In just a 35-minute drive north from downtown St. Paul, you can leave behind the traffic, noise, and stress of the city and arrive at a place of perfect sanctuary and natural beauty. For 40 years, this 10-acre property has been curated by the owner in ways that respect the beauty and spirit of nature. In addition to a vineyard and orchard, there is a diversity of unique types of trees and plants, as well as a pond and preserved wetlands. This wild space provides cover and food for wildlife and a place of solitude and peace for people.
Nestled into a south facing slope is a custom-built house designed by the owner. The goal of the design was to make people feel connected to the land, even if they are indoors. With the quietude of this land, you can hear the frogs chirping and the owls calling to each other while falling asleep, and be woken up at sunrise to mourning doves’ songs.
There is extensive use of cedar wood both in the interior and exterior of the house. Native stones from the property are used in the living room fireplace and the outdoor landscape. Extensive use of glass captures the natural sunlight year around, giving the house a bright and warm feel even during the winter months. In summer the oak and basswood trees shade these windows and provide natural cooling. Two decks extend the communal spaces of the living room and dining room into the outdoors. A small balcony perched up in the loft bedroom is an ideal place of solitude in the tree tops. The house has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a pond-level guest suite.
