From a thumbprint scanner which opens the wine cellar, to a secret passageway behind a library bookcase, this Minnesota mansion includes virtually everything a family of four could want — and more. When the owners of this suburban home approached Sven Gustafson and Stonewood LLC and Eskuche Associates to create this home, they had one goal: to build their dream home.
Because the client’s design aesthetic was so specific, almost every detail within this home is handmade and custom. To top it all off, this lavish house can all be manipulated from an iPad! The impeccable custom work and lively improvements really fulfill these clients’ architectural fantasies.
Stonewood, LLC
The walls on the main floor are coated with a thoroughly hand-applied Italian plaster. In-floor heating along with an elegant coral fireplace help the room feel cozy on cold Minnesota nights. The tufted sofa is custom, designed by Martha O’ Hara Interiors. The cream sofa is from Henredon, and navy blue damask chairs are from Hickory Chair.
Stonewood, LLC
With 10,000 square feet spread out over three floors, this home was built for entertaining. A very traditional dining table from Henredon is accompanied by 12 chairs upholstered in Clarence House fabric. The outside facing window is a custom made layout from JELD-WEN. A picture golden trellis background from Schumacher adds into the formality of the room.
Stonewood, LLC
The library on the main floor is rich and dark with black walnut floor-to-ceiling panels. Buttery leather couches complete the traditional look. And to add to the conservative ambiance, among the bookshelves next to the fireplace opens into a key passageway…
… contributing to the main office! Produced as a concealed man-cave for the husband, Gustafson needed a high end sound system set up in the room and incorporated built-in shelving in the identical black walnut throughout the rest of the home.
The home has five bedrooms — each one is its own suite with walk-in closet and full bathroom attached. A dark bedframe in Hickory Chair was used in the bedroom, accompanied by an Oly bench at the base of the mattress. Cream and gold curtains and custom roman shades allow for various degrees of light and privacy.
Stonewood, LLC
The master bathroom is outfitted with a spacious double shower and big free-standing vanity. The shower is lined with custom marble fixtures and tile from Kallista and Waterworks.
Stonewood, LLC
The household includes two high-school aged daughters, and each has her own spacious room. Raoul Textiles match the soft yellow paint in this . A female white mattress from Redford House is in the exact same soft white because the custom wool carpets.
Stonewood, LLC
Hidden in the depths of the home, Gustafson and his staff set up a complete wine cellar and dining area. Gustafson and the clients dubbed this space the”ratskeller,” a German word for a basement pub or restaurant. The stone walls of this room were constructed in an octagonal shape, and also the floors made with recovered paving stones in St. Paul, MN.
Stonewood, LLC
Within the basement section, three arched doorways hold the clients’ extensive wine selection. Each doorway is all about 2 1/4 inches thick, lined with custom ironwork, and locked with a biometric scanner. Although the thumbprint scanning key started out as a joke, the client ended up liking the thought, and Gustafson installed one on each door.
Stonewood, LLC
A complete tasting bar sits out of the wine storage area, creating a great spot for entertaining guests during pre- or post-dinner beverages.
Stonewood, LLC
Gustafson also constructed a poolside cabana for the household, installing a travertine floor, a drop-down TV, a gorgeous limestone fireplace, and a pub. The furniture is from Century Furniture.
Stonewood, LLC
The household had a dozen or so maple and fruit trees brought in from Illinois and set up all throughout the house. The exterior of the home is made from a cast faux limestone called arcastone.
Stonewood, LLC
The home also includes a small fitness center with a spa bathroom, changing area, and sauna connected.
Stonewood, LLC
This intricate stairwell was constructed on site by a Finnish carpenter on Gustafson’s crew. The railing itself is really just one sheet of metal. Planned from the designers in Stonewood LLC, the railing’s layout was made by laser cutting the sheet of metal at a local manufacturing facility.
Stonewood, LLC
The kitchen layout was all about ambiance. A mixture of new and old layouts with modern appliances produced a room that feels both comfortable and luxurious. All of the counters are coated in granite, the cupboards are created out of durango timber, and the floor is the exact same rich walnut seen throughout the primary floor of the home. The kitchen barstools are from Vanguard, and all of the lighting is from Currey & Company.
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