Homegazing: City lake living in a century-old Tudor

For a turn-of-the century Tudor, the home across from Lake Calhoun was surprisingly filled with light.

"The living room was so bright and had a gorgeous bank of windows facing the lake," said homeowner Noa Staryk. It was one of many appealing qualities that led her and her husband, Ted, to buy the 1907 stone and stucco home on E. Calhoun Parkway in 2010.

The stately Minneapolis residence is known as the Alfred E. Dickey House. Dickey commissioned popular Minneapolis architect William Kenyon to design it for his family. "William Kenyon did an amazing job," said Noa. "The back yard has the original stucco walls and wrought-iron gates, and it feels like a piece of heaven."

The Staryks and their two children moved into a 100-year-old home that had been well-maintained and was in excellent condition. The previous owners had recently expanded and remodeled the kitchen, adding granite counters and an Old World tile backsplash.

Over the past three years, the Staryks did some cosmetic updates and brightened tired spaces to reflect their taste. They tore out carpet and sanded and refinished the original hardwood floors; the kids picked new colors for their bedroom walls.

Noa added a splash of color in new glass tile in the living-room fireplace surround and painted the upstairs dark oak woodwork a light cream. California Closets installed organization systems in all the closets. "The original front door was so dark so I painted it green," she said. "I wanted it to make you smile."

One feature she didn't touch was the charming kitchenette on the third floor, which she speculates was originally the servants' quarters. "It's the sweetest little space," she said. "We served tea and cocoa, and the kids did their homework up there."

They also installed new landscaping, which included Indiana limestone and two pergolas. "I was surprised at how much we used it," said Noa of the back-yard oasis. "My son mastered a flip off the diving board."

Last year, the Staryk family moved to Jackson, Wyo., to manage Snake River Brewing, their microbrewery and restaurant. Now they're living on a remote creek in a new contemporary home. Noa really misses walking to Lucia's wine bar in Uptown.

"The hardest part of the transition from Minnesota to Wyoming was letting go of the house," said Noa. "It was my dream home in every way."

• The home has 6,631 square feet, six bedrooms and six bathrooms.

• A three-season porch wraps around the house. "It's so sweet with a painted wood floor and beadboard ceiling," said Noa.

• A second-floor bathroom was converted into a handy laundry room.

• Cozy sleeping porch off the master bedroom has a lake view. "It's delightful at night with the lights twinkling on the lake," said Noa.

• Lake home in the heart of the city. "It's set up on a hill so you don't see the traffic and people, and it doesn't feel like you're in the city," she said. "It looks like a peaceful quiet lake."

The home will be open for the Coldwell Banker Burnet Waterfront Home Tour, 1 to 5 p.m., Oct. 6.

Ruth Whitney Bowe of Coldwell Banker Burnet has the listing, 612-805-7412.

To have a unique property considered for a Homegazing feature, please send digital photos and a description to lunderwood@startribune.com.