Rubble Tile Selections at the AIA MN Homes By Architects Tour

Rubble Tile Selections at the AIA MN Homes By Architects Tour

Are you feeling like you’re not ready to leave summer behind? Still want to take in some sights before heading back to reality? To cap off the end of the season, the Minnesota chapter of the American Institute of Architects is putting on their annual Homes By Architects Tour to show off their phenomenal designs in homes around the Twin Cities metro area.

On September 15th and September 16th, you can check out this self-guided home tour showcase, and when you do, make sure to visit the two homes that we at Rubble Tile are proud to sponsor: the Minnetonka Beach House and the Lakeside Perch.

 

Swan Architecture’s Minnetonka Beach House

The family that owns this home was inspired by memories of time spent at a lakeside cottage as children. So they decided to make a comfy, shingle-style lake house of their own, now dubbed the Minnetonka Beach House.

 

This picturesque home was designed by Swan Architecture, with selections by designer Katie Constable of Redpath Constable Interior Design, and construction by Elevation Homes.

The serene sunset views over Lake Minnetonka were what attracted the homeowners to this peaceful plot on Lafayette Bay. The home’s design maximizes the daylight pouring into the bedrooms, and has its master suite and office placed on the main floor for high functionality.

The owners have an active family, and wanted an outdoor space to complement their lifestyle.  A hot tub, pool, and terrace with a fire pit are all present, as is a pool house accessory structure complete with a shower and bar. The lake can be enjoyed in the spring and fall through the screened porch with built-in grills. A garage with a side loaded design helps hide the house from the street and the lake, so it blends in seamlessly to the lakefront  around which it was designed.

Swan Architecture has done a fantastic job breathing life and activity into this lakeside home while keeping it open and spacious. The result is a relaxing living space brimming with the possibility of outdoor adventure and sunny relaxation.

Lakeside Perch from Acacia Architects

One of the owners of this 1950’s home grew up here, but wished to update the house to accommodate her expanding family. In the remodeling process, they wanted to respect the mid-century design while focusing on building the home’s relationship to the surrounding outdoors. The end result was the inviting, cozy, sustainably built and energy-efficient home, the Lakeside Perch.

 

 

Architect Jeremiah Battles of Acacia Architects made the selections for the home, which was remodeled by Braden Construction. The choice to open up the original floor plan enhanced the interior space, as did the natural materials used to create a warmer palette. Adding a large, light-filled cupola increased the daylight and served as a signpost to make the house more noticeable from the street or the lake.

 

The natural and sustainable materials used in the remodel not only improved the quality of the air indoors, but also made the home more environmentally friendly. The smart choices in this labor of love don’t end here, however. A decision we want to highlight is the use two of our favorite tile lines:

Tempest Tileworks and Original Style – Winchester Residence

For over two decades, Leigh O’Dell and Andy Morrison have been embedded in the tile industry. Their formation of Tempest Tileworks in 2006 is the natural progression of their experience. A silk screening process brings their decorative tiles to life while their field tiles and trims are all made by hand. They claim their craft tames ‘earth, air, water and fire’ to create a unique collection, and it always shows.

 

 

You can find Tempest Tileworks installed in the water-closet at the Lakeside Perch, where there is 2″ x 2″ Bone field tile and 2″ x 2″ Decos with Mason jars handpainted in various colors for a truly one-of-a-kind visual escapade.

In the kitchen backsplash (pictured above) and the master bathroom, you can find tiles straight out of Residence, a collection that’s arguably the cornerstone of the Winchester Tile portfolio.

Residence sports natural hues in a range of glossy ceramics, smooth to the touch and stunning to the eye. The Cosmopolitan series that’s on display in the Lakeside Perch noticeably boasts glazes that pool on the tile base to create a reflective effect and powerful richness of color.

 

 

Cosmopolitan is represented here by 5″ x 5″ Papyrus, 5″ x 5″ Amun, and 5″ x 5″ Villette on Papyrus. The tiles are a site to behold, so don’t wait another year for the next tour. Grab your tickets to the HBA Tour while they last to step foot into fantasies brought to life.

 

 

By tickets here.

Winchester Tile Brochure