Photography by Scott Amundson
If this Lake Minnetonka house was a wine, it might be described as earthy with subtle notes of fresh tennis balls, a hint of Wisconsin supper club and a clean, elegant finish. Except here, a visitor is more likely to be offered a cocktail than a glass of vino. “My specialty is old fashioneds, and I make a pretty good spicy marg, too,” says homeowner Larry Vorpahl. He and his wife, Debbie, relocated from southern Minnesota in 2020 after Larry retired to be closer to their adult daughters and grandchildren. They decided to build on the lake where they could enjoy all the perks of a vacation home with year-round convenience.
Since Debbie is an avid tennis player who’s always wanted a home court — and Debbie and Larry are pickleball fans who play socially, especially in the cooler months -— an outdoor tennis court and indoor pickleball court were at the top of their wish list. They found this plum Kyle Hunt & Partners (KH&P) site through their realtor. At over 1.5 acres, the lot was big enough for the active couples’ list of amenities. “The site needed to have enough surface area to accommodate the home, pool, terrace, tennis court and tennis building, and it needed to be elevated above the lake enough to allow for the 20-foot ceiling height in the pickleball court at the lowest level of the home,” KH&P co-owner Kyle Hunt explains.
The Vorpahls also wanted a clean, contemporary design with earth tones, natural materials and a layout that was conducive to casual entertaining. “This house is an extension of Debbie and Larry’s lifestyle and personality,” KH&P co-owner Laurie Hunt says. “They’re so warm and welcoming.”
The vibe might be easygoing, but the architectural design by Mike Sharratt is crisp and intentional. It’s lake-friendly, too. The home is part of a larger water management system devised by Sharratt, KH&P, and a civil engineer that directs stormwater and snow melt for the entire site to an underground filtration system, allowing the water to percolate into the ground without causing runoff and erosion into the lake. “This wasn’t easy or inexpensive, but Debbie and Larry wanted to do the right thing for the environment and fully support the lake’s water quality,” Sharratt says.
At the center of the 11,781-square-foot house is a soaring great room with a handsome Montana stone and plaster fireplace punctuated by a 16-foot linear firebox. Seventeen-foot-wide Marvin Modern doors slide open to the poolside patio — open or screened to block bugs or the sun’s glare. The screens are integrated with the home automation system so they can be controlled by phone. Continuous porcelain tile flooring makes the two rooms feel like one. The hub of the home is a circular walnut bar at the intersection between the kitchen, great room and dining room where Larry holds court as the resident mixologist. “The bar is kind of like a traffic roundabout,” the homeowner jokes, adding that the couple often enjoy casual meals after pickleball and tennis, sometimes lingering for games like Mexican Train Dominoes or dice. “The shape is more sociable because it goes all the way around so that people can engage with each other,” he adds. Topped with Brazilian Cristallo Quartzite, it sparkles and glows in the evening, thanks to LED backlighting.
Just off the kitchen lies an informal built-in banquette for cozy meals and TV watching, where Larry and Debbie often eat with their grandchildren. The sleek and modern kitchen has flush espresso-stained rift-sawn oak cabinetry, a catering kitchen and a pantry behind a closed door to conceal meal prep activity.
On the opposite end of the main floor is the Vorpahls’ private wing, a light-filled bedroom with a lakeside patio and his-and-her bathrooms and closets. Designer Darsi Floersch created a retreat-like feeling with quiet tones and textured fabrics. She worked closely with Debbie throughout the two-year design and build process. “We became such good friends that I set her up with Larry’s high school friend,” Debbie says. “They got married last December!”
The house has three other levels, each equipped for comfort and fun. Upstairs are three bedrooms and bathrooms, a lakeside balcony with panoramic water views and a fire pit. There is also a bunk room and bath for the grandkids. On the lower walkout level, it’s all about friendly competition and entertainment with a game room, media room and home gym with a floor-to-ceiling glass wall overlooking the pickleball court (featuring a few Green Bay Packer jerseys, the Vorpahls’ favorite team), which is one level lower.
The court is the site of many rousing games — and occasionally rousing grandchildren burning off steam before bedtime. There’s even a staircase tucked away in a mechanical room that goes up to a “secret” kids’ playroom with another viewing window overlooking the pickleball court. Outside, the expansive grounds are put to good use with a pool, outdoor shower, tennis court and tennis house — an irresistible miniature version of the main house with a patio, lounge, kitchen and full bathroom. It all suits the Vorpahls to a T. “We’re homebodies who would rather have everyone come over here instead of going out to a restaurant,” Debbie says. “Sometimes we come home, and our kids and grandkids are already here hanging out by the pool. That’s just what we wanted. It makes us so happy, and Kyle Hunt & Partners made it all possible.”
Interior Designer: Darsi Floersch Interior Design
Builder: Kyle Hunt & Partners
Architect: Sharratt Design & Company
Landscape Designer: Yardscapes
