from blueprints to beautiful
770 Lake St E, Wayzata MN
Every home has a story.
Design a network as thoughtful as the spaces you create.
Builders. Designers. Architects.
Dear Friends,
Pack your bags and join us for Lake Society Magazine ’s third annual Destination issue!
Our first stop: Palm Springs, where interior designer Kelly Caruso transformed the home of snowbirds Julie and Neal Guggemos. From there, it’s a quick jaunt to Rancho Mirage, where Jim Snustad and David Wehrspann of Abitare Studio brought their sophisticated aesthetic to a modern desert home.
Next, we’re touching down in Naples, where architect Jean Rehkamp Larson infused a gracious Island Colonial home with unabashed opulence, and interior designer Renee Hallberg gave a Bonita Springs home a colorful glow-up.
And, like all the best vacations, our Destination issue is a reminder that while it’s great to get away, it’s equally great to come home to Minneapolis,
where The Fletcher, a new condo building, offers the best of both worlds: summer in Linden Hills with the freedom to escape to warmer climes for the winter.
I hope you enjoy this mini vacation as much as we enjoyed curating it. A big thank you to our readers and advertisers. You’re the heart and soul of Lake Society Magazine and I’m grateful for your support.
Happy travels,
Karen Stoeckel
–Karen Stoeckel, Publisher
“No
Shortcuts” is more than a slogan. It’s our culture. We listen carefully We communicate accurately And we stand by our work always
ON THE COVER
JULIE GUGGEMOS AT HOME IN PALM SPRINGS. NOT PICTURED, HER HUSBAND NEAL AND THEIR TWO DOGS, AND KELLY CARUSO, LONGTIME FRIEND AND INTERIOR DESIGNER.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB GROSSE OF SPACECRAFTING STYLING BY MELINDA NELSON
PUBLISHER
KAREN T. STOECKEL
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SHEBA CONCEPT & DESIGN, INC.
ART DIRECTION
KAREN T. STOECKEL
SOCIAL MEDIA
PATTY BURLEY
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
ANDRÉA DIXON
ANDREW FLESHER
RICHARD MERCHÁN
MELINDA NELSON
BERIT THORKELSON
JEN ZIEMER
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
LORI HAMILTON PHOTOGRAPHY
SCOTT AMUNDSON PHOTOGRAPHY
SPACECRAFTING
Lakesocietymagazine.com Lakesocietymagazine@gmail.com @lsm_magazine
Artist Richard Merchán shares the inspiration behind his painting “White Sand with Clouds,” a breezy piece that evokes warmth and a feeling of destination, far away from the cold.
In between designing homes in Naples and Captiva, interior designers Jen Ziemer and Andréa Dixon of Fiddlehead Design Group curate a colorful collection of tropical must-haves for home and travel.
When an interior designer found a gracious Island Colonial home in Naples, she invited architect Jean Rehkamp Larson to give it a thorough refresh and infuse it with charm, romance and unabashed opulence.
For a young couple with three children, interior designer Andrew Flesher mixed comfy furniture with whimsical wallcoverings and playful fabrics to create a vibrant backdrop for the family’s joyful and busy life.
When snowbirds Julie and Neal Guggemos bought a home on a golf course in Palm Springs, they invited longtime friend and interior designer Kelly Caruso to bring panache and pizzazz to the interiors.
Kelly Caruso, designer and intrepid travel correspondent, loves spending time in Palm Springs, soaking up the Old Hollywood allure, touring iconic mid-century modern homes and shopping for iconic vintage pieces.
Jim Snustad and David Wehrspann of Abitare Design Studio bring originality and creativity to a stunning contemporary home in Rancho Mirage.
Interior designer Renee Hallberg and colleague Taylor Potes Mangra “de-Tuscanized” a lovely home on the bay, banishing the somber Northern Italian vibe in favor of a lighthearted Mediterranean vibe.
This spring, developers Thomas Hertzog and Charles Burdick are breaking ground on The Fletcher at Linden Hills, a new condo building that combines modern living with community charm.
