image

Summer view of a black shed roof home on stilts over a hillside of tall grasses and dark boulders, framed by a dense green hardwood forest

West Lake Residence

After years of condo living in Chicago, the move back to Minnesota centered on finding the perfect place to put down roots. Thoughtfully nestled into the hillside and oriented toward Stubbs Lake, the home embraces its setting with comfort, connection, and sustainability in mind.

Status: Completed

Beds: 4

Baths: 3

Garage Stalls: 2

SQFT: 3392

Location: Orono, MN

Front door close-up with a black glass entry, a low transom, cylinder wall sconces, slim house numbers, concrete steps, and a boulder bed with a fern

White built-in window bench with gray cushions, angled bookshelves, black swing-arm reading lights, and a white oak slat canopy around a casement window

Behind The Design

Designed for a young, eco-conscious family, this fully electric, solar-ready home includes geothermal heating, triple-pane windows, and an energy recovery ventilator.

Custom millwork adds warmth and function, from a cozy white oak reading nook at the entry to a sliding slat screen that artfully conceals the TV.

Two-story living space centered on a stone tile chimney with a linear fire, a vertical oak slat panel, a cognac recliner, and walls of black windows

Close-up of a black flat bar stair guard with tall pickets, overlooking a cognac leather lounge chair and a linear gas fireplace in a stone tile surround

Detail of white oak slats stepping across a floating oak ledge with a turntable, framed sketch, record sleeves, and a brass geometric planter

Cognac leather swivel lounge chair on a black star base with a geometric pillow, before a stone fireplace, white oak shelves, and a slat panel

Warm and Welcoming

At the heart of the home, a vaulted kitchen, living, and dining area becomes a bright, welcoming hub where the family comes together to unwind after a day of remote work.

Expansive transom windows and multi-panel sliding doors bathe the space in natural light while creating a seamless flow between indoors and out.

Sage green and white flat-front kitchen with a broad quartz island wrapped in rift oak, two black cone pendants, leather seat oak stools, and a slat nook

White oak table and black leather chairs set before French doors to a screened porch, with clerestory windows above and a sliding glass wall to the deck

Upstairs laundry with a white front-load pair, a black pull-down faucet, floating shelves, a pull-out drying rack, and a view to the slat reading nook

Mudroom drop zone with greige flat-panel cabinets, a white quartz counter, woven baskets in open cubbies, an LED strip, and green hexagon floor tile

Function Living

A thoughtfully designed mudroom with a “family organization zone” keeps daily life running smoothly.

A dedicated office and studio wing balance work and play, while a first-floor guest suite supports visitors and multi-generational living.

Mudroom locker with a white oak pegboard back, a woven black tote, a yellow child's rain jacket, a bench over boots, and green hexagon tile

Den corner with deep green walls, a framed gallery of prints and a pennant, an oatmeal swivel chair with a yellow pillow, and a black and cream pouf

Guest bath with a fluted teak vanity, a white quartz top, a backlit mirror, a framed fair poster, gray terrazzo tile, and a glass walk-in shower

Close-up of a reeded teak vanity with two long matte black bar pulls on its paired doors, set beneath a crisp white quartz top in soft daylight

Connected Living

Transom windows and multi-panel sliding doors flood the space with natural light and seamlessly connect indoors to out.

A dramatic, lake-facing screen porch extends the volume of the main living area outside, further embracing the landscape.

Sunny side deck in pale composite boards with a black slatted dining table, rope chairs, railing planters of salvia, and a lawn rising to a wooded slope

Summer rear deck in black composite with flower boxes on the railing, a gas grill and ceramic smoker, wide stairs to the lawn, and a long sloped roof

image

Summer twilight front view through a tree trunk to a low black modern home with a warm window wall, a lit entry, a dark cube wing, and native plantings

Energy Efficient Features

We have a passion for creating modern homes that not only look stunning but are environmentally-friendly to help reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

Certifications

Energy Star
EPA Indoor AirPlus
DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes

The Numbers

HERS Score: 34
Air Leakage: 1.07 ACH50

Cost + Savings

Annual Savings: $5,447

Tactics + Methods Used

All Electric
Triple Pane Windows
Geothermal Heating + Cooling
LED Lighting
Solar Ready

Details And People Behind The Project

BUILDER: Sustainable 9

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN: Shelter Architecture

INTERIOR DESIGN: Shelter Architecture

Photography: Farm Kid Studios

Innovation symbol

Connect

Let’s Craft Your Perfect Home