Photography by Round Three Photography || Architecture by Unfold Architecture || Build & Interior Design by Sustainable Design + Build
A home is more than a collection of rooms. For some, it’s an expression of self. And for Summer Brooks, her new residence in Prior Lake is even more.
“It really does feel like an extension of me and my personality,” she says. “Have you ever met an eclectic auntie who’s just always off traveling the world, but she gives the best hugs? That’s kind of the feeling I wanted to have when I walked in.”
Personal touches throughout create a playful and meaningful dwelling that proudly reflects its homeowners’ interests, passions, and identity—bold colors, layered materials, and distinctive hardware combine with Brooks’ art, preserved insect collections, and even a dinosaur bone on display.
“Our goal was to ensure each of these extraordinary elements could be seamlessly incorporated into the home while maintaining a cohesive and sophisticated aesthetic,” says Brittany Blunt, director of interior design for Sustainable 9 Design + Build, who led the interior design of the home.
The entryway sets the tone, where visitors are greeted by colorful wallpaper with symbolism that Brooks chose. She desired protection, represented by images of watchful birds, thorns, and bells, while butterflies and dragonflies interspersed throughout are associated with loved ones visiting. “There’s protection, but also a welcoming effect,” she says.
Each room speaks purposefully to different parts of Brooks’ life and personality. She enjoys her solace and finds quiet moments of respite best enjoyed in her humidity-controlled conservatory room that she’s populated with terrariums filled with frogs and geckos, along with various plants. She is also an avid entertainer, frequently hosting close friends and family. The open-concept kitchen and living space and lower-level wet bar, movie room, and pool table provide ample zones for togetherness.
Injecting such personality, while being mindful of how the space functions and is lived in, required close collaboration between homeowner and designer—something Brooks and Blunt not only achieved but found joy in. “My favorite part of building this home was being so involved in the design, and the design process with Brittany,” Brooks says. “It was really nice to form a friendship, too.”
“We embraced a playful, rule-breaking approach that made the design process as fun as the results themselves,” Blunt adds. Alongside design talent, sustainable building practices were a priority for Brooks—who selected Sustainable 9 Design + Build at the recommendation of her parents.
“As a Dakota person, we plan for the next seven generations. Building a home can be a lot on the environment and so I wanted to do it as consciously as I could,” Brooks explains. Key sustainable features of the home include two-inch exterior continuous insulation, geothermal heating and cooling, triple-pane windows, and LED Lighting.
The lot itself holds meaning, too. Brooks was immediately drawn to the pond, ample wildlife, and swaths of mature trees. “I really wanted to make connection with the land. I’m Dakota, I’m Native, so I wanted to make sure the land and I were in good standing before I built this home,” Brooks adds.
Before moving forward with the project, she sat on the empty lot, journaling for a few hours, and was awash with a sense of calm. Now that her home is complete, she can enjoy this serenity on both the upper deck off the kitchen, or the lower deck beside the fire pit or in the hot tub.
Whether she’s watching a blizzard from the warmth of her conservatory, pursuing her passion for acrylic painting, watching her Great Dane bound through the trees, or catching up with friends and family over a game of pool in the glow of neon lights, Brooks is proud of this home that is uniquely her own.
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