August/September 2009 issue-(right photo)!

HOME
TOUCHES
photos by David Ballard Photography
Island Lake Old
World Lodge
Where Rustic Meets Refined
by Sheryl Jensen
athy and Kevin Bakke’s one-of-a-kind
masterpiece home on Island Lake was
a collaborative effort that resulted in a
showplace, combining Old World elegance
with the best of today’s building technology. Working with Beverly Kolb, of b custom design, a close friend who is a home
designer, and Bruckelmyer Brothers Construction, the Bakkes brought their dramatic vision to life in a home that
exceeded even their high expectations.
“We wanted a comfortable, welcoming
home, while at the same time being beautiful and unique,” says Kathy. The Bakkes
acknowledge how much they appreciate
the work of the area builder and sub-contractors who worked on the home and the
local suppliers from whom they were able
to acquire some of the finishing touches to make Above: Kathy and Kevin Bakke’s Island Lake home combines Old World elegance
and rustic, lodge-like charm with the extensive use of rock and wood inside and out.
their home complete.
K
Complexities of the Design and Build
Because of its scope and scale, the home required complex
planning and design to come to fruition. Kolb says, “This is the
most complicated home I have worked on in my career.” It is
clear she is proud of her contributions in the design of this
home.
Ed Bruckelmeyer also takes great pride in how the home
turned out after the hard work of his team of craftspeople. He
58 AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2009
says, “The challenge always, as a custom builder, is to put together what each client envisions in a timely and cost-efficient
manner. The level of detail in the Bakke project created many
exciting challenges. We enjoy very much the ‘custom’ experience, new ideas, and the ‘one of a kind’ feel.”
Commanding Great Room
It is difficult to know where to look first when entering the
H
Left: With the large scale of the high ceilings and massive dark wood beams, all the furniture and decor was
planned to match the design’s scale. The massive stone
fireplace is a commanding element in the Great Room,
along with the extensive use of tall windows to take full
advantage of the lake view. Below: The gleaming rosewood Schimmel baby grand piano is a stunning accent
in a small music room to one side of the Great Room.
front door of the home: down to the massive stone fireplace, at the scale of the
dark wood beams and the open floor
plan of the breathtaking Great Room, or
out the wall of windows to the sparkling
waters of Island Lake.
To the left in the Great Room is a dramatic kitchen with cherry cabinetry designed and built to look more like custom
furniture with its intricate finishing detail. The trey ceiling, granite countertops, and Old World style lighting
fixtures, all make the kitchen look as elegant as the rest of the room. Kathy says,
“Everything is open, so we needed it to
complement the rest of the home.”
All the amenities one would need are
Continued on page 60
THEWOMANTODAY.COM 59
at hand in the kitchen including two
ovens, a warming drawer, and a walk-in
pantry. The family cat even has his own
small door off the kitchen leading to his
own private “lair” in the laundry area.
The dining room to the right of the
staircase is furnished with a beautiful antique table, chairs, and sideboard that at
one time were used at St. Scholastica
Monastery. The faux painting on the wall
60 AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2009
panels gives the room an even more ornate ambiance. One of the wall panels
conceals a hidden door, leading to a butler’s pantry behind the wall.
Off the dining room is a reproduction
of a classic English pub. “We entertain
quite a bit,” says Kathy, “and this is a
place guests love to be.” Tall bar chairs
around the bar and a separate table and
more high chairs give plenty of space for
guests to mingle.
An inviting seating area facing the
massive stone fireplace and lake is the
focal point of the Great Room. The fireplace mantle is seven feet tall and eight
feet wide, fitting the room’s scale. Floorto-ceiling windows flanking the fireplace
make the room seem airy and light even
with the predominant use of dark woods
and furnishings.
H
Left: The kitchen features cabinetry designed to
look like finely crafted furniture. Extensive use
of honey amber granite and the matched
golden amber tiled backsplash help to create a
warm ambiance. Below left: Faux-painted panels provide a stately and ornate ambiance to the
formal dining room. The Biltmore hickory hand
scraped flooring, provided by Johnson’s Carpet
One, has the same combination of the rustic
and the refined to be seen throughout the
home. Below: The Bakkes enjoy entertaining
and sharing their home with guests. The home’s
version of a classic English pub as part of the
open Great Room floor plan is a party favorite.
A music room to the left features an
elegant rosewood Schimmel baby grand
piano. The Marvin windows in the room
also offer a wonderful lake view of islands.
The use of Biltmore hickory handscraped flooring is one of the elements
that helps to blend the rustic and the refined, a theme prevalent throughout the
home. “The combination of the use of
wood and stone is also a hallmark of the
home. We love wood, stone, and natural
finishes. This project exemplified what
we are good at, and allowed our custom
wood fabrication shop, talented carpenters, cabinet makers, and all of our subcontractors to really show their hands-on
abilities,” says Bruckelmyer.