During my youth living in South Florida, the term “snowbirds” described visitors from the far North escaping subzero Winter temperatures. They would flock into our territory. Ironically, now I’m looking at the same situation in reverse, as I am spending more time in the North during my golden years.
Most often, people who live in northern cities aspire to migrate someplace warm in retirement. In the meantime, northerners head south to the Caribbean, Florida, or Mexico, while others are heading to Vail or Whistler for ski vacations. After all, a Winter escape is an escape from not only the eminent shoveling but from any routine you need a break from.
Enduring Winter is also a time to reflect and teach us about mindfulness, a time to notice amazing things that we tend to dismiss because we are stressing and complaining, which is not going to make Spring come sooner. Some people hone their baking skills – bread, cozy chicken pot pies, and lots of soups. How about enjoying a steaming cup of mulled wine outside by a fire on a frigid sunny day? That’s mindfulness.
When I selected this painting to accompany my column, “WHITE SAND WITH CLOUDS” 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on wood panel, I searched for one of my pieces that evoked warmth and a feeling of destination, far away from the cold. I wanted scenery that was much different than what we experience in Minnesota during Winter. And, although in early Spring we witness leaf buds sprouting and the sound of birds again, it’s also a time to recover from the icy trauma.
For landscape artists, Winter offers an interesting set of options including snow covered ground, intense blue skies with high, wispy clouds, and bare trees that cast purple-blue shadows across the yard.
All this to say, don’t let the Winter blues get you down.
Just think: December 21st – the date when our days start getting longer – has already passed, and daylight hours are gradually increasing. February and March are around the corner, and we can soon start watching the migrating birds (and snowbirds) as they begin their journey back.
You are almost there!
Richard Merchán is a painter and sculptor creating in Minnesota and California. Learn more @ richardmerchan.com
Merchán is represented by Hollie Blanchard hollie@artgirlsmpls.com 612.834.6565
Andréa Dixon and Jen Ziemer, interior designers and co-owners of the award-winning Fiddlehead Design Group, share the pieces that are inspiring their next getaway!
“The house had lovely scale and symmetry, so it was easy to envision it with more charm, romance, and the casual but unabashed opulence that feels so good in Naples.”
– JEAN REHKAMP LARSON
WWhen a longtime client of Jean Rehkamp Larson calls, it’s usually with some exciting news. She’s an interior designer, and she and her husband are always on the lookout for an intriguing new project. “The clients have a deep appreciation for design and craftsmanship,” says Rehkamp Larson. “They love creating homes that reflect an authentic spirit of place, so it’s always fun to pick up the phone and hear about their latest find.”
Rehkamp Larson’s first collaboration with the clients was a new family cabin on Bay Lake. The original historic cabin had been destroyed in a fire, so she and her team designed a rustic yet luxurious cabin that looks and feels true to its place with log siding, a double-height living room with a Minnesota river rock fireplace and panoramic views of the water. The next time the clients called, they’d just purchased a modern condo near the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Channeling a glamorous Art Deco vibe, Rehkamp Larson and the homeowner deftly mixed timeless materials to reflect the gleaming downtown skyline, including a burnished metal fireplace wall, stainless steel cabinetry and polished brass accents.
When the phone rang a third time, the clients were calling with an invitation to meet them in Naples, Florida, where they’d found a gracious Island Colonial home on the water. It had beautiful proportions, but it needed a thorough refresh. Rehkamp Larson and her husband, architect Mark Larson, flew down to Naples. As they drove along the avenue lined with towering palm trees and vibrant bougainvillea bushes, the house came into view. “We immediately felt like we were in old Florida,” says Rehkamp Larson. “The house had lovely scale and symmetry, so it was easy to envision it with more charm, romance, and the casual but unabashed opulence that feels so good in Naples.”
