The team at Grace Hill Design has always believed that the best homes are built around people — how and where they gather, rest, and return again and again. It’s a philosophy rooted in warmth and intention, one that comes alive in their new Lake Minnetonka project. A second home designed to feel as if it’s an heirloom cottage, it has a relaxed, put-your-feet-up vibe and captures the essence of family life. “We’re always thinking about the family home being the hub of everything,” says Grace Hill founder and Principal Designer Kristi Patterson.
Photography by Alyssa Lee
From the beginning, the clients envisioned a vacation home close enough to their actual home to use often (it’s less than 30 minutes away), but distinct enough to feel like an escape. In short, a refuge that could host friends and extended family with ease and, over time, become a legacy property for generations to come.
Accordingly, the homeowners wanted the abode to feel well-worn, as though it had been passed down rather than newly constructed. Patterson and her team answered with a “classic cottage” approach, visible from the outset in its Dutch Colonial architecture and reinforced the moment you step inside and onto the pine floors. In fact, Patterson selected the flooring first, knowing the soft wood evoked a lived-in feel. Whitewashed shiplap walls and exposed raftered ceilings add to the rough-hewn charm. The result is a space that encourages bare feet, wet towels and dogs underfoot.
Designed for easy living, the floor plan prioritizes connection. Open living spaces allow gathering without crowding, while nuanced details ensure the home can flex as needed. A dedicated bunkroom ensures sleepovers and weekends with friends are part of the home’s natural rhythm. An office tucked behind a staircase off the living room provides a cozy space to work, relax or just read, with navy-painted paneling and pops of plaid that add to its classic comfort. “Color plays a subtle but meaningful role,” says Patterson, who cleverly uses navy as a neutral to bring in softness. “Shades of blue create continuity while allowing each room its own personality.”
The primary bedroom feels especially serene, with built-in sky-blue cabinetry. “It’s so cozy and beautiful,” says Project Director Julie Paul. Indeed, it evokes an effortlessness in both form and function that is particularly lovely for a part-time home. The cabinets are stocked with fresh linens for easy turnovers (and plenty of extra towels in the summertime) as well as open space dedicated for guests’ belongings, while the arched ceiling adds to the lofty dreaminess of the space. In the en-suite bath, checkerboard marble floors in soft gray tones strike a balance between classic and casual, while mirrors are suspended above the vanities to allow lake views to take center stage.
But the home’s hallmark is its relationship to the outdoors. Floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors span the entire back of the house, framing epic lake views, blurring the distinction between inside and out, and reinforcing lake life as the heartbeat of the home. Plus, Patterson brings the outside in, with low-maintenance performance fabrics, quartz countertops, and homespun touches like hand-painted leafy greens and blueberries on the marble tile backsplash.
Outside, a large deck extends from the main level, while below, a bluestone patio boasts cozy outdoor sofas and swivel chairs. A nearby sauna serves as yet another alluring destination for gathering. A screened-in patio offers shade and shelter, while a long, classic front porch with Adirondack chairs and lounge seating beckons.
The narrow lot, with its unique elevation, required some architectural savviness. The situation called for the garage to be a separate structure across from the main house, which created a courtyard-like space. Rather than seeing this as a limitation, the architect and design team leaned in, designing the area as an additional entertaining zone — complete with a kid-friendly lounge space — while simultaneously using it to enhance the property’s privacy and flow.
This Lake Minnetonka cottage reflects a meaningful evolution for Grace Hill Design. After 15 years in their downtown Wayzata storefront, Patterson decided to step away from retail and focus exclusively on design. With luxury primary and secondary home projects spanning the country, the firm is now able to devote their energy to what they love most: designing full homes, from renovation to new construction, that, at their core, bring families together.
And at its core, this lake house is about togetherness. It’s about kids running in from the lake and doors being thrown open to catch the breeze. And decades later, it’s about the grown children returning with families of their own. The Grace Hill Design team understands that homes aren’t just places to live; they’re places to belong.
Project Partners
Interior designer: Grace Hill Design
Architect: Murphy & Co. Design
Builder: Knutson Development Corporation
