A Designer Couple Bring a Touch of Californian Modernism to Their Dream Home in Minnesota

Mandi Keighran
·2 min read

A former one-bedroom house with three bars is transformed into a light-filled family home with lake views and a pool.

Heather and Brad live in the home with their two sons, 12-year-old Graham and 10-year-old Wes. The exterior is defined by a striking black scheme that conceals the more playful interior—which is hinted at by the pink and white midcentury-style pool furniture. The minimalist ebony window frames—from the Marvin Essential collection—blend into the ebony facade to create the appearance of a wall of glass.

When Heather and Brad Fox first discovered their lakeside home in Minnesota, it was more bachelor pad than the family home they needed—we’re talking one bedroom, three bars, and four living spaces. But, they quickly fell in love with the view and site and decided to make some radical changes. "We instantly saw the potential with the space and knew we could make it our dream home," says Heather.

Heather and Brad live in the home with their two sons, 12-year-old Graham and 10-year-old Wes. The exterior is defined by a striking black scheme that conceals the more playful interior—which is hinted at by the pink and white midcentury-style pool furniture. The minimalist ebony window frames—from the Marvin Essential collection—blend into the ebony facade to create the appearance of a wall of glass.

The couple had all the skills they needed to lead the ambitious project themselves: Heather owns homewares store and design studio Foxwell Shoppe + Studio, while Brad is the owner of Fox Realty and development company Fox Homes. As a result of their keen eye for design, the home was transformed into the perfect 6,800-square-foot family home, with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and ample living space spread out over two levels, with a ground floor that opens out through glass doors to a resort-style swimming pool.

"It was a true labor of love," says Heather. "Every inch was customized and designed by us for the way we wanted the house to be. We never plan on moving."

During the renovation, drastic changes were made to the layout, including moving the kitchen to the rear of the home to capture the lake views. The kitchen opens out to the pool and a sun-drenched timber deck through sliding glass doors from the Marvin Elevate collection, dissolving boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.
During the renovation, drastic changes were made to the layout, including moving the kitchen to the rear of the home to capture the lake views. The kitchen opens out to the pool and a sun-drenched timber deck through sliding glass doors from the Marvin Elevate collection, dissolving boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.

See the full story on Dwell.com: A Designer Couple Bring a Touch of Californian Modernism to Their Dream Home in Minnesota
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