Over the next two years, Rehkamp Larson and her client refined the home with a local custom builder. They had collaborated with Minneapolis cabinetmaker Jon Frost on the Bay Lake cabin and the Minneapolis condo, so they invited him to lend his talents to the extensive two-year renovation. They created a sense of arrival with a graceful curving brick driveway, added elegant millwork, trim and window muntins throughout the interiors and redesigned the two wings. The south wing accommodates a luxurious primary suite, a library and guest suite, while the north wing features a spacious kitchen, a coffee pantry, a butler pantry and a kitchen pantry, as well as a mudroom, a powder room, a cozy den and a trio of guest suites. When the renovation was finished, the client worked with a local landscape team to create lush gardens with native plants and palm trees that appear to have always been part of the scenery.
“What started as a client/architect relationship has become a true friendship, so every project is a joy,” says Rehkamp Larson. “Being entrusted to design beautiful places where the clients can spend time with their family is the highest of compliments.”
“What started as a client/architect relationship has become true friendship,
so every project is a joy.”
– JEAN REHKAMP LARSON
project credits
• architecture: kasimir korybut (original) and jean rehkamp larson and elissa juhnke, rehkamp larson architects
• interior design: client
• photography: scott amundson photography
photography by spacecrafting
“My clients are a young couple with three small children. When they found a house nestled on a stunning piece of property near a lake, they invited me to refresh the interiors. While the clients knew it wasn’t going to be their forever home, they wanted it to feel special. They also wanted every space to be beautiful and inviting, yet practical and durable. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscape, I curated a fresh palette of earthy colors, natural textures and organic materials. While keeping the design cohesive, I gave each room its own personality with a mix of custom and vintage pieces, creating a vibrant backdrop for the family’s joyful and busy life.”
“I softened the walls with a natural paper-backed linen fabric and added comfy chairs and a friendly fiddle-leaf fig tree that feels like a member of the family.”
“ While keeping the design cohesive, I gave each room its own personality.”
–Andrew Flesher, interior designer
“The family room is a large space, so I created three intimate conversation groupings with the fireplace as the focal point.”
“I designed the casually luxurious primary suite to incorporate a bedroom lounge, a sitting room and a dressing room, and gave each space its own personality.”
“I gave the kids’ bath a fresh, playful vibe with “Aviary” from Schumacher, originally designed by Saul Steinberg, a former architectural draftsman-turnedillustrator who lent his talents to The New Yorker.”
“The sunny guest bedroom, with an antler chandelier and sweeping views of nature, is a favorite place for resting and reading.”
Interior designer Kelly Caruso brings panache and pizzazz to a Palm Springs home.
“After spending most of my career traveling and working overseas, I believe that home is wherever you belong.”
–KELLY CARUSO
WWhen Julie and Neal Guggemos found a new vacation home in Palm Springs, it checked (almost) all the boxes. Ideally situated near the airport on a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, the house had magnificent views of the San Jacinto Mountains and a magazine cover-worthy swimming pool. It was also move-in ready, since the builder had intended it to be a model home.
But, while the high ceilings, large windows and white walls were lovely, the house was sorely lacking in panache and pizzazz, which, in Palm Springs, are as essential as water and oxygen. After all, this is a place where iconic mid-century modern homes are as plentiful as championship golf courses and Modernism Week is celebrated twice a year.
And for Julie, design is everything. She’d recently retired from Target, where she was a design executive, earning the nickname, “Queen of Affordable Chic.” After spending the season in what she calls “a plain white box,” she and Neal were ready to make the house feel like their own, so she called longtime friend and interior designer Kelly Caruso of Regarding Design. Kelly was a fellow Target executive, and she and Julie worked side-by-side to launch high-profile collaborations with Magnolia, Missoni and other top brands. Three years ago, Kelly heeded the call of her heart and opened her own interior design and boutique development firm.
“After spending most of my career traveling and working overseas, I believe that home is wherever you belong,” says Kelly. “Now, as an interior designer, I love helping my clients create that sense of belonging in all the places where they want to spend time, whether that’s a family home, a cabin or a vacation home.”
