HOME TOUCHES photos by David Ballard Photography Island Lake Old World Lodge Where Rustic Meets Refined by Sheryl Jensen Kathy and Kevin Bakke s one-of-a-kind masterpiece home on Island Lake was a collaborative effort that resulted in a showplace, combining Old World elegance with the best of today s building technology. Working with Beverly Kolb, of b custom design, a close friend who is a home designer, and Bruckelmyer Brothers Construction, the Bakkes brought their dramatic vision to life in a home that exceeded even their high expectations. We wanted a comfortable, welcoming home, while at the same time being beautiful and unique, says Kathy. The Bakkes acknowledge how much they appreciate the work of the area builder and sub-contractors who worked on the home and the local suppliers from whom they were able to acquire some of the finishing touches to make their home complete. Above: Kathy and Kevin Bakke s Island Lake home combines Old World elegance and rustic, lodge-like charm with the extensive use of rock and wood inside and out. Complexities of the Design and Build Because of its scope and scale, the home required complex planning and design to come to fruition. Kolb says, This is the most complicated home I have worked on in my career. It is clear she is proud of her contributions in the design of this home. Ed Bruckelmeyer also takes great pride in how the home turned out after the hard work of his team of craftspeople. He says, The challenge always, as a custom builder, is to put together what each client envisions in a timely and cost-efficient manner. The level of detail in the Bakke project created many exciting challenges. We enjoy very much the custom experience, new ideas, and the one of a kind feel. Commanding Great Room It is difficult to know where to look first when entering the 58 AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2009
H Left: With the large scale of the high ceilings and massive dark wood beams, all the furniture and decor was planned to match the design s scale. The massive stone fireplace is a commanding element in the Great Room, along with the extensive use of tall windows to take full advantage of the lake view. Below: The gleaming rosewood Schimmel baby grand piano is a stunning accent in a small music room to one side of the Great Room. front door of the home: down to the massive stone fireplace, at the scale of the dark wood beams and the open floor plan of the breathtaking Great Room, or out the wall of windows to the sparkling waters of Island Lake. To the left in the Great Room is a dramatic kitchen with cherry cabinetry designed and built to look more like custom furniture with its intricate finishing detail. The trey ceiling, granite countertops, and Old World style lighting fixtures, all make the kitchen look as elegant as the rest of the room. Kathy says, Everything is open, so we needed it to complement the rest of the home. All the amenities one would need are Continued on page 60 THEWOMANTODAY.COM 59
at hand in the kitchen including two ovens, a warming drawer, and a walk-in pantry. The family cat even has his own small door off the kitchen leading to his own private lair in the laundry area. The dining room to the right of the staircase is furnished with a beautiful antique table, chairs, and sideboard that at one time were used at St. Scholastica Monastery. The faux painting on the wall panels gives the room an even more ornate ambiance. One of the wall panels conceals a hidden door, leading to a butler s pantry behind the wall. Off the dining room is a reproduction of a classic English pub. We entertain quite a bit, says Kathy, and this is a place guests love to be. Tall bar chairs around the bar and a separate table and more high chairs give plenty of space for guests to mingle. An inviting seating area facing the massive stone fireplace and lake is the focal point of the Great Room. The fireplace mantle is seven feet tall and eight feet wide, fitting the room s scale. Floorto-ceiling windows flanking the fireplace make the room seem airy and light even with the predominant use of dark woods and furnishings. 60 AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2009
Left: The kitchen features cabinetry designed to look like finely crafted furniture. Extensive use of honey amber granite and the matched golden amber tiled backsplash help to create a warm ambiance. Below left: Faux-painted panels provide a stately and ornate ambiance to the formal dining room. The Biltmore hickory hand scraped flooring, provided by Johnson s Carpet One, has the same combination of the rustic and the refined to be seen throughout the home. Below: The Bakkes enjoy entertaining and sharing their home with guests. The home s version of a classic English pub as part of the open Great Room floor plan is a party favorite. UNMATCHED QUALITY, SPEED, AND SERVICE 3947 E Calvary Rd, Ste 102 Office: (218) 525-0356 Duluth, MN 55803 Fax: (218) 525-0386 Your Residential Specialitst Licensed & Insured Residential Commercial Service Work Back Hoe/Trenching Design/Build Project Technology Division Emergency Backup Generators www.simcoelectric.com info@simcoelectric.com H A music room to the left features an elegant rosewood Schimmel baby grand piano. The Marvin windows in the room also offer a wonderful lake view of islands. The use of Biltmore hickory handscraped flooring is one of the elements that helps to blend the rustic and the refined, a theme prevalent throughout the Its our reputation... For over 20 years, our goal has remained the same. We re dedicated to quality, efficiency & fine craftsmanship...our customers demand it. home. The combination of the use of wood and stone is also a hallmark of the home. We love wood, stone, and natural finishes. This project exemplified what we are good at, and allowed our custom wood fabrication shop, talented carpenters, cabinet makers, and all of our subcontractors to really show their hands-on abilities, says Bruckelmyer. Continued on page 62 2304 Lismore Road, Duluth, MN 55804 THEWOMANTODAY.COM 61
