THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

When Bobbi and David Edson built their home on Detroit Lake in 2021, they had a particular vision in mind.

Actually, two visions...

“In designing the house, we wanted two different characteristics,” explains David Edson. “For the outside and the main and upstairs levels, we wanted to have a colonial cottage design with beach type colors and white woodwork. In the basement, we wanted to have a classic Minnesota lakes/woods type feel, with earthy colors and knotty alder woodwork.”

And that’s exactly what they got. Architect Tony Stoll, of BHH Partners in Perham, and builder Dave Erwin, of Dave Erwin Construction in Battle Lake, blended these two influences with style and ease. The result is 6,612 square feet of living space that feels beachy and breezy on the main floor and second story and welcoming and cozy in the basement.

While there are two different aesthetics at work inside, the exterior of the home has a unified look, but it’s no less distinctive.

The home rises from an expansive green lawn that slopes gently toward the lake. It’s a soft, striking shade of blue that reads as periwinkle in certain light and mirrors the Minnesota sky and nearby water in others. White corbel accents, dark charcoal-colored shakes, a white wrap-around patio, and a three-season porch tucked up under a gabled roof play up the modern cottage aesthetic.

Eric Doll, of Hilltop Lumber, with locations in Ottertail, Alexandria and Glenwood, ticks off the exterior details that make the home stand out from its neighbors. “The uniqueness of the exterior architecture ranges from the corbels to the way the outside corners are done on the shakes. That technique is called lacing the corners, masterfully done by Dave Erwin Construction,” he explains.

As you walk inside the home, the Edson’s beachy design elements are amplified by the natural light and water views. A wide, windowed front door allows the light to flood into the entrance hall. Dark flooring (CoreTec Logan Oak) keeps things grounded.

“The flooring has the look of luxury, but is very durable and easy to clean,” says Eric Nelson, Owner/President of Fergus Home and Hardware. His company provided the flooring and tile that’s found throughout the home, as well as the fireplaces and blinds.

If you enter from the garage, you’ll step into the mud room which (like all the entrances in the Edson home) boasts plenty of hooks and storage benches so you can settle in

Eric Nelson // Fergus Home and Hardware

and get comfortable. The nearby main floor laundry room is drenched in natural light, with a long counter for sorting and folding.

You can also step in from the deck. A discreet door ushers you into the home’s primary main floor gathering space: an open plan kitchen, dining room, and living room zone.

The exterior color scheme continues in this lake-facing gathering place. In the living room, a white coffered ceiling gleams against walls in the palest robin’s egg blue. It’s called Valspar Babymoon Blue and it’s used throughout the main level. White countertops and cabinets from Hilltop Lumber in the kitchen reflect the light that pours into the space. A backsplash of glazed ceramic Tr3nd Majolica tile sourced from Fergus Home and Hardware completes the white-on-white look.

A distinctive L-shaped kitchen island includes a built-in wine fridge, lots of storage and hidden outlets for charging devices. Table-like legs near the stools emphasize the negative space and make the island appear more like a piece of furniture than a built-in architectural element.

The furniture in both the living room and the dining room is comfortable but streamlined, with nothing to distract you from the spectacular views through a long, horizontal bank of windows that run along the patio. Your eye sweeps over the indoor/outlook living spaces and out onto the expanse of water beyond.

The design team wanted to maximize the natural light and the lake views, while still providing privacy for the couple, their two grown sons, and their guests. Motorized roller shades solved both problems with one product.

“We used Hunter Douglas motorized roller shades on the main floor windows to the lake and the kitchen window to the street,” explains Jeanene Hoppe of Fergus Home and Hardware. “The fabric is a light filtering, privacy fabric. The shades roll up into a cassette and move via a handheld remote control or a wireless wall mounted control.

New technology makes it possible to control them from your phone even when you are not in the house. ”

This type of window treatment isn’t just aesthetically pleasing and convenient for homeowners. It’s also virtually maintenance-free if you plan ahead like Bobbi and David Edson did during their build.