While the Palm Springs project was the smallest collaboration that Julie and Kelly have ever launched, it was the most fun, since it was more play than work. “Julie and I had so much fun creating the story and pulling it all together with fabrics, wallcoverings, custom furnishings, lighting and accessories,” says Kelly. “Once we’d made our selections, I placed all the orders, worked with my team of artisans to create custom pieces and then flew out to Palm Springs to oversee the installation.”
Julie and Neal had several beautiful pieces of art, including a pair of black and white images of Joshua Tree National Park by the late Fernando Bengoechea, so Kelly and Julie gave them pride of place in the dining room. Palm Springs is a trove of unique shops and galleries, so Kelly found a painting by local artist Robert Landry for the primary suite and an abstract piece by artist Jill Regan for the guest suite.
“My proudest moment was when Julie and Neal came home and the wallpaper was up, the furniture and the art were in place and everything was illuminated by the incredible Palm Springs light,” says Kelly. “They looked at each other and said, “This feels like us.”
•
•
“I love helping my clients create that sense of belonging in all the places where they want to spend time, whether that’s a family home, a cabin or a vacation home.” – KELLY CARUSO
Palm Springs is a desert haven where timeless glamour meets a relaxed, small-town vibe. Known for its iconic mid-century modern design, the city boasts sleek architecture by legends like Albert Frey and William Krisel, blending seamlessly with the desert surroundings. For travel connoisseur and interior designer Kelly Caruso, the city’s vintage shopping scene is a treasure trove of retro finds, offering everything from mid-century furniture to 1970’s Milan décor to Golden Age-inspired clothing. It’s the perfect destination for those seeking unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Offering breathtaking desert views and a serene escape, the city’s natural beauty has inspired generations of artists, turning it into a creative hub filled with galleries and studios. Amid this artistic charm, Palm Springs retains its old Hollywood allure, from stylish poolside scenes to retro cocktail lounges, embodying effortless luxury and creative energy.
The ultimate celebration of mid-century modern design, architecture, art, and culture, featuring home tours, lectures, and events that highlight the city’s iconic style.
Prestigious annual event showcasing world-class cinema, attracting filmmakers, stars, and movie enthusiasts to celebrate global storytelling and artistic excellence.
Stunning desert escape where unique rock formations and iconic Joshua trees create a surreal landscape perfect for hiking, stargazing, and connecting with nature.
A monthly pop-up market for retro enthusiasts, offering high-quality antiques, upcycled treasures, and inspiration for home decor.
Whether the Parker, Thompson, or a multitude of other well-known hotels, PS remains a sought-after destination for its iconic mid-century modern hotels, blending architectural innovation with a legacy of luxury and leisure.
A dynamic blend of indie, rock, electronic, and country, spotlighted by the world-famous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach.
Abitare Design Studio infuses a contemporary Coachella Valley home with art and custom comfort. written by berit thorkelson, photography provided by abitare design studio
project credits:
• architect: hudgins design group
• interior design: abitare
AAmong the things the couple felt sure about when building their winter residence in Rancho Mirage, California: They wanted a casual, open living space filled with comfortable spots to soak in the mountain valley vistas, and share them with visitors. They wanted it to feel simple and clean, yet completely unique. And they knew Jim Snustad and David Wehrspann of Minneapolisbased Abitare Design Studio could make it so.
The duo had designed several previous homes for the couple, when the line between work and friendship had beautifully blurred. Involving Abitare was more an inevitability than a decision.
“It’s nice working with people who love you and respect what you do, and want something that doesn't look like everybody else’s,” Snustad says.
The sentiment could apply to many of Abitare’s dedicated clients. The firm’s developed a reputation for deep contemporary design talent and an intimate, highly customized approach that considers homeowner and environment. It’s based out of a 6,500 sq. ft. Minneapolis studio/showroom filled with natural light and modern furnishings, where clients can experience the potential of sectionals and club chairs, and feel immersed in possibility.
Tucked away in that studio: a rug swatch that set the tone for the Rancho Mirage home. “I’d seen it online a long time ago and was just waiting for someone to use it with,” Wehrspann says. It was the spark; a starting point featuring the sand tones and intriguing geometries now referenced throughout the home.