Above left and right: Kevin s main floor office, with its soft leather furniture and tile framed fireplace, gives him both a comfortable place to relax and a great view to enjoy when he is working. A highly polished oval Hekman desk is the focal point of the room s decor. Right: A small sunroom with a fireplace and access out to the backyard, patio, and lake is a favorite spot for the family cat and as a place for the couple to read and enjoy the view. Privacy of the Master Suite Just down from the music room is the master suite, affording a sanctuary for the couple. The cabinetry in the master bath is as elegant as any in the home. I really like to design cabinetry that looks like fine furniture, says Kolb. A double vanity and dual sinks provide separate spaces for Kevin and Kathy, who also both have separate walk-in closets in the suite. A built-in jet tub with a small chandelier overhead provides another of the home s oases of calm. A separate walk-in steam shower is another of the suite s amenities. Off the master suite is a separate exercise area as well. The bedroom features a faux finish trey ceiling and an antique style four poster bed and matching armoire. The room s windows overlook the lake. I fall asleep listening to the loons, says Kevin. Sun Room and Office In the back of the house, facing the lake, off of the pub area is a sun room with French doors leading to the outside back patio and a cozy fireplace. This is another favorite spot in the home for Kathy. I like to read out here and look over the lake. Across the hall is Kevin s masculine style office with a fireplace (backed from the sun room s fireplace). Black leather furniture and a unique oval Hekman desk help make the ambiance elegant and functional. Built-in cabinetry give space for storage and curios. A unique, antiqued faux painting of Island Lake gives the ceiling a distinctive look. 872 Stanley Road, Two Harbors, MN www.tradesmenco.com Second Level The home was designed and built so the couple could use the main floor as their living space. Accessed from a curved staircase to the left of the main entry is the home s second level, with two bedrooms and a full bath, designed to be used when the couple s daughter comes home to visit or for guests. A hallway bridge between the two upstairs suites provides an impressive overview of the Great Room below. 62 AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2009
H 22 years of service RESIDENTIAL & COMMERICIAL For over 22 years, Miller Creek has gained the experience to produce your ideas and dreams with quality, precision and care. Professional Landscape Design & Installation Retaining Walls Paving Brick Patios & Driveways Shrubs, Trees & Decorative Rock Water Features Garden Management MillerCreek.com... 800.LANDSCAPE 218.727.3040 DULUTH Outside Storage and Design The home has over 4,000 square feet of garage space in separate buildings for the cars, outdoor equipment, and toys as Kathy calls the boats, snowmobiles, and other outdoor vehicles. Even the design of the garages has an old style with reclaimed Douglas fir timbers. A carriage style garage is connected to the house by a porta corche providing a place for Kevin s hobbies and a work bench area. A DaVinci synthetic slate roof with copper snow catchers gives an Old World touch to the home s exterior. The cobblestone driveway is another homage to times past. Continued on page 64 THEWOMANTODAY.COM 63
Left: The master bedroom affords a panoramic view of the beautifully landscaped grounds and the sparkling lake. Below left: A steam shower and a step up jet tub give the master suite a spa-like ambiance. Off of the master suite is a small exercise area. Below: The couple s daughter enjoys this upstairs bedroom when she is home. Another bedroom on the home s upper level provides more guest room space. To The Lake The outdoor space around the back of the home was planned to take maximum advantage of the lake, with seating areas, walkways, fire pits, and docks all there to provide the maximum view and connection to the lake possible. We have lots of friends who use the lake side as the front door to our home when they visit by means of their pontoons and snowmobiles, says Kevin. Settling In It is clear that both Kathy and Kevin have settled into their new home and are enjoying the fruits of their labors and those of all the craftspeople who worked on the home as well. Looking around, Kevin says, I really enjoy the Great Room. It s the room we use the most, and it is a great place to read, listen to music, and watch TV. I like the magnitude of the room with its tall ceilings. It has the ambiance of an old club with its wood and stone. Kathy likes how the home was situated on the lot to tie-in with the natural surroundings. It blends into the environment with the feeling of an old lodge. Bruckelmyer adds, Working with the Bakkes on their dream home was a great experience. Kathy's sense of design was amazing to all of us, her ability to envision details and how they work together was quite remarkable. The Bakkes integrity, class, and Continued on page 66 Largest Stone Yard North of the Twin Cities St. Croix Stone Natural Stone Veneers Eden Stone Northland Stone Stone Pavers & Floor Tile 218-525-6360 Visit Our Showroom Flagstone Stone Steps Rockwood Retaining Walls Interlock Pavers Soapstone Slabs Granite Countertops 5156 Rice lake Rd. Duluth ww.greatlakesstone.com 64 AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2009
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Above: A unique carved bench in the backyard is a great place to relax and enjoy outdoor lake living. Below: One of the fire pits in the backyard is a wonderful place to chat with friends on a summer s eve, with a semicircle of comfortable carved wooden chairs arranged for conversation. FEATURED HOME B & H I.C.F. FOUNDATION - CONCRETE WORK - STUCCO MA S O N RY, LL C Since 1990 www.bhmasonrymn.com (218) 525-5382 hard working ethics, set a standard for every individual who was a part of their project. We started with a fabulous design, achieved quality execution of that design, and ended up with a place we call home, says Kathy. S 30% residential tax credit General Contractor: Bruckelmyer Brothers. LLC Sub- Contractors: B&H Masonry Foundation, Stucco Calco Painting Painting Duluth Roofing Roofing Great Lakes Stone Stone Supplier Hedberg Excavating Excavating Johnson Carpet One Floor & Home Carpet & Hardwood Floor Johnston Masonry Stone work, Fireplaces Miller Creek Landscaping Landscape Simco Electric Electrical Summit Mechanical Heating/Plumbing Tradesmen Building Center Materials 66 AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2009