living + Design BY Ivy A.
Gracie // Interior Photos: John Forsman, Exterior Photos: Peter Bastianelli-Kerze
Harmonic
Convergence
Artistry, science, nature and philosophy combine to create a haven
A fter 34 years in the home-building business,
and after already having built six homes
for himself and his family, Kevin Streeter found
himself with a piece of land that spoke to his
desire to simplify his life. Nestled between a
wetland and a pond, Streeter saw an oppor-
tunity to create something unique and called
upon David Salmela to design his seventh
home. The result is an AIA award-winning
sanctuary in Deephaven.
“The land wasn’t considered an easy site
because it was quite narrow,” says David
Salmela, principal and architect of Salmela
Architect FAIA, in Duluth. But it complement-
ed Salmela’s recognizable design techniques,
particularly his propensity for creating a
narrower footprint to allow for greater light play
within a home. “Problems provide unusual
opportunities,” he says. “This narrow lot
forced a narrow house to exist, and a narrower
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structure provides an interesting level of light.
When you’re in the house you have a view to
the east when the sun is rising over the pond;
then as the sun is setting, the same room has
that view. No matter who would have built
there, the lot probably would have forced that,
but I would have done it anyway.”
Streeter, partner and field operations manager
with Streeter & Associates of Wayzata, has
built many homes on challenging lots. “It
makes them more interesting projects,” he
says. What drew him to this lot was its
connection to nature. “The pond has a tre-
mendous amount of wildlife – ducks, geese,
red fox, deer, hawks – it’s quite an amazing
culture in that little spot.”
As the pair considered their collaboration,
Salmela insisted on walking the site before
agreeing to proceed. “It’s a fairly consistent
criterion I follow,” he explains. “I want to
make sure I understand the site, as well as the
client’s expectations.” But the exercise paid
off because, as Streeter says, “I never even
considered not hiring him after I met him.”
Streeter wanted Salmela to have the freedom
to create his vision, but Salmela has his own
philosophy about the design process. “Freedom
to design something is not necessarily responsible
architectural design. The public has to look at
it, the owner has to live in it and the owners
will appreciate it more if it represents some-
thing about themselves.” And not surprisingly,
Salmela’s architectural sensibilities meshed with
Streeter’s desires to create a strong, minimalist
structure that appears to tread lightly on its
natural surroundings.
The cubes floating atop the black block main
floor are the home’s two bedrooms. There >>
24.04.2008 4:42:32 Uhr
 (opposite page)
The Streeter Home nestles between a pond and a wetland in Deephaven.

(this page)
A black leather Ligne Roset sofa flanks the
500-pound Salmela-designed coffee table fashioned from reclaimed
warehouse beam; the understated Valcucine kitchen is to the right of
the staircase. The Herman Miller dining room chairs are designed by
Bill Stumpf and Jeff Weber.  

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Mai_placing.indd 23 24.04.2008 4:43:17 Uhr

 Living + Design
are no doors to the chambers; each has its
own staircase. And each space has its own en
suite bathroom and a balcony protected by a
wall of wood slats that simultaneously evoke
a sense of privacy and expansion. “We could
have put a balcony railing there like a hotel,
but by putting the slats over the ends of the
boxes it makes a powerful statement. There’s
something very abstract about it.” And while
the slats allow a view to the outdoors, occupants
remain almost invisible.
The slats recur on the staircases. “Balustrades
on balconies or staircases have been done for
… how long? It’s to keep people from falling
off things!” Salmela laughs. “But if you extend
them to the ceiling, they become more than
just balustrades; they become screens and
sculptural elements.” Streeter and Salmela
concentrated on making most of the home’s
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Mai_placing.indd 24
BY Ivy A. Gracie // Interior Photos: John Forsman, Exterior Photos: Peter Bastianelli-Kerze
furnishings disappear. “Filling up space is a
trap,” Streeter insists. “That’s what most people
are caught up in – they have so much stuff
they don’t have time to really live. I believe you
spend a little more for better quality items and
have less of them.”
There are no closets in the home; casework by
Salmela functions in their stead. Salmela also
designed the platform bed for the master suite.
On the first floor a high-end yet utilitarian
Valcucine kitchen rests quietly in the back-
ground and a screen separates a work space
from the living area. Two black leather Ligne
Roset armchairs face their sibling sofa across
the coffee table, a Salmela design weighing in
at 500 pounds of recycled warehouse beam.
Herman Miller chairs designed by Bill Stumpf
and Jeff Weber surround the dining room table,
and a red Alvar Aalto chair is the cat’s favorite
napping spot. According to Salmela, “The fur-
nishings are very minimal, but absolutely satisfac-
tory for living. Nothing more is really needed.”
There are no window treatments in the home.
Says Streeter, “When I’m in a house I feel
claustrophobic if I can’t see out. If it feels like
I can’t connect to the outside, if I’m not in
touch with the changing weather patterns and
light conditions I feel like I’ve really missed out
on something. I like sitting in different spots at
different times of the day – it’s a house where
you can enjoy the outdoors from within.”
Peacefully coexisting with nature was a key
element in the design, and landscape architect
Shane Coen, of Coen+Partners of Minneapolis
and New York, orchestrated the transition from
architecture to nature. Says Salmela, “All the
lines between the terraces and the native grasses
24.04.2008 4:43:54 Uhr
 are very precise. That’s very hard to do. It has Home was one of only nineteen homes (opposite page)
to appear as if you just sort of dropped the nationwide to be awarded the 2008 AIA Two second-story cubes make the home’s pri-
house into the space.” (American Institute of Architects) Housing mary architectural statement. Each cube,
Award. The AIA’s Housing Awards Program, a ensuite bedroom, features a bathroom and
At 2200 square feet, this is Streeter’s smallest now in its eighth year, recognizes excellence in balcony. Slats define the balconies, offering
home to date. But the open plan leaves no residential design and promotes good housing as occupants a view to the outside while
wasted space. Says Streeter, “I like all the spaces. a necessity of life. And Kevin Streeter’s life maintaining a sense of privacy.
They’re all different. It’s a relatively small within his home is the realization of that phi-
house, but this size seems to be really practical losophy. The uncluttered habitat gives him time (this page, left to right)
for my needs.” to relax, read and reflect on life. A longtime Each slatted staircase leads to a bedroom;
practitioner