“The clients thought ahead and had low voltage wire run to the corner of each window, so at installation we could simply connect the wires from the window to the corner of the shade,” says Hoppe. “The wires

connect to a box near the electric box for the house. That means the customer will never have to change batteries.”

A stone fireplace serves as a focal point in the communal space. Weightier design elements contrast with the light and airy look of the room.

“They went with a vintage iron door and ledge slate stone to give it a more traditional feel,” says Dan Zierden, of Fergus Home and Hardware. “The fireplaces they chose are all gas fireplaces by Mendota. Mendota is known as one of the premier gas fireplace manufacturers because of the realistic looking flames/log sets and the multiple features that their fireplaces have. They chose an oak log set for all three fireplaces, but chose different fronts and stone finishes for each one to match the décor for each room.”

As you leave the main floor living space, the color palette expands to include other nature-inspired hues. The master bedroom’s white-beamed ceiling and stone fireplace are accented with a calming shade called Soothing Blue by Valspar. Guest rooms are painted in Valspar Refreshing Green and Benjamin Moore Light Yellow for a look that’s soft and refreshing.

“Colors for the main level and the upstairs bedrooms were inspired by my wife’s trip to Coronado San Diego,” says Edson. “We wanted a bright, colorful, and beach-like atmosphere.”

The basement is painted a rich, golden brown called Valspar Western Wear. It coordinates beautifully with the knotty alder that runs throughout the lower level.

A distinctive fireplace anchors this space as well. “They chose a hammered leather fireplace front and mountain blend barton stone to give the room a warm cozy feel,” says Dan Zierden. Fergus Home and Hardware installed CoreTec Treasure Pine in the lower level bar area. The Shaw Natural Boucle carpet feels cushy and comfortable under foot. The décor in the basement living space is low-key and family-friendly, with games and sports memorabilia holding pride of place.

“Our basement TV room is dedicated to the Minnesota Vikings in terms of theme,” says Edson. “We have had many great family gatherings following the Vikings.”

The Edson home has four bedrooms and a bunk room. There are also five bathrooms finished with sleek glazed porcelain tile with slate and travertine visuals sourced from Fergus Home and Hardware. Overall, there is plenty of space to gather downstairs in a comfortable, warm setting.

That’s a good thing, because the Edson home is a popular spot for barbecues, and lawn games. The Edsons love water skiing, wake surfing, and taking leisurely pontoon rides. Bobbi’s sister and her family stay over during WE Fest weekend each August, while old neighbors from Washington state visit for the Fourth of July. David’s family pops over on one weekend, Bobbi’s co-workers on another. The Edson family even hosts a road race for friends from work, college, and high school.

“We like to entertain guests,” says Edson. “We want this to be a destination house. We want people to be comfortable when they visit.”

In addition to plenty of bathrooms and ample sleeping space, the Edson home offers amenities that keep guests comfortable and make entertaining easy. The couple can cue the sound system from their cell phones. Wicker seating and pale gray lounge chairs are arranged into conversation, dining, and relaxation zones on the patio. The three-season porch blurs the line between indoor and outdoor living space.

“The porch outside has retractable screens that can be lowered at night to keep the bugs away,” says Edson “We really love the ample amount of storage under the deck for water sports gear, lawn equipment, and wood for fires."

The bunkroom is tucked above the garage, so kids can run off steam and guests of any age can stay up late or get up early without interrupting the rhythm of the rest of the house. The basement also offers additional privacy. It’s essentially a self-contained apartment, complete with a separate entrance. The extra prep and cooking space is a bonus for entertaining large groups.

“Having two full kitchens makes it easy to host guests,” says Edson. “While people are hanging around the kitchen upstairs, I can be preparing meals in the downstairs kitchen, not interrupting people socializing.”

The Edson home on the east shore of Detroit Lake is built for socializing. And thanks to smart design choices and an emphasis on relaxation and comfort, it will continue to be a popular retreat for Bobbi, David and their family and friends for many years to come. L&H

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