wood blend with the latest technology in a “mountain château”—as Vince Birdsley, who co-owns MeadowBrook Builders with Tim King, dubs his creation. Just five minutes’ drive from Prior Lake, its Spring Lake Township location is also a stone’s throw from hunting, golfing, and angling opportunities. With 3.5 acres of land and 5,883 square feet at the resident’s disposal, Birdsley envisions the owner as an executive sportsman who is looking for a somewhat isolated retreat with a different atmosphere.

Dark brown cedar shakes and stone footings mesh the home with its site, while barn red trim and reclaimed-wood trusses arch over windows. Built in the mortise-and-tenon style, the impressive two-story great room continues the lodge-like feeling. A massive stone fireplace contrasts with the soft, wooded view. A cozy loft office overlooks it all. The room’s support timbers, ceiling, flooring, and mantels are made of timber reclaimed from a warehouse in Winona, and bear the nicks and nail holes from their former life. In fact, all of the home’s doors, millwork, and flooring are made of this reclaimed wood.

In the main-floor owner’s suite, a coffee bar—complete with sink, fridge, and icemaker—provides refreshment to enjoy on the balcony under the shade of a 100-year-old oak. A detachable master remote permits the homeowner to program lighting and to control the LCD TV, whole-home sound, security, temperature, and more—up to 20 total systems. “You can’t build a house like this and not deck it out with technology,” Birdsley says.

Natural materials define the owner’s bath: a slate-tile shower, soapstone counters and tub surrounds, and wood cabinetry. A tile-floor mosaic is warmed by in-floor heating.

A woodsy gourmet kitchen, hearth room, and glass conservatory occupy the opposite end of the main level. A stone archway surrounds the hand-hammered copper range hood, contrasting nicely with alder cabinetry. Commercial-grade appliances provide function, as does a hammered copper sink. The granite-topped island seats three on one side and provides a buffet counter on the other. A stained-glass inset highlights the pantry door. Leaded glass sidelights and transom windows open the room to the soothing conservatory, where a slate floor inlaid with wood lies underfoot.

Wide planks of reclaimed Douglas fir run through the kitchen floor to the hearth room. A homey seating area pulls up to a stone fireplace with a glazed alder mantel. Built-ins of the same wood hide a television.

The lower level provides several sizable gathering areas, inside and out. In the family room, supporting timbers and fireplace stone come together with a coffered ceiling in the sunken area. A small crowd can occupy the full bar and pub with game table. Guests can step up to the area to play and admire the hammered copper bar front. Red-veined marble surrounds the deep copper sink, and lighting gives the bar a professional edge. A drawer-style dishwasher complements the beverage center. For movie night, the home theater seats four and wows with a 90-inch projection television.

“The whole house is really built for entertaining,” says Birdsley. “There are so many great spaces — it’s hard to decide where to spend your time.”

The screen porch with a gas fireplace offers a offers a casual gathering spot. Step outside to the patio and down to a fire pit on a lower tier, and guests can enjoy the wetlands.

Identified by its ironwork and stained glass, the wine cellar houses 600 bottles. A hand-troweled ceiling and wall finish, herringbone slate floor, and cedar wine racks provide Old World style.

The fitness/guest room with a nearby bath can accommodate either guests or workouts with ease. Also on the lower level, two bedrooms—one of which has a nook for computers or musical instruments—share a tiled bath.

According to Birdsley, MeadowBrook Builders has hand-crafted the home as an entertainer’s paradise. “Every inch has something unique about it.”

BUILDER
Meadowbrook Builders, Inc.

HOME LOCATION
Spring Lake Township

SUPPLIERS
Appollo Systems
The Brass Handle
Guyer’s Builder Supply
Harmony Melamine
Creations by Scherer
Bros. Lumber Co.
LaCosta Architectural
Imports
Peters Billiards
Renaissance Exteriors
Roth Distributing
Company

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