Private Residence

Houston, Minnesota

The owners, a retired couple, wanted a vacation home they could share with their family and grandchildren and their passion for gardening and landscaping. The home features an open, flowing, central plan that exploits the views of the nearby pond and hillsides. The main living spaces are on the second floor, while the first floor includes support spaces for the owners’ gardening and landscaping needs. The storage spaces are used for gardening equipment and the work room is used for activities related to plant care.

Another important design consideration was to develop an area in the home to be used by the grandchildren. The third floor loft is dedicated to addressing this need. Simple forms that recall rural architecture were used. The home features a gable roof, porches, double hung windows, post timber construction and the use of natural colors and materials.