This Light-Filled Renovation Is Nestled Among the Trees in Minnesota

Set on a six-acre wooded, lakeside site in Eastern Minnesota, "Cloud Forest House" draws its inspiration—and name—from an unlikely source more than 3,000 miles away in Ecuador.

The owners were originally attracted to the immersive natural surroundings of the 1990s property because it reminded them of their travels to the South American country, but after 10 years, they were ready to explore improvements to meet the needs of their active young family of five. Their priorities included expansive window views, a more spacious floor plan, and a stylistic facelift.

Sara and Jeremy Imhoff of Imprint Architecture and Design, LLC welcomed the challenge to reimagine the home’s indoor/outdoor connection, while redefining the communal and private interior spaces and creating an updated contemporary appearance.

Applying their creativity and architectural knowledge on clients’ homes and projects, the husband-and-wife team also drew from a personal understanding of designing and renovating their own homes. 

"Working on our own personal projects together, we really learned how to work with each other," Jeremy said. "We set up a rule: If one of us doesn’t like the direction, let’s go back to the drawing board and rethink what we’re doing. And that always resulted in something better."

Working on Cloud Forest House, Imprint shared a few design options with their clients. "One was keeping it more intact with incremental changes. A second scheme was a little more invasive, rethinking the whole main entry and roofline," said Jeremy. The clients selected the latter, where the overall footprint of the main living spaces remained the same, but the garage was relocated. A new primary bedroom suite was also added to the main level, enlarging the existing home, and providing privacy for the parents and their growing children.

The previous two-car garage and entryway had been a prominent feature of the front elevation, blocking much of the home’s western light throughout the day. Imprint sought to open up the sight lines, extending views and daylighting throughout the interior.

"We laid out the floor plan relative to the site and the relationships we want to create, for example, with the lake," Jeremy said. "We’re envisioning the whole entry and how you approach the house. The window areas become this thin line that separates the two. As you go along, it’s not just a thin line; we try to make that into a reality."

Kolbe Windows & Doors’ VistaLuxe AL LINE was incorporated into the design to connect and transcend the home’s defined indoor and outdoor spaces. "Kolbe Windows & Doors was a huge part of leaning into the open concept, envisioning the new design with the right materials," added Sara. The newly-revamped great room gives the impression of entire walls of glass by combining lift-and-slide doors with large direct sets and clerestory windows in a single configuration. Operable windows are placed strategically throughout the house for natural ventilation.