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I t ’ s W h e r e Y o u B e l o n g .
Rooted in warmth and function
THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED FOR DAILY LIVING AND WEEKEND HOSTING. AVAILABLE SUMMER ‘26 IN COTTAGEWOOD.
from blueprints to beautiful
honeybee and flower
photo by
Diamond and 14k yellow gold pendants from The Honeycomb Collection. #Queenbee
Wayzata Bay, Lake Minnetonka
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our Late Summer issue. Bookended between our annual Cabin issue and our Autumn issue, this issue is always extra-special. Last summer, I dedicated this issue to my dad Orlin M. Olson, who passed away in July. This year, I’m honoring another of my all-time favorite men—Jim Snustad, who co-founded Abitare Design Studio with David Wehrspann. As many of you know, Jim passed away in June at the age of 86, leaving an extraordinary imprint on our community. In David’s words,
“Jim had an eye for beauty—in design, in life and in people. He didn’t just make friends; he collected them, much like he collected art— each unique in their own way.”
I know Jim would have loved this leisurely jaunt around Lake Minnetonka, stopping in at Katie Bassett’s lake home on Wayzata Bay, a casually luxurious Cottagewood renovation by Peter Crain, a breezy Big Island refresh by Maddy Frecon, a new modern home in Excelsior by PKA and Streeter, and so much more!
Karen
–Karen Stoeckel, Publisher
ON THE COVER
Interior designer Andrew Flesher juxtaposed a classic Chesterfield sofa with a modern table and graceful chairs in a Lake Minnetonka home designed by architect Julie Snow.
PUBLISHER
KAREN T. STOECKEL
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
MELINDA NELSON
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SHEBA CONCEPT & DESIGN, INC.
ART DIRECTION
KAREN T. STOECKEL
SOCIAL MEDIA
PATTY BURLEY
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
KELLY CARUSO
ANDRÉA DIXON
ANDREW FLESHER
RICHARD MERCHÁN
JEN ZIEMER
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
CATHERINE BRINKER
CHELSIE LOPEZ
SPACECRAFTING // BO CARLOCK, ROB GROSSE
Lakesocietymagazine.com
Lakesocietymagazine@gmail.com @lsm_magazine
Photo:
Now available: 512 Janalyn Circle, Golden Valley in North Tyrol. Visit my website
Contents LATE SUMMER 2025
34 IMAGINATION STYLE
For Lake Minnetonka artist Richard Merchan, his “Back Patio” muse is someone who works hard but takes time off in the middle of a business day to enjoy a leisurely alfresco lunch.
36 THE TASTEMAKER DIARIES
From breezy striped dresses to faux tortoiseshell sunnies and fisherman’s sandals, Andréa Dixon and Jen Ziemer share their must-haves for summering in signature Fiddlehead style.
38 LAKE GIRL AT HEART
Interior designer Katie Bassett’s favorite place on earth is the home she designed with PKA on Wayzata Bay.
42 ISLAND ADVENTURE
When interior designer Maddy Frecon’s clients invited her to lend her talents to a Big Island renovation, she was game for the adventure.
50 BESPOKE BY DESIGN
As charming, witty and courtly as a Southern gentleman, interior designer Jim Noble cuts a dashing figure in the Twin Cities design community.
54 GOOD NEIGHBORS
Designed by PKA Architecture and crafted by Streeter Custom Builder, a new modern home fits neatly into the charming town of Excelsior.
62 REGARDING TRAVEL WITH KELLY CARUSO
For interior designer Kelly Caruso, there’s no better way to close out summer than exploring design shops, showrooms and vintage stores in Wayzata and Excelsior.
64 SMOOTH SAILING
When Peter Crain’s clients decided to sell their Edina home and move out to Lake Minnetonka, he turned a dated house in Cottagewood into a casually luxurious family retreat.
75 ANDREW ON DESIGN
Andrew Flesher designed the interiors of a Lake Minnetonka home to allow the client’s art collection and views of nature to take center stage.