At 14-by-24 feet, it grounds and warms the open living space, starring among the many scaled-up elements that create a comfortable intimacy amid the 15-foot ceilings — oversized cabinetry, modern ceiling-spanning lighting, all varieties of upholstered seating and a custom 15-ft. dining table. A 50-foot retractable glass door creates artwork of the valley view, and disappears at the touch of a button, seamlessly expanding the space to include the 58-foot veranda, including hot tub and infinity pool.
There’s a personal, one-of-a-kind story at every turn, all testaments to artist and manufacturer relationships created and built over time. A commissioned CJ Rench stainless-steel sculpture rises from the reflecting pool in the home’s quiet courtyard approach. For courtyard seating with indoor coziness, Abitare asked High Point furniture maker Thayer Coggins to modify a chair for exterior use.
Above the fireplace, the designers gambled on a 5-by-11foot fiberglass piece by Minneapolis mixed-media artist Peter Geyen, featuring a bronze casting of mountains and fault lines. “We had that custom done and had no idea if they’d like it or not, but they flipped out for it,” Snustad says.
In the primary bedroom, a custom 18-foot dual-height layered leather headboard, topped in a Christopher Jeffries sculpture made up of white glass discs, hand-placed by the artist. And on the veranda, a geometric black metal commission by Palm Springs-area artist Ryan Campbell smooths the indooroutdoor transition. Abitare also custom designed cocktail tables throughout, as well as a king-sized outdoor daybed, to fulfill a homeowner request for an outdoor napping spot.
“Anybody can go buy stuff. But if you want something unique, you have to make it. You have to somehow figure it out,” Snustad says. “That’s what we love to do.”
“
They walked in on the day they moved in, looked around, and said, ‘This house is epic.’ What a beautiful word.”
– JIM SNUSTAD, ABITARE DESIGN STUDIO
“Everything kind of plays off each other; there are a lot of references back and forth, throughout the house.”
– DAVID WEHRSPANN , ABITARE DESIGN STUDIO
“The house had great bones with graceful arched windows, so when the client
asked if I could “de-Tuscanize” the interiors, my answer was an immediate and enthusiastic yes.”
– RENEE HALLBERG
“…I love giving older homes a glow-up with a fresh color
palette, pretty wallcoverings, statement light fixtures and a mix of classic and modern pieces.” – RENEE HALLBERG
project credits:
• interior design: renee hallberg and taylor potes mangra, rlh studio
• photography: lori hamilton photography
NNever underestimate the magic of a memo sample. For a St. Paul snowbird, Chiang Mai, a vivacious Chinoiserie fabric by Schumacher, was transformative. When interior designer Renee Hallberg first shared the swatch, the client wasn’t sure how the vibrant, Asian Art Deco-inspired pattern would work in her Bonita Springs home. But, the client is very creative and loves color, so she agreed with Hallberg’s recommendation to order a custom Chiang Mai-covered armchair for the family room, where it offers an irresistible invitation to relax, read a book or just sit and enjoy the views.
And, with its bright, bold flowers and playful Chinoiserie dragons, Chiang Mai is an apt reflection of Hallberg’s ability to create timeless and inviting interiors. For centuries, the dragon has symbolized divine energy, an alchemy of creativity and wisdom with the perfect balance of masculine and feminine energies. And, for this whole house interior transformation, Hallberg’s talents were just what the home needed.
The client and her husband bought the home in 2021, and like many houses built in the early 2000s, it had been decorated in Tuscan style with dark colors and heavy finishes. The house is in a beautiful golf community on the bay, and as the clients were embarking on an exciting new chapter as Florida residents, they wanted their home to reflect the vibrant colors of the water and the lush landscape. A friend recommended that she call Hallberg, an award-winning interior designer who’s designed many homes on the west coast of Florida, including her parents’ vacation getaway, a breezy, light-filled home in Naples.
“The house had great bones with graceful arched windows, so when the client asked if I could “deTuscanize” the interiors, my answer was an immediate and enthusiastic yes,” says Hallberg. “I love giving older homes a glow-up with a fresh color palette, pretty wallcoverings, statement light fixtures and a mix of classic and modern pieces.”
