Urshan Home Caribou Lake

By Alison Stucke

You could call the Urshan home on Caribou Lake an “All-of-Our-Favorite-Things” style home. The Urshans say it’s designed and built exactly to suit their particular style and needs.

“It’s a mix of all of our favorite things,” said Cindy Urshan. “We just picked things that we like.”

Building their dream home

Dan and Cindy Urshan had been dreaming for some time about what they’d want in designing and building a new home. When a lot across from their cabin on Caribou Lake became available for purchase, Dan and Cindy bought the land, saying, “Why not?” to the idea of having a home and a cabin so near to each other.

“We wanted to keep going with the style that we used when we built the cabin, so we did,” said Dan, “and we incorporated some new things in the home. I call it ‘Lake Living’ style.”

They called architectural designer Heather Hiner to help bring their dreams to reality in designing the home.

“I have been friends with the homeowners for over 25 years and designed their cabin and office building, so I was happy to help them on yet another design,” said Hiner. “The site was a challenge as it was narrow and sloped up toward the lake, which made an attached garage at the main level difficult to incorporate. The design solution became a tuckunder garage with a small driveway and parking area at the main level to welcome guests and for ease in unloading groceries.

“The homeowners knew they wanted an efficient layout and simple design and were drawn to the modern farmhouse look. So the end result is a simple gable roof with a vaulted-ceiling great room that captures views of both the sunrise from the kitchen and sunset over the lake from the living room. The linear layout of the house means that both bedrooms and entry area also have beautiful lake views. The floor plan is simple and the finishes selected by the homeowner create a cozy inviting home to gather with friends and family.”

Cindy had three wishes for the new home they would build: a place to sit outside and watch the sunrise while having a cup of coffee; a kitchen window where she could see who is driving up to the house while she’s preparing food; and a pantry. When the home was completed, she would get all three wishes as realities.

Getting the help they needed

Cindy also wanted to be highly involved in making design choices throughout the home. The Urshan’s daughter Andrea is a designer in the Twin Cities, and she helped with many of the selections that needed to be made, including the polished nickel faucets from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting in Duluth that appear throughout the home. Cindy and Andrea spent many pleasant hours together looking at products, and Dan was very agreeable. Andrea also selected the distinctive six-light chandelier that hangs over the table in the dining area.

“She knew the touches that would be helpful to us,” Cindy said.

Dan and Cindy pointed out again and again what wonderful professionals they worked with in all aspects of creating their gorgeous and comfortable home.

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The kitchen features granite countertops and luxury vinyl wood-look flooring for stunning contrasts to the light cabinetry, and the view from the kitchen window lets homeowner Cindy Urshan see the sunrise as well as anyone driving up to the house.

“We were blessed all around with the people who we worked with,” Dan said. “Our vendors were an all-star team. We owe a lot to Heather Hiner. Her plans set the stage. She made our ideas come alive. The Ken Hiukka team, our general contractor, made them a reality.”

“Dan and Cindy both knew what details were important to them,” Hiukka said. “For example, the painted shiplap boards for all interior walls gave this home a unique and old-time look. Because of this, it made my job so much easier.”

A house with a cabin close by

The Urshans’ cabin and home sit on the short peninsula of Caribou Lake. The lots aren’t next door to each other, but they’re close to each other and easily within walking distance. The cabin faces north and the home faces west on the lake.

The home’s lot is steeply sloped, and Dan calls the living room window “a great view” because it offers a wonderful panorama of Caribou Lake. Every room and every door of the home offer a view of the lake. In the back yard behind the patio, 32 steps lead down to the lake. The cabin’s lot is flat and provides a great place for the grandkids to play. Dan said that boats and water toys are left at the cabin for easier use. The cabin is also used as guest housing.

“Sometimes we entertain at the house and sometimes we entertain and have fun at the cabin,” Cindy said. “It just depends on what we’re doing.”

Beautiful design elements appear throughout the house

Walls throughout the home are covered with white shiplap. There’s not one piece of sheet rock on the entire main level.

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Both bedrooms in the Urshan home are on the west side of the house with beautiful lake views. Subway tile in the master bath is Trends Rainfall Fog matte, which gives the room a clean look.

Doors from Northern Door of Duluth on rooms and closets feature eye-catching crystal doorknobs. Luxury vinyl tile wood-look flooring is by Carlson Floor Center in Superior. The ceilings are barnwood from Tongue & Groove Store of Duluth.

Subway tile in the bathrooms includes Trends Rainfall Fog matte in the master bath and Trends Rainfall White gloss in the guest bath. Doors, trim and walls throughout the home are painted alabaster. Plush carpeting in the bedrooms is also from Carlson Floor Center.

“We wanted carpeting in the bedrooms because it feels warm and cozy under our toes when we get out of bed in the morning,” Cindy said.

Dan and Cindy Urshan love the look of a modern farmhouse, so all of the interior walls are clad in shiplap. Other finishing touches were chosen with the help of their daughter, Andrea, a designer in the Twin Cities.

Special touches are everywhere

Dan did make one major selection in choosing the granite countertop in Cocco Cream for the kitchen.

“Usually we pick out the important things together,” Cindy said. “I tend to be on the conservative side. He tends to go for more excitement.”

Both Cindy and Dan love the creams, browns, taupes and bursts of golds in the granite that is the focal piece of the kitchen. In fact, the gorgeous island covered by this granite includes a bench on one side that aligns with the dining table to provide convenient seating in a limited space.

“We wanted to make the most of a smaller area,” Cindy said of this “banquette” area.

The island also has storage cupboards and cubbies built in. All of the cabinets and vanities came from Hermantown Millwork.

“Brenda and Brooke were fabulous to work,” Dan said.

“It’s a smaller house but there’s plenty of storage,” Cindy said.

Dan can open the patio door, located off the living room, and walk a few feet to grill year-round. During warmer months, the family enjoys the wonderful patio space and outdoor fire table (for a wood fire they go to the cabin). From this location, they enjoy panoramic views of the lake. As you turn back toward the house, once again you can see how Dan and Cindy incorporated the cabin style. To continue the board and batten theme that was used at the cabin, Dan called longtime friend Dan Morin for ideas with siding. Dan and Cindy ultimately chose bright white siding from Morin’s Siding and Window.

And just as Cindy planned her place to see the sun rise each morning, she thought of where she wanted to see the sun set each evening. Today her dream is a reality: the view from the window of the home’s master bedroom features the sun setting on Caribou Lake.

“The real view is the sunset,” Cindy said. She loves their bedroom and its nightly show of sunset on the lake.

Garage

The entire home is designed for one-level living, with a lower level providing a walkout entrance, the utility room, and space for the three-vehicle garage. The garage was tastefully finished with a beautiful epoxy floor.

“We had a party here in the garage upon completion of the house,” Dan said. “We invited all the people who had anything to do with building it and all the neighbors.”

“It’s a well-loved home,” Cindy said. “We really like our neighborhood. Our neighbors have been very welcoming to us.” D

Alison Stucke is a Duluth freelance writer. Her Home Touches feature can be found in every issue of The woman Today.

The building site for the Urshan home had its set of challenges -- a narrow lot and a steep slope to the shores of Caribou Lake, but architectural designer Heather Hiner incorporated a tuck-under garage for easy access, and a patio off the living room with a fire table to enjoy the panoramic views of the lake year round.

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