Couple Creates Their Forever Home in North Oaks

by Rachel Schuehle | Mar 2024

The Property: The lot sits adjacent to a conservation area with a wetland, offering endless sightings of birds and critters enjoying the serenity alongside their new neighbors. The location inspired an earthy palette inside and outside the home with a focus on green, blue and white, and an emphasis on traditional wood features. Photos: Jill Hamilton

From city streets to a wooded retreat.

We all dream of what life might look like when retirement comes—a vacation across the globe, a sparkling new motorcycle or perhaps an in-ground pool with endless refreshments. For one Minnesota couple, the dream for their later years is an outlier from what one might consider typical. After many wonderful years spent in the Twin Cities, the pair uprooted and moved to a custom home in North Oaks. And while their move isn’t out of the ordinary—upsizing is extraordinary. Homeowners Kate and Todd were intentional in their decision, which is evident in every nook and cranny of their tranquil wooded retreat.

Kate still recalls driving out to North Oaks with Todd in the early days of their relationship, now 30 years ago, and reveling in the serenity of the area. And while they chose to settle in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul, North Oaks was always in the back of their minds. “I would get the itch over the years to relocate,” Kate says. “I grew up in Iowa; I like being in the woods, in peaceful areas.”

One day, they drove to North Oaks and noticed lots for sale. The timing lined up, and, before long, they were creating their forever home with the help of Hudson, Wisconsin-based builder Divine Custom Homes. And once partnered with Amy Leferink, owner of Interior Impressions in Woodbury, they got to work on every detail, big and small.

While Kate shares that she never plans to retire (Todd is retired), the pair built this home to serve them through the years. “We designed it for first floor living, so we could live here for the rest of our lives,” she says.

The size? That’s an investment, Kate asserts, for themselves and their family today—and for those to come. “We made it with the idea of the family that will live here after us,” she says.

The details of the home—from the layout to each knob and light fixture—provide an ambiance of warmth and serenity. The unique character of every room is meant to be savored, but each contributes to the house’s overarching aesthetic. The design elements have been so thoughtfully curated that this home will certainly stand the test of time, beloved for many years to come.

“Even now, when I drive into North Oaks, a sense of peace comes over me. You’re in the wilderness, out here with nature, and it’s just so peaceful and calming. And that’s just how I feel every day,” Kate says.

North Oaks Living Room

The TV Room

Kate particulary loves the living space they call the TV room, which features a coffered ceiling with white beams and hickory squares. “There’s a wonderful view of the backside of the lot, which is a nature preserve,” Kate says.

North Oaks TV Room

The Kitchen

The muted green kitchen cabinets offer a pop of color while maintaining the nature-centered palette. Tile on the kitchen backsplash (and the fireplace surround of the TV room) come from Tabarka Studio in California. The tiles are custom-designed and painted on a clay base.

The Sitting Room

“Wallpaper has come back in a huge way,” Leferink says. “It’s not just one style—there are so many types: wood paneling, feminine, stripes, floral. Wallpaper gives a small space a personality without a huge commitment if you change your mind.” The sitting room is just one of a handful of spaces in the home that leverage wallpaper as a design element.

North Oaks Sitting Room Wallpaper

The Primary Bathroom

The walk-in/standing shower in the primary bathroom features a hexagonal floor tile and marble surround. The seamless threshold and meticulous measurements make the shower functional and ADA compliant with enjoyment and accessibility at the forefront of the plans.

North Oaks Primary Bathroom