Taking their cues from the relaxed Florida lifestyle, Hallberg and colleague Taylor Potes Mangra renovated the 9,000 sq.-ft. home over three years, incorporating the client’s original art and treasured pieces of furniture into the plan. The client loves the colors of ocean and sky, so the designers curated an elevated coastal palette. Deftly mixing several shades of ivory and white that play well with the original sand-colored marble floors, they banished the somber Northern Italian ambiance in favor of a lighthearted, Mediterranean vibe.
In signature RLH Studio style, the designers gave the dining room a gracious yet modern look with a mural wallcovering with hand-painted birds, a classic sideboard and dining table with upholstered armchairs and Chinese Chippendale-style chairs. Inspired by the dining room birds, the client commissioned an artist friend to create a painting of a tropical bird with blue and orange feathers. Perched on the wall of the breakfast room, the brightly colored bird is in constant conversation with the Chiang Mai dragons in the family room, exactly as Hallberg envisioned the flow of color and energy throughout the clients’ home.
Thomas Hertzog and Charles Burdick have chosen Highmark Custom Homes, builder of this luxurious home, to provide custom build-outs for The Fletcher. written by melinda nelson photography by bo carlock // spacecrafting
TThere’s no place like Linden Hills. Nestled between Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet, this jewel box of a neighborhood feels like a Midwestern cousin of La Jolla in San Diego, Sag Harbor on Long Island and Harbor Springs on Lake Michigan. And, like these other enchanting waterside enclaves, Linden Hills offers a sophisticated, casually luxurious lifestyle with all the things: historic charm mixed with a modern vibe, a dynamic food scene, cultural and outdoor activities and a strong sense of community.
And, because Linden Hills is a small town at heart, news travels fast. Right now, the buzz is all about The Fletcher, a new condominium building at the corner of 44th and Vincent. Over Turkish coffee and savory egg sandwiches at Café Ceres, Wagyu burgers and frites at Le Burger 4304, pints of Pilsner at Wooden Ship Brewing Company and wood-fired pizza at Rosalia, everyone’s talking about this new way of life in Linden Hills.
Envisioned and developed by Thomas Hertzog, principal of Good Neighbor Homes, and Charles Burdick, principal of Streetfront Development, The Fletcher is on track to open in the summer of 2026. The name pays homage to Frank Fletcher, a well-to-do insurance agent who lived in Linden Hills at the turn of the century. Fletcher lived in a luxurious mansion on 44th Street with magnificent Japanese gardens designed by legendary Minneapolis designer John Scott Bradstreet, and while he sold his property to St. Thomas Church in 1923, his appreciation for great design continues at The Fletcher.
“Our work is grounded in respect for the unique character of Linden Hills, so we designed the building to match the scale of the adjacent buildings with materiality that reflects the colors and textures of the neighborhood,” says Hertzog. “The Fletcher is dog-friendly and energyefficient with solar panels on the roof, and the condos range in size from 1,600 to 2,400 square feet. Every condo offers the beauty and convenience of a custom home with a modern floor plan, tall ceilings, high quality finishes, Energy Star certified windows, an open kitchen and a spacious outdoor terrace for entertaining.”
Burdick and Hertzog are planning to break ground on The Fletcher this spring, and 12 of the 15 units have already been reserved. “The immediate response has been heartwarming,” says Burdick. “Our residents all have a deep personal connection to Linden Hills and many of them raised their families nearby, so they love the idea of having a summer home at The Fletcher. Several people have already reached out to their friends, so we’re anticipating that the remaining condos will be reserved within the next couple of months.”
“It’s been gratifying to meet so many people who appreciate our vision for an elevated, intimate condo building in the heart of this unique neighborhood,” says Hertzog. “Charles and I are excited about creating a community of people who share our belief that there’s no place like home—especially when it’s in Linden Hills.”
“The immediate response has been heartwarming. Our residents all have a deep personal connection to Linden Hills.”
