A former one-bedroom house with three bars is transformed into a light-filled family home with lake views and a pool.
When Heather and Brad Fox first discovered their lakeside home in Minnesota, it was more bachelor pad than the family home they needed—we’re talking one bedroom, three bars, and four living spaces. But they quickly fell in love with the view and site, so decided to make some radical changes. “We instantly saw the potential with the space and knew we could make it our dream home,” Heather said.
The couple had all the skills they needed to lead the ambitious project themselves—Heather owns homewares store and design studio Foxwell Shoppe + Studio, while Brad is the owner of Fox Realty and development company Fox Homes. As a result of their keen eye for design, the home has been transformed into the perfect 6,800-square-foot family home, with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and ample living space spread out over two levels, with a ground floor that opens out through glass doors to a resort-style swimming pool.
“It was a true labor of love,” Heather said. “Every inch was customized and designed by us for the way we wanted the house to be. We never plan on moving.”
From the outset, Heather and Brad knew they wanted three large bedrooms on the first floor, all with ample built-in storage, as well as a laundry room and walk-in pantry to make family life easier. They were also keen to create a large dining room for family gatherings and revitalize the pool area for entertaining friends and family.
This reconfiguration of the home is defined by large windows, sliding glass doors, vaulted ceilings, and a practical layout that will stand the test of time. These elements offer an impressive canvas against which the couple can add more personal touches, such as lighting, wallpaper, art, and furniture.
It’s the connection with the outdoors, both physically and visually, that truly characterizes the home. The ground floor, for example, can be accessed from the pool area via two doors—one that leads directly to the bar, and another that leads to a pool bathroom complete with lockers for guests. The bar also features a sliding glass window that makes grabbing a top-up from the keg an easy task while relaxing outside.
Throughout the home, the main windows are from the Marvin Essential collection, which were chosen for their modern aesthetic that ties into the couple’s “colorful Californian modern” style, while the doors are from the Marvin Elevate collection and feature three or four sliding panels for expansive views. These two collections also share a sleek, minimal style and ebony color option that makes the couple’s vision for a seamless interior possible.
“We use Marvin windows and doors for all of our projects,” Heather said. “We love the quality, style, and ease of working with them. They were the perfect partner for this project and were able to help us get as much glass as we could in each room.”
Other fun touches include a conversation pit—which was originally one of the three bars—that is a comfy nook for reading or play; a collection of globe lights on golden stems suspended above the living area; and bright blue cabinetry in the bar area.
Transforming the entire house—including the pool area—took nine months, with one month of planning before the works began. “The biggest surprise was how much fun we had creating this space with our team and family,” Heather said. “We knew we could take risks and do what we loved since it is our home and we have no plans to sell it. This truly is our forever home!”
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