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Continued on page 62
THEWOMANTODAY.COM 61
Above left and right: Kevin’s main floor office, with its soft leather furniture and tile framed fireplace,
gives him both a comfortable place to relax and a great view to enjoy when he is working. A highly
polished oval Hekman desk is the focal point of the room’s decor. Right: A small sunroom with a
fireplace and access out to the backyard, patio, and lake is a favorite spot for the family cat and as
a place for the couple to read and enjoy the view.
Privacy of the Master Suite
Just down from the music room is the
master suite, affording a sanctuary for
the couple. The cabinetry in the master
bath is as elegant as any in the home. “I
really like to design cabinetry that looks
like fine furniture,” says Kolb. A double
vanity and dual sinks provide separate
spaces for Kevin and Kathy, who also
both have separate walk-in closets in the
suite.
A built-in jet tub with a small chandelier overhead provides another of the
home’s oases of calm. A separate walk-in
steam shower is another of the suite’s
amenities. Off the master suite is a separate exercise area as well.
The bedroom features a faux finish
trey ceiling and an antique style four
poster bed and matching armoire. The
room’s windows overlook the lake. “I fall
asleep listening to the loons,” says Kevin.
Sun Room and Office
In the back of the house, facing the
lake, off of the pub area is a sun room
with French doors leading to the outside
back patio and a cozy fireplace. This is
another favorite spot in the home for
Kathy. “I like to read out here and look
over the lake.”
Across the hall is Kevin’s masculine
style office with a fireplace (backed from
the sun room’s fireplace). Black leather
furniture and a unique oval Hekman
desk help make the ambiance elegant
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62 AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2009
and functional. Built-in cabinetry give
space for storage and curios. A unique,
antiqued faux painting of Island Lake
gives the ceiling a distinctive look.
Second Level
The home was designed and built so
the couple could use the main floor as
their living space. Accessed from a
curved staircase to the left of the main
entry is the home’s second level, with
two bedrooms and a full bath, designed
to be used when the couple’s daughter
comes home to visit or for guests. A hallway bridge between the two upstairs
suites provides an impressive overview of
the Great Room below.
H
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Outside Storage and Design
The home has over 4,000 square feet
of garage space in separate buildings for
the cars, outdoor equipment, and “toys”
as Kathy calls the boats, snowmobiles,
and other outdoor vehicles. Even the design of the garages has an old style with
reclaimed Douglas fir timbers.
A carriage style garage is connected to
the house by a porta corche providing a
place for Kevin’s hobbies and a work
bench area. A DaVinci synthetic slate
roof with copper “snow catchers” gives
an Old World touch to the home’s exterior. The cobblestone driveway is another homage to times past.
Continued on page 64
THEWOMANTODAY.COM 63
Left: The master bedroom affords a panoramic view of the
beautifully landscaped grounds and the sparkling lake. Below
left: A steam shower and a step up jet tub give the master suite
a spa-like ambiance. Off of the master suite is a small exercise
area. Below: The couple’s daughter enjoys this upstairs bedroom when she is home. Another bedroom on the home’s
upper level provides more guest room space.
To The Lake
The outdoor space around the back of the home was planned
to take maximum advantage of the lake, with seating areas,
walkways, fire pits, and docks all there to provide the maximum
view and connection to the lake possible.
“We have lots of friends who use the lake side as the front
door to our home when they visit by means of their pontoons
and snowmobiles,” says Kevin.
Settling In
It is clear that both Kathy and Kevin have settled into
their new home and are enjoying the fruits of their labors
and those of all the craftspeople who worked on the home
as well.
Looking around, Kevin says, “I really enjoy the Great
Room. It’s the room we use the most, and it is a great place
to read, listen to music, and watch TV. I like the magnitude
of the room with its tall ceilings. It has the ambiance of an
‘old club’ with its wood and stone.”
Kathy likes how the home was situated on the lot to tie-in
with the natural surroundings. “It blends into the environment
with the feeling of an old lodge.”
Bruckelmyer adds, “Working with the Bakkes on their dream
home was a great experience. Kathy's sense of design was amazing to all of us, her ability to envision details and how they work
together was quite remarkable. The Bakkes’ integrity, class, and
Continued on page 66
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Above: A unique carved bench in the backyard is a great place to relax and enjoy outdoor lake living. Below: One of the fire pits
in the backyard is a wonderful place to chat
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“We started with a fabulous design,
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says Kathy. S
General Contractor:
Bruckelmyer Brothers. LLC
Sub-Contractors:
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