A Storybook-Style Transformation Near Lake Minnetonka

A reimagined 1960s Wayzata rambler balances classic design and modern living
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Photos by Corey Gaffer || Architecture by TEA2 Architects || Build by John Kraemer & Sons || Interior Design by Harris Weldon Interiors || Landscaping by Topo & Anderson Reda  

From the dreamy ribbon driveway, the eye is drawn to not only the south-facing Wayzata home’s fairytale-like, shingle-style architecture but also its lush plantings, florals, and sculpted alpine current hedges—carefully selected by Scott Ritter of Topo and the homeowner, who has a deep appreciation for flowers.

Some homeowners renovate in sprints, but empty nesters Jerry and Susan Kaminski chose a marathon. In fact, they’ve never been ones to rush—not when they met Tom Ellison, founder of TEA2 Architects, at the Minneapolis Home + Garden Show nearly 30 years ago. Not when they renovated their Wisconsin cabin or guided their sons through a home project in Orono. And certainly not when they embarked on the two-decade transformation of their Wayzata residence near Lake Minnetonka.

Their original 1960s rambler was a dimly lit, disjointed maze of missed potential. But rather than tearing it down, the Kaminskis envisioned a reimagined home through a series of carefully planned renovations: a finished lower level, a reworked first-floor primary suite, a detached pool house, and finally, the most ambitious step—an entire home overhaul. The remodel continued with TEA2, led by Principal Dan Nepp and Senior Project Manager Petra Schwartze with team members Janet Lederle and Ann Carlson-Yunga. The interiors and landscaping were realized by Harris Weldon Interiors and Topo, respectively, while the
main-house construction was executed by John Kraemer & Sons. Anderson Reda stepped in during the last phase: the outdoor kitchen and landscape elements.

The result of this collaboration is a stunning, shingle-style home that bears no resemblance to its former self. A newly added second level created space for an owner’s suite and sunlit sitting area, while thoughtful architectural interventions connected the front and back for a more cohesive design. “It shows what you can do with a renovation versus simply tearing
down a house,” says John Kraemer, president of John Kraemer & Sons. “We worked with what was there and made a brand-new house that looks and flows completely different.”

The interior design—guided by Susan’s three-ring binders filled with inspiration from magazines and books—is a masterclass in elegance, striking the perfect balance between traditional and contemporary. “Casual classic” is how interior designer Sue Weldon describes it—timeless, yet never stuffy; effortlessly layered, yet never predictable; refined with a modern twist. “[The homeowner] has a beautiful eye,” Weldon says. “It was about selecting pieces that would layer seamlessly, creating a full composition of beauty and timelessness.”

In the living room, the custom stairwell—relocated during the renovation—stands out as one of the home’s most striking design features. Sculptural and elegant, it exudes a unique sense of character. The stair’s turned newel post “has presence and creates a stopping point,” says Dan Nepp of TEA2. “A lot of historical balustrade pieces were very fussy, but [the homeowners] wanted something cleaner but with some detail.” To enhance the space further, TEA2 expanded a bay to open up the once “odd, claustrophobic, and unusable” living room, as Nepp describes it, creating a stronger connection to the outdoors.

No detail was spared inside or out, with an architectural approach Nepp and Schwartze
describe as “relaxed, yet inventive” and “playful, but with form.” Cedar shakes and integrated stone bring a sense of warmth and authenticity, while dormers subtly set into the roofline present a more organic, graceful silhouette. A copper ridge, designed to naturally resist moss and mold, adds a practical touch of timelessness. “You see an exploration of materials,” says Nepp. “There are shingles, stone, lap siding, and horizontal siding—all adding to the richness and character of these shingle-style homes.”

Scott Ritter, principal and senior project manager of Topo, embraced this architectural vernacular, refining and executing the landscape alongside TEA2 and Anderson Reda to create an English garden concept with layered outdoor rooms. “I decided I had to understand the architecture to know how to design the landscape,” says Ritter. “Once you know the historical or architectural precedence behind something, designing the landscape is incredibly easy.”

After a long 25 years of renovations, the Kaminskis have only ideas for what’s next. “It has been something between a hobby and passion,” Jerry says. “Time has been our friend.” And while Susan jokes she needs a break from projects for a few years, they both know—the journey is never truly finished.

With a conservatory-like feel, the breakfast room off the kitchen teems with natural light, an important consideration for the homeowners. Classic wire work—characterized by a stiff wire mounted to the outside of the elliptical windows and other glasswork throughout the home—is a defining feature of the sun-filled space, as is the slate chalkboard atop the vintage fireplace with a cast iron front.
Nestled within a recessed niche wrapped into the millwork, a soft blue La Cornue range—the first color of its kind in the U.S.—serves as the kitchen’s focal point. A custom hood and side cabinetry, marble backsplash with shelving, and an integrated, extended countertop create one seamless and functional experience.

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