Chisel Architecture affectionately adorns each home they design with a name. Sometimes this happens early in the project, other times it evolves throughout the design process. When a name emerges it’s often quirky and full of personality. Cherry Mash Modern honors such a story — its name centered on the homeowners’ way of life, drawn from their easeful entertaining style and the welcoming vibe they create.
Early in the project process, homeowners Brian and Kristin shared that they enjoy creating a signature cocktail for each gathering they host. Specifically, they detailed one evening where crafting the signature drink involved picking, mashing and muddling cherries. This attention to detail spilled over into a conversation about how the friends they’ve made throughout their lives seem to find their way back into their home, despite a series of moves prior to creating their forever home. And now, after living in their new home for nearly a year, they’ve found even new neighbors are gravitating over. This occurrence is not random; it’s a trend that stems from the couple’s effervescence when it comes to hosting.
Photography by Rob Grosse, Videography by Beau Meier / Spacecrafting
The design for Cherry Mash Modern truly supports the vibrant duo’s lifestyle. It was uncovered through Chisel Architecture’s Pattern of Life, the firm’s trademarked design process. Chisel co-founders Marcy Townsend and Sara Whicher devote time to exploring every homeowners’ journey to-date. In this case, the couple, having lived in several homes and near perfected approach to entertaining, had already made such intentional choices that cued the Chisel team into their lifestyle.
For years, the couple scouted potential locations to build a new home, including several on Lake Minnetonka, a sprawling lake that bustles with activity. Their search ultimately led them to narrow in on securing property on a quieter lake area, prioritizing peace and nature. When they first visited what would become the site for their new home, they knew immediately that it was the perfect property. And today, they couldn’t be happier with the tranquility of the smaller lake with no motorized activities and love hearing children play at the nearby beach. The duo even started adapting their entertaining style to be more active, involving activities like kayaking and paddleboarding — a shift that feels easeful and new. In the winter, they engage in cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and Brian is in the process of building an ice-skating rink.
One of their favorite aspects of their new home is how seamlessly it flows between the indoor and outdoor spaces. The design feels so intuitive, thoughtful and connected. When guests visit, it’s often a sequence of entering, preparing for an activity in the mudroom and powder room off the foyer, heading down the stairs, perhaps mixing up a cocktail at the bar or grabbing a hydrating beverage, then heading out to the patio area or taking a short series of steps to the beach they call Heron Beach. The flow allows guests to be completely self-sufficient. Nothing is precious, every aspect is accessible and welcoming.
The iconic butterfly roof is a standout feature, which sets the tone for the home’s thoughtful design. The lighting, meticulously studied and planned by the Chisel team, strikes all the right notes throughout the course of the day and evening. With sweeping lake views provided by floor-to-ceiling and clerestory windows, the natural light is the home’s art. How it shifts and plays throughout the space draws one into it. It creates a connected experience to nature and achieves a modern hygge vibe, channeling comfort and coziness that sparks feelings of contentment or well-being. Brian and Kristin are thriving and entertaining with ease, and Chisel was happy to be a part of the journey by creating their forever home — an urban oasis that has everything they need now and in the future.
