2014 Tour: Nor-Son

2014 Home Highlights: Nor-Son

You can take the Americans out of the French countryside, but you can’t take the French countryside out of the Americans.

After living in France for a period of time—and falling in love with the country—these homeowners chose to bring France back to Minnesota through their unique French provincial-style home, designed by architect Peter Eskuche and built by Nor-Son Custom Homes Division. (Nor-Son and Eskuche Associates recently merged, providing the luxury home marketplace a seldom-seen holistic integration of architecture, building science, cost intelligence, and craftsmanship—under one roof.)

Characterized by balance and symmetry, the 4,000-square-foot home embodies the essence of country elegance and flair, with a custom iron balustrade, hipped dormers, a barreled copper roof, large windows balancing each side of the entrance, and a symmetrical rectangular shape, much like a traditional French manor.

Inside, the French details continue with French doors, white oak flooring with picture-framing patterns, and applied layers of details on 12-foot ceilings. The soft color palette, ample sunlight, and style elements are what you’d expect from French provincial design: comfortable, functional, livable, and beautiful.

Other unique features include floor-to-ceiling custom kitchen cabinetry with glass-paneled doors, a large rustic knotty-oak center island, secret hidden walk-in pantry, hand-carved stone fireplace surround, and decorative balcony off the back of the home. The lower level includes a substantial rustic oak bar, spa with a sauna, and climate-controlled walnut and stone wine cellar.

One thing is certain—these homeowners, while no longer living in the 16th arrondissement of Paris—feel right at home.

Read our article on this home: “Wayzata’s Parisian Paradise by Nor-Son Inc.”