PRAIRIE RETREAT INTERIORS
CHISAGO LAKE TOWNSHIP, MINNESOTA
This prairie retreat was designed for a Twin Cities-based family of four seeking a serene escape to enjoy nature, woodworking, and gardening. The natural material palette creates a powerful connection to the outdoors, where the landscape serves as a tool for rest and renewal. This retreat reflects a harmonious balance of thoughtful design, functionality, and nature. The color palette is soft and earthy with an emphasis on natural materials such as wood and stone. The wood-framed windows throughout the home frame each view and connect the interior to the landscape. Furniture is kept to a functional minimum allowing for a serene experience in every room.











PROJECT TYPE
Interior design of a newly built retreat home
PROJECT TEAM
Christine L. Albertsson, AIA, CID, NCARB, Partner
Mark Tambornino, Associate AIA
Oliver Batzli, Associate AIA
Meg Lundquist, Associate AIA
PHOTOGRAPHY
Corey Gaffer
Wing Ho
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Sarah Hughes, Allied ASID
BUILDER
Howard Homes

The heart of the home is a large rectangular great room with kitchen, dining, and living space. The living and dining spaces are organized around a traditional stone fireplace and share a grand Douglas fir ceiling with exposed beams. A custom-made harvest table forms the centerpiece of the room, crafted from oak by the homeowner, and a collection of vintage dining chairs was refinished in matte black. The kitchen is warm and functioning and features large windows with lake views. A generous soapstone-topped island offers extra work and storage space, and the earthy green color of the cabinetry was carefully selected to connect with the prairie landscape.
OF NOTE
- Natural slate floor helps smoothly transition from the exterior while also being a hardworking surface for the dirt and dust of the prairie, preserving the warm wood of the rest of the home.
- Random width vertical paneling draws your eye upward to the simple fir beams and creates order in this complex transition space
- A custom-made Shaker-inspired hall table and Windsor-style bench are used to enhance the beauty and function of the foyer