At first glance, 10,000 square feet might seem like a lot of house. But when scale, proportion and detail are thoughtfully balanced, that volume transforms from grand to gracefully livable.
This new North Oaks residence is a prime example of this. Designed for a family of five in one of life’s busiest chapters, with three school-aged children, this home is exactly what the owners envisioned — a seamless blend of comfort and versatility. It’s an all-in-one haven that accommodates everything from movie nights and sleepovers to spirited gatherings and elegant fundraisers, all while fostering a strong sense of connection.
Photography by Scott Amundson
The homeowners were fortunate to find a pair of adjacent lakeside lots in North Oaks, a community renowned for its privacy, architectural diversity and 900 acres of conservation land, which include miles of trails, woodlands, marshes and three non-motorized lakes.
But the couple had never built before, and this was to be their dream house — a reward for years of hard work growing their business. Having a trusting expert to guide them through the daunting process was crucial. That someone was the husband’s college roommate, Rick Hendel, the owner of Hendel Homes.
Photography by Taylor O’Brien
“They knew we would be as invested in this as they were,” says Amy Hendel, principal of the Excelsior-based company. The Hendels, in turn, assembled a trusted team of professionals: architect Peter Eskuche, interior designer Danielle Loven of Vivid Home and landscape designer Lincoln Danforth of Yardscapes. From day one, that team met weekly to listen, collaborate and hammer out details from design through construction.
This integration of disciplines, along with Eskuche’s ego-free approach, was the key to creating an intimate, all-the-bells-and-whistles house. “We design every space live and in person from the inside out, based on how the client spends their days, how each room will be used and how many people each space needs to accommodate,” Eskuche explains. “Then we figure out what the furnishings, views, sightlines and outdoor connections should be. Having everyone at the table to weigh in on their area of expertise at every stage makes the process go much more smoothly.”
Photography by Taylor O’Brien
The clients’ inspiration images guided the team in a transitional direction, with an emphasis on high-quality materials, historical architecture and Old World craftsmanship to blend well with the estate-style homes in their North Oaks neighborhood. Eskuche drew from French country and English cottage styles for the gabled stone exterior, which features gently swooping dormers and copper accents. A pair of three-car garages bookend the house, with side entries to preserve the traditional street-facing aesthetic. One is for the family’s everyday cars and has easy access to the mudroom and kitchen. The other is for the homeowner’s classic American car collection, including some sleek Corvettes. Equipped with a seating area, a mini kitchen and direct access to the outdoor kitchen/bar and pool, it’s a certified man cave.
Other inspiring rooms include a moody main-floor den with dark brass inlaid paneled walls and a walkout-level entertainment space with the feel of a private club. Highlights here include a tufted leather-wrapped bar, a golf simulator and a sunken TV lounge. Down a short flight of stairs is a full sports court, complete with a disco ball overhead for dance parties.
Photography by Scott Amundson
Meticulous attention to detail is evident throughout the house and was an integral component of the design, from the ceiling beams to the distinctive fireplace mantels. A few design team favorites include steel glass windows that bring architectural interest to an interior hallway and custom hand-blown Hennepin Made glass pendants over the stairs.
Eskuche also points out intentionally imperfect details, such as weathered stone corbels that give the house soul. “It’s comfy, rustic and bougie all at the same time,” he says. One of the family’s favorite spaces is a small family room located off the kitchen. “It is just big enough for all of them to pile on the sectional and watch TV after dinner,” Amy explains.
Each of the home’s five bedrooms, including a guest suite accessible via a secret bookcase door, are upstairs — three childrens’ rooms on one end and the parents’ on the other, connected by a central hallway. Although the primary suite is undeniably luxurious, with dual walk-in closets, a beverage station and a spacious bathroom, the star of this floor has to be the laundry room.
Photography by Taylor O’Brien
“The homeowner didn’t care much about her closet, but she was adamant about having the laundry room be an amazing space,” explains designer Danielle Loven, who understands the importance of that area, being a mother herself. The designer loaded the light-filled room with an impressive array of amenities: two washers and dryers, a dry-cleaning closet, an ironing station, drawer storage, hampers, and — cue the applause — a large island for air-drying and folding clothes. “It’s centrally located, so the kids have no reason not to use it,” she adds.
The exterior spaces complement the interior, both visually and functionally. There are outdoor destinations for cooking, lounging, gathering around a fire, cooling off in the pool or warming up in the hot tub. A trio of covered porches, equipped with heaters, pull-down screens and vinyl rollers, provide function and shelter in the shoulder season, while a stone-paved patio spans the length of the home and wraps around the pool deck to unify the spaces. Because the lot is so large, there’s still ample grassy space for yard games as well as mature trees for privacy.
Photography by Scott Amundson
A mix of formal and informal plantings frames the home, helping define the outdoor spaces. Landscape designer Lincoln Danforth selected plantings including evergreens, oaks, maple trees and native perennials to complement the architecture and the surrounding neighborhood. “I wanted to give the property a warm, unified look to gel with this part of North Oaks and not feel like new construction,” he explains.
Since moving in, the homeowners have become involved in their new community and hosted a variety of gatherings, including a holiday open house, allowing neighbors to get a glimpse inside. The word around town? That this house looks like it’s always been there. “You really can’t tell if this house was built last year or 50 years ago,” Amy says. “The design is timeless.”
Project Partners
Builder: Hendel Homes
Architect: Eskuche Design
Interior designer: Vivid Home
Landscape architect: Yardscapes
