Some homes age. Others evolve.
Set on a beautiful, private, wooded site just west of the St. Croix River, this Charles Stinson–designed residence has long stood as a quiet triumph of modernist Midwestern architecture. With its sweeping hipped roof, angled great room and a pair of “wings” embracing the backyard and pool, the home was a defining moment for the award-winning architect’s career. “This project represented a symbolic shift in our practice,” he shares. That’s a shift into the compositional style for which he’s now known, abounding with vertical and horizontal planes converging in harmony to frame the light. Prairie-style influences remain, but decades after its 1993 debut on the Parade of Homes, the property’s new owners didn’t want to reinvent the home — they wanted to respect it.
Photography by Bo Carlock / Spacecrafting
“We’ve never seen anyone do it better than Charles Stinson,” gush the homeowners, who have been taken with his architectural style since first seeing his work in the 1980s. Years later, they discovered that this striking abode was for sale. On their very first tour, they recognized the signature Stinson elements that instantly felt like home: impeccable site placement that prioritizes views, a simple material palette that bridges indoors and out, and spaces carved into the 8,200 square feet with intention.
Ten years after moving in, the couple reached out to Stinson directly when they decided to renovate. “Do your thing, Charles,” they told him. He began sketching on the spot, adjusting his original drawings, and collaborated closely with Interior Designer Aysan Vatini, Project Manager Ben Bower, Nor-Son Custom Builders and Modern Design Cabinetry. The house didn’t feel outdated, but it held opportunity for smart updates that support modern, personalized living.
This project unfolded in two careful phases. The first focused on the main level, where the team worked to add natural light, improve flow and dial up the details. Original windows were replaced with striking floor-to-ceiling Pella Reserve Contemporary windows throughout the entire house. “We didn’t add square footage, but it feels like we did,” notes Nor-Son Custom Builders Project Manager Brody Schmid.
The natural light that floods in bounces beautifully off Fond du Lac limestone, which was preserved to maintain warmth and texture. “The clients didn’t want to lose the warmth, and the stone created the perfect backdrop,” says Vatini. So she leaned into the rust and bronze tones, which inspired the rest of the palette: a calming blend of creamy walls, dark-toned woods and textural contrast.
At the center of it all is the great room, its square layout rotated diagonally at 45 degrees, cradling the sun throughout the day and anchored by a two-story, two-sided fireplace that reaches up to the ceiling. “It’s the great organizer,” says Stinson, whose team added a concrete-looking bump-out with a stucco finish to modernize the stone mass. One of the more significant updates involved raising the sunken living room to sit flush with the main level, creating seamless flow. Maple floors were replaced with slate-hued tile and custom rugs designed by the Stinson team in collaboration with Austin, Texas–based rugmaker Kyle Bunting. Rugs now flow room to room, even amidst their intricate angles. The ceilings, too, received a dose of warmth with tongue-and-groove white oak, complemented by acoustic treatments that add calmness and dampen echo. “It feels like we’re in a sanctuary,” explain the homeowners. A discreetly integrated new elevator adds both
ease and elegance to daily life, connecting both levels and the outdoors, while a curated selection of furniture from Abitare Design Studio rounds out the transformation.
Just beyond the great room, a space lovingly referred to as “the treehouse” got a refresh with new finishes, windows on three sides and greater functionality. “The day-to-day of how the clients use their home is the same,” says Vatini. The owners agree, carrying on their morning coffee ritual in this upgraded version.
The second phase of the renovation gave the lower level a new sense of purpose. While the home technically offers five bedrooms, two were reimagined as personal office spaces: hers, complete with a cozy fireplace, and his, with a more relaxed man cave vibe. Also downstairs is a kitchenette and private entrance, in addition to a new guest suite ideal for hosting long-term visitors. “The renovated guest suite has a very unique feature: a 470-pound quartzite floor-to-ceiling vanity backsplash illuminated by 870 backlights,” says Schmid. “Our onsite superintendent, Travis, played a crucial part in executing the vision — coordinating our client’s wishes with intricate logistics was no small task, but the outcome is captivating.” Acoustic panels, integrated lighting and custom millwork give this level its own identity without losing cohesion with the rest of the home.
Outdoor spaces received a personal touch, too. On the deck, cable railings replaced solid panels to preserve sightlines, while new staircases were added to connect the main-level deck to the backyard. Updated decking from TimberTech lightens the elevated walkways and beautifully ties into the surrounding landscape and pool area. The former hot tub space was transformed into an open-air kitchen, perfect for entertaining and just one replaced staircase away from the main kitchen. Even the garage got an upgrade, with frosted glass doors enhancing the home’s modern appeal while bringing in unexpected light.
Throughout the abode, the design team struck a delicate balance of modernizing without erasing. To wit: The original stone remains, as do many of Stinson’s initial gestures, like the low-slung rooflines, the diagonally placed great room and the sense of openness between zones.
“The house always had good bones,” he declares. “We just clarified some of the geometry. Smoothed the transitions. Brought in more light.” Even the smallest details were treated with care. For instance, the homeowners’ treasures from traveling are now on curated display, backlit and on built-ins. Meanwhile, new slider doors in the primary bedroom open to a private dog run — a thoughtful feature for the world’s luckiest pup.
Of course, any renovation comes with challenges, but in this case, starting from one of Stinson’s original designs made all the difference and made for a solid foundation. “It felt like a dream,” the homeowners say. “We had Charles. We had Nor-Son Custom Builders, who we trusted. And we had Aysan, who truly has no peer.” And with a team that understood the original vision, the renovation became less about rewriting and more about refining.
Project Partners
Architect: Charles Stinson Architecture + Design
Interior designer: Aysan Vatini, Charles Stinson Architecture + Design
Builder: Nor-Son Custom Builders
