MODERN FAMILY
When the Lawrences couldn’t build out towards the lake on their 55-foot lot, their only viable option was to build up and back, making the most of their family’s 220-foot-deep lot. Working with Moorhead’s Brent Behm of Ruki Modern, Carrie and Jack spent roughly two years designing and reconfiguring space to suit their family of four, as well as the family members who fell in love with this lake lot 28 years prior. Jack’s parents were the owners of a small, seasonal cabin on this lot back in 1996. As the years passed and the 1960’s cabin showed its age, his parents contemplated a remodel, but it was too large an undertaking. Jack and Carrie eventually took over stewardship, contemplating the future of their family’s beloved retreat. With a vision for year-round living, accessible design, and future retirement, they enlisted Ruki Modern to craft a contemporary home that would embrace the lot’s depth while capturing breathtaking views from every angle. “It was really meaningful for us to do this while my parents are still able to come out and enjoy it and be a part of it for many more years,” added Jack Lawrence.
Brent Behm, Ruki Modern’s Founding Partner, Principal Designer & Fabricator
“I had two former colleagues that both worked with Ruki on design projects,” explained Jack Lawrence. “We were looking for something that retained a bit of the rustic cabin feel but also had a strong, modern vibe; the projects Ruki had worked on had that. Just his style and what we were looking for matched really well. He had a questionnaire, and we labored over that. It was everything about how we envisioned using the space, the type of style, and the history of why we wanted to stay in this specific spot. Being on a narrow lot, you kind of give up some possibilities, but it was really important for us to stay.”
NORTH & NEST MAGAZINE | 39