Joe and Jane Adrian always knew that someday they would build a new home on the empty lot they owned next to their 1920s New England shingle-style house on White Bear Lake.
But they weren't sure what kind of home would ultimately sit on the 2-acre site.
After their grown daughters moved out, the Adrians wished to downsize from the 6,000-square-foot two-story to a smaller, more casual house with optimum lake views.
Jane collected pictures of house styles for years and envisioned a French-style stucco home with a red tile roof. Joe was drawn to simpler, clean-lined architecture.
Five years ago, the couple got serious and enlisted architect Tim Alt, who designed a sophisticated, one-story stone and glass house that's nothing like many of the traditional houses elsewhere on White Bear Lake.
"I wanted the home to quietly nestle into the landscape," said Alt, of Altus Architecture + Design in Minneapolis.
His understated design is a combination of timeless natural materials -- New York bluestone, wood and glass, -- with a modern, H-shaped floor plan. Three gabled sections, one a central living area and two private guest and master suites, are connected by low see-through links.
The practical layout also creates two courts, one at the entrance, and the other on the lake side, with a patio and pool. One-level living allows the Adrians to remain in the home as they age.