The Minnetonka Issue
photography by catherine brinker
IMAGINATION
Style
WORK HARD PLAY HARD
In American culture, I’m quite sure we are all familiar with the expression “Work Hard Play Hard” and what that means: intense work time followed by intense leisure time. And whether you are truly overworked or if your work is “hard” for you (either physically or mentally) by combining equal measures of work and play, it can lead to greater satisfaction and fulfillment. Said another way, the harder we work, the more license we have to reward ourselves with some type of extravagance. Everyone has their own definition of how much work gives way to how much play. No judgement please. We are all different.
According to recent mental health reports, having a healthy work life balance helps reduce stress, prevent burnout, and enhance overall happiness and purpose. Who doesn’t want meaning in their lives? And who doesn’t need something to look forward to? For some it may be as simple as TGIF and a happy hour with co-workers, or reading a book on a rainy Summer Sunday, staying off social media and not answering the phone, the door or email.
As an artist, my work is greatly influenced by my surroundings. The painting featured here is a 12 x 12 inch canvas called “BACK PATIO”. Inspired by outdoor dining and taking advantage of every minute to be outside, especially Summer patio lunches. The sunlight coming through the black and white striped umbrella caught my attention. The woman is wearing a coral-colored sweater, a sign that we are touching on the edge of Summer and a cooler season may be just around the corner.
In my visual story, my muse is the one who works hard but can also take time off in the middle of a business day to enjoy the moment. Even in my impressionistic style, the viewer can relate to the patio vibe, complete with cozy couch, fire table and a lush garden in full bloom, in a quiet Lake Minnetonka home.
Living here for a decade, I have learned how hard Midwesterners work: there are no siestas here and early mornings are the norm. So, if anyone deserves a Work Hard Play Hard credo, it’s Minnesotans.
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 their favorite picks for summer in MN.
LAKE GIRLat Heart
Interior designer Katie Bassett’s favorite place on earth is her home on Wayzata Bay.
written by melinda nelson, photography by catherine brinker
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project credits:
interior design: katie bassett interiors
architecture: pka architecture
builder: mcdonald remodeling
KKatie Bassett’s work takes her all over the country, from a luxe mountain house in Colorado to a timeless veranda home on Longboat Key in Florida and a breezy villa on the island of St. Thomas in the Caribbean. But, of all the many destinations in her portfolio, the interior designer’s favorite place on earth is Lake Minnetonka.
“It all started when I was a kid and my parents rented a summer cabin on Carson’s Bay,” recalls Bassett. “It was a fun, run-down place with hotel numbers on the doors and a tennis court where my brothers and sisters and I would have tennis tournaments. Being at the cabin was so different from my family’s regular life and it showed me the importance of having a place where everyone can relax, play and be happy.”
In 2008, Bassett and her husband Marty bought an old lake place for their own family. Situated behind a pair of fieldstone gateposts at the end of Eastman Lane in Wayzata, it was a modest, ski house-style home with a rustic screenhouse next to the water. As they learned, the land was the last piece of a legendary summer estate which had been built in 1938 for Katherine and Frances Dain, daughters of James Dain, president of J.M. Dain & Co., now part of RBC Wealth Management, and his wife Katherine.
For nearly a decade, the Bassetts, their two boys and Toby, their spunky West Highland terrier, spent weekends and vacations at their lake house. But, finally the lure of Lake Minnetonka became too powerful to resist and they decided to build a new home that looked like it’s always been part of the property. Bassett designed the home on the original footprint with the late architect Lars Peterssen and architect Ryan Fish of PKA Architecture, an experience she cherishes. “Working with Lars and Ryan was so much fun because they understood all the experiences I wanted to create, including waking up to the sound of loons, hosting big family get-togethers at 4th of July and Thanksgiving, sitting on the patio and watching kids learn to sail, and hanging out in the screen porch and seeing the summer thunderstorms roll in.”
The house was built by McDonald Remodeling and when it was finished, Bassett shared it with the AIA MN Homes by Architects Tour in 2016 and a special boathouse tour hosted by the Minnetonka Center for the Arts in 2019. Guests loved Bassett’s lighthearted take on classic lake house style and her elevated palette of nautical-inspired finishes including white shiplap paneling, a navy plaster wall by artisan Darril Otto and whimsical wooden boat wallpaper. And, because a great house is never finished, especially when it’s the home of an interior designer, Bassett and her husband rebuilt the screenhouse and they’re in the midst of reimagining the landscaping with Southview Design. In signature Katie Bassett style, she illuminated the fieldstone gateposts to welcome family and friends to Lake Minnetonka.
ISLANDAdventure
When interior designer Maddy Frecon’s clients invited her to lend her talents to a renovation on Big Island, she was game for the adventure.
written by melinda nelson, photography by spacecrafting
WWhile Lake Minnetonka’s amusement parks and summer camps are long gone, the timeless pleasures of lake life still exist on Big Island. The north side has always been a haven for party boats, but the east side is home to Big Island Park, a favorite of birdwatchers and hikers. And, deep within the island, a small collection of rustic cabins and homes are nestled into a wild, wooded landscape that looks virtually the same as it did a century ago.
Interior designer Maddy Frecon grew up across the lake in Woodland, so when her clients invited her to lend her talents to a renovation on Big Island, she was game for the adventure. Her clients met her at the Excelsior docks with their boat and ferried her out to the island, which had changed very little since she was a teen. “So much of old Lake Minnetonka has disappeared, but Big Island is still such a cool, hidden place,” she says. “I have so many great memories of exploring the island with my friends, so I was delighted to help my clients create their own family retreat.”
Frecon started Maddy Frecon Interiors in 2018 after spending several years at Ramsey Engler Ltd. in Minneapolis, where she worked with interior designer Laura Ramsey Engler on complex new construction and luxe renovation projects throughout the U.S. “Laura is an amazing designer and mentor,” she says. “I learned so much from her about designing interiors that reflect the clients’ style, planning and overseeing logistics and creating a seamless process for the project.”
When Frecon first saw the Arts & Crafts-style home, it had heavy millwork, oak cabinetry, dark furnishings and an unfinished basement. But, it also had a vaulted living room with a wall of windows and sliding glass doors that offered breathtaking views of the water, a fieldstone fireplace and beautiful wood paneling throughout the house, so she could easily envision the interiors with new finishes, furnishings and lighting.
“The client has great taste, and she had a clear vision for the renovation,” says Frecon. “During the summer, there’s so much color outside, so she wanted to use a quiet palette of creams and taupes throughout the house. And, given the challenges of transporting things to and from the island, she wanted to utilize what we had, so we worked with builder Mitch Smith to paint the kitchen cabinets and add new countertops and hardware, update the wood paneling with a modern matte finish and turn the basement into a living room and bunk room.”
“Maddy’s a great listener and communicator,” says the client. “She understood my vision and my aesthetic, and she was willing to research furnishings and other pieces and provide options at a range of price points. Whether we were boating over to the island to do a color check, four-wheeling across the frozen lake to meet Mitch or bringing a barge full of furniture over on a beautiful spring day, it was always an exciting process with Maddy.”
“ So much of old Lake Minnetonka has disappeared, but Big Island is still such a cool, hidden place.”
–MADDY FRECON
project credits:
• interior design: maddy frecon interiors
• builder: mitch smith, mg construction
BESPOKE by Design
Interior designer Jim Noble brings warmth, charm and impeccable attention to detail to his signature renovation and restoration services. written by
melinda nelson,
photography by chelsie lopez
“There’s something about the easy grace and relaxed formality of the Southern lifestyle that speaks to me.”
–JIM NOBLE
IIt takes a certain kind of person to rock a bow tie—and nobody does it better than interior designer Jim Noble. As charming, witty and courtly as a Southern gentleman, Noble cuts a dashing figure in the Twin Cities design community, his bespoke jackets lined in vibrant patterned silks paired with crisp striped shirts, jaunty bow ties and a whiff of Hermes cologne. “I often feel like a misplaced Southerner,” he admits with a laugh. “There’s something about the easy grace and relaxed formality of the Southern lifestyle that speaks to me.”
Situated at 50th and France across from Salut in Edina, the Noble Signature Design studio is equally well-dressed in gracious, Charleston-meets-Park Avenue style. The lacquered green walls are layered with mirrors, oil paintings and Chinoiserie engravings, while an 18thcentury English dresser converses with a round antique dining table and a tailored blue sofa upholstered in the same hue as the classic blue and white porcelain cachepots on the painted bookshelves.
Like his sartorial fashion aesthetic, Noble’s work is collected and confident, lighthearted yet luxurious. His clients prefer not to be published, but if there was a coffee table book that captured Noble’s interiors, it would sit between Mark Hampton on Decorating, Bunny Williams’ Love Affairs with Houses and The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live by architect Gil Shafer. While each of Noble’s projects is as unique as his clients, they all reflect his talent for designing inviting, deeply personal living environments that look and feel as though they’ve evolved naturally over many years.
Noble credits the legendary interior designer Dorothy Collins for recognizing his gifts and launching his interior design career. Back in the day, Collins owned the eponymous Dorothy Collins Interiors at 70th and France in Edina, now the site of Room & Board. In addition to a full-service design showroom and drapery workroom, Collins’ son-in-law had a custom menswear business in the building, where Noble worked in sales. When Collins discovered Noble’s flair for selling and fitting bespoke suits, she insisted he join her studio. “Dorothy was a design pioneer and a powerhouse,” he remembers. “I hung on her every word, including “design must invite the eye to travel around the room,” and she taught me everything about designing a beautiful home and running an interior design studio.”
Whether Noble is renovating an outdated French Country-style home in Edina, restoring an elegant Lake Minnetonka home with hand-painted wallpaper, boiserie and parquet floors, or infusing a downtown penthouse with personality, including red lacquered cabinetry and kicky Lucite chairs in the kitchen, he brings his signature style of service to the project. As interior designer and project concierge, Noble curates the team of architect, builder and artisans and oversees design, construction and installation with warmth, charm and impeccable attention to detail. “My greatest joy is taking care of every little detail so my clients can relax and enjoy the process of reimagining their home for a new chapter in their lives,” he says.
GoodNEIGHBORS
Designed by PKA Architecture and crafted by Streeter Custom Builder, a new modern home fits neatly into the charming town of Excelsior. written by melinda nelson, photography by rob grosse // spacecrafting
BBack in 1853, plucky pioneers from the East Coast found an idyllic piece of land on Lake Minnetonka’s south shore and named their new village Excelsior after the New York State motto. Although the town is nearly 200 years old, it still retains its original New England charm and quirky character. Fire lanes still punctuate the shoreline, souvenirs of the days when fire trucks would pump water from the lake, and longtime residents still refer to houses by their original owners, even if it’s been decades since the deeds changed hands. In time-honored tradition, the city siren goes off at noon for lunch, 6 p.m. for supper and again at 9 p.m. as a reminder that it’s a fine time to be at home in this picturesque community.
And, because Excelsior is a small town, neighbors and passers-by watched with unabashed curiosity as signs for Streeter Custom Builder, PKA Architecture, Yond Interiors and PEBL popped up on a narrow, sloping site adjacent to a fire lane. Given the lot’s challenging proportions and topography, many people anticipated the new house would overshadow its neighbors, but as the structure began to take shape, they realized the homeowner had a unique vision for his home.
“Above all, our client wanted to be a good neighbor,” says Bill Costello, CEO of Streeter Custom Builder. “He appreciates Excelsior’s eclectic mix of turn-of-the-century homes, original lake cottages and newer contemporary homes, and he envisioned a modest home with a balance of modern and traditional design elements that would integrate easily into the streetscape.”
Costello introduced the client to Kristine Anderson, Design Principal|Partner, and Bob Le Moine, architect, of PKA Architecture, the Minneapolis-based studio that’s partnered with Streeter on many award-winning homes around Lake Minnetonka. “Great architecture fully aligns with the Streeter culture of quality and commitment to craftsmanship,” continues Costello. “PKA excels at designing elevated yet warm modern homes with exceptional materiality, so I knew it would be a fantastic collaboration.”
Designing and building a new custom home takes a village, so Anderson and Le Moine worked handin-hand with the client, Costello and colleagues Mike Shideman and Ryan Szafranski, interior designer Julia Miller and landscape architect Jonathan Blaseg to create a light-filled modern lake home with curated gardens and a historic garage with a patio for chatting with neighbors over a glass of wine. “The client is very creative and design savvy, so he was wonderful to work with,” says Anderson. “We all shared his desire to be a good steward of Excelsior and respect the city’s Good Neighbor design guidelines, so he trusted us to create a home that would be welcomed with open arms by the community.”
In appreciation for the team’s work, the client shared his home with the AIA MN Homes by Architects Tour. As neighbors and visitors walked through the cozy rooms, taking in the views of the water and the generous green spaces between the street and the adjacent homes, they saw firsthand how a well-designed, well-crafted home builds community.
“Above
all, our client wanted to be a good neighbor… he envisioned a modest home with
a balance of modern and traditional design elements that would integrate easily into the streetscape.”
–BILL COSTELLO, CEO, STREETER CUSTOM BUILDER
project credits:
• builder: streeter custom builder
• architecture: pka architecture
• interior design: yond interiors
• landscape design: pebl design and river heights outdoor solutions
“The client is very creative and design savvy, so he was wonderful to work with… he trusted us to create a home that would be welcomed with open arms by the community.”
There’s no better way to close out summer than by lingering near our hometown lakes. For interior designer and travel correspondent Kelly Caruso, late summer invites a slower pace—a time to stay close to home and spend the day wandering favorite neighborhood gems. Wayzata and Excelsior brim with quiet charm and endless inspiration, where lake breezes and historic streets set the tone for an elevated, yet relaxed shopping experience. From light-filled showrooms to tucked-away vintage troves—and of course, well-earned bites along the way—each stop reveals a hidden design treasure that speaks to Kelly’s love for interiors rich in story and soul. Whether it’s European luxury or local artisan finds, shopping here isn’t just retail—it’s a creative reset. As Kelly puts it, “Each shop offers a fresh perspective. Here, design isn’t rushed; it’s revealed.”
with KELLY CARUSO
Hometown edit: Shopping in Wayzata and Excelsior
~The Grocer’s Table
A bright market restaurant hybrid offering farm to table dishes alongside artisanal provisions and specialty pantry items in a warm and well-curated setting.
~Julia Moss Designs
An artful edit of home décor that feels both timeless and utterly of-the-moment.
~Highcroft
Sumptuous linens and artisanal home accents mingle with signature fragrances and loungewear, inviting you to savor the art of everyday luxury.
~Fox and Willow
Tabletop atelier where global patterns, fine linens, and playful accessories unite to craft memorable tablescapes and stylish gifting moments.
Delightful showroom nestled in historic downtown Excelsior, where an ever evolving edit of upholstery, tables, lighting, art, and curated accessories come together.
Smooth SAILING
Peter Crain of Trestle Homes crafts a seamless renovation in Deephaven's historic Cottagewood neighborhood. written by melinda nelson, photography by rob grosse // spacecrafting
IIf there was an industry award for client relationships, Peter Crain of Trestle Homes would be a top contender for “Repeat Clients,” “Multiple Projects Within the Same House” and “Clients for More Than 25 Years.” While building and renovating countless homes around Lowry Hill, Lake Harriet and Lake Minnetonka, Crain has crafted long-lasting friendships with his clients and their families. When his phone rings, it’s often a past client with a new project because he’s trustworthy, creative and practical. (He’s also exceedingly funny, so his clients love having him around the house.) And, even if it’s been years since he finished a clients’ punch list, they know they can turn to him for expert wisdom and guidance.
Years ago, Crain had renovated an Edina home for a couple and their three daughters, and in the process, he became a close friend of the entire family. Fast forward to 2020 and the couple decided to move out to Lake Minnetonka. They’d both grown up on lakes in upstate New York, so they loved Cottagewood’s charm and relaxed lifestyle. They wanted a spacious lake home with room for their daughters and their families, as well as golfing buddies and other guests from around the country, so they asked Crain to evaluate three homes for sale.
Based on the couple’s design goals, Crain nixed the first two homes, since the renovation costs would be exorbitant. But, three times a charm, and as he walked through the last house on the list, he immediately recognized the potential. The original structure had been built in the 1930s and a sailing family had added a crow’s nest and other nautical details in the 1980s. Having renovated several historic landmark homes and lake homes, Crain could see past the leaking skylights, the tight galley kitchen and the imposing two-sided fireplace in the middle of the living room.
“The house had great bones and an incredible bay of windows on the lake side, so it just needed a little TLC,” says Crain. “The full span ceiling trusses and floor systems were in fine shape, so I knew there’d be no interior structural issues and we’d be able to easily update the mechanicals, open up the interiors, expand the kitchen, add a bonus room over the garage, replace the stucco and add a new roof.”
Because summer in Cottagewood is the most sublime time of the year, Crain and project manager Cara Fox planned a smooth, seamless renovation with all demolition and construction happening in the off-season. Together with interior designer Katie Constable, they reimagined the house as a casually luxurious family retreat with a refined palette of coastal colors, comfortable furnishings and original art by Minneapolis artist Darril Otto and Casco Point painter Heidi Libera. Whether the clients are enjoying coffee on their balcony, reading with their grandchildren in the crow’s nest or grilling burgers for an alfresco dinner in the garden, the views of Carson’s Bay provide a picture-perfect backdrop for their family’s life on the lake.
“The house had great bones and an incredible bay of windows on the lake side, so it just needed
Ever since my first visit to Europe as an art history student, art has been a constant companion in my life. One of my first pieces was a small, moody Renaissance-style painting with a burnished gold frame that I found at a flea market in Paris. It’s moved with me several times, from an all-white modern loft in the Mill District to my vibrant turn-of-the-century Cass Gilbert home in St. Paul, and wherever I place it, it brings me joy. Because art is so important to me, I’m always inspired by clients who feel the same way. I love helping fellow art lovers curate their collections and then designing each room so the finishes, furnishings and lighting allow the art to take center stage.
What better art gallery than a home designed by architect
“ Because art is so important to me, I’m always inspired by clients who feel the same way.”
–Andrew Flesher, interior designer
I designed the living room furnishings with neutral colors and low profiles to allow nature and art to be the stars.
The graphic silhouette of this modern chaise echoes the energy of the abstract paintings.
Juxtaposition is everything, so I struck up a conversation between a classic Chesterfield sofa, an antique candelabra, a carved modern table and chairs that appear to float.
The mossy green dining chairs were inspired by the lush Lake Minnetonka summer landscape.
Julie Snow.
The Art
OF LIGHT
Francis King Ltd. a to-the-trade home furnishings showroom at International Market Square, shares favorites from a few of its best-in-class lighting brands.
Hubbardton Forge
Hudson Valley Lighting Group
CURATED FIXTURES BRING SPACES ALIVE
Lighting sets the mood and adds depth, texture, and warmth to a home. At Francis King, we celebrate lighting as artistry, offering a curated selection from renowned vendors who blend exceptional craftsmanship with thoughtful design. This allows designers to illuminate a home's character, creating spaces that feel sophisticated, welcoming, and effortlessly refined.
