Life in this fully jazzed up home is a dream.

Story by Judy Goppert | Photography by Matthew Anderson

When Jaci and Brian found their home at Weatherby Lake in the Northland it was almost like living in a vacation destination! The couple met working together at an architecture firm and now together they own the architecture firm incite Design Studio, which Brian started in 2001.

“We have a pontoon and enjoy watching the sailing races on the lake on Sundays,” Jaci smiled, adding to that vacation feeling.

Brian explained, “We chose this home because it is architecturally very interesting. After remodeling the kitchen on our own in 2016, we realized it was time for assistance with a full-home remodel. I found Schloegel Design while searching online for remodelers. We hit it off from the start!”

With three daughters between them, the homeowners dipped their toe in by starting with an update of their daughter’s bathroom upstairs in April of 2022, which is also used as a guest bathroom. They updated the floor tiles, cabinetry and paint colors. Since the door going into the tub/toilet area did not function properly, a new pocket door was installed with a full-length mirror for their teenage daughter.

Kelly Summers of Schloegel Design Remodel noted, “We actually ended up doing three projects with them. While the second project was underway, remodeling the main level, the homeowners came home to a water leak coming from the upstairs deck. This conversation of how to go about fixing the leak led to the third project; a new bedroom addition at the rooftop deck’s location.”

Brian commented, “We now have a four-bedroom house! It was the best bang for the buck while solving the leak problem.”

Kelly explained they had composition decking that was not installed properly on the garage roof. Another deck sits atop this roof. The cable railing was salvaged, and new teak tile decking was installed, which requires less maintenance for their busy lives. “You can literally lift up a tile and repair the roof if necessary.” Brian said it was a great solution they brought to the table.

His favorite spot in the house? His downstairs shower! “I can live in there and it turned out great,” he noted. It has a steam unit in it and speakers so he can play music.

“The black and white wall design adds a pop there. We also gave the primary bathroom a refresh. The shower tile was dated, and the double vanity had awkward glass vessel sinks and tall vessel faucets that looked like little fire hydrants. We redid the countertop, sinks, faucets, tile in the shower and floor, while keeping other elements and coordinating with the glass accent around the mirrors,” Kelly shared.

Jaci’s favorite element is the new fireplace. It has Modular Art gypsum panels they use in some of the schools they design. The old fireplace was a traditional firebox with mantle, and they wanted to bring the new gas fireplace up off the floor, using the height of the room to carry the eye up to the Modular Art.

“They wanted something more linear and modern, so when shopping, we found a Mendota fireplace. One of the options for the interior was the black, wavy metal backing. With them living on the lake that accent appealed to all of us,” Kelly added. “Brian was the one who said if we use Modular Art panels, we can paint them whatever color we want. We gave it a quarter inch reveal, framing it with walnut to add additional detail. We pulled the walnut to the bench area. This was a very collaborative project. It took painstaking detail to stain and sand it so it looks like a piece of art.”

Another architectural addition is the staircase. The railing had been drywall with a pipe on top and carpeted stairs. The house was built in 1986 and that was the style in the day. Kelly noted they ripped that out and changed the whole dynamic of the home and entryway.

“A fun thing that happened was that when the railing contractor came out, they realized they were the original installers of the rail when the house was built!” Kelly shared. “We did custom metal work, all the carpet was removed and replaced with new wood treads and risers with specific detail and reveals on the sides, with a quarter-inch shadow line to each step going up. That came from an inspirational picture Jaci and Brian had. We used walnut to create a custom handrail, following the face of the metal posts down to create a waterfall effect.”

They continued the teak cedar color palate from the deck tiles to the back side of the house, to the front door and garage doors.

Carpeting was removed from the rest of the house, and new hardwood floors were installed. They sanded and refinished the kitchen floor to match the stain and finish of the new wood flooring for a seamless blend.

A small porthole window was removed and replaced with a larger window in the living room, which is now a focal point when you walk in the front door. Custom cabinets, modern in style, were made for the buffet in the kitchen, as well as the hall tree and the vanity downstairs. A new front door was also installed to complete the modern feel throughout the house.

“They are great clients, and it was fun working with them!” Kelly smiled. “They are architects who plan and design educational buildings and sports facilities, and that was one of our funny conversations in the beginning. Sometimes with architects, it is a struggle because they want to be involved with too much ‘in the weeds.’ Not with them! They are both fabulous. I think their answer was to think, we do what we do, we will have opinions, you do what you do, be respectful of that. They were a dream to work with.”

Brian agreed and noted, “I know it’s hard as a designer to work with an architect, but we both brought ideas to the table, it was a true collaboration. Another cool thing with Schloegel was that we lived in the house during the remodel, except when they were refinishing the hardwood floors. The entire Schloegel team was fantastic to work with, but our onsite foreman, Greg Goldstein, exceeded our expectations as far as communication, craftsmanship, and overall project management. We could not be happier with the house, and the experience was above and beyond anything we could have expected.”

This lake home is a shining example of how to update and improve the spaces you love so you can stay in them and keep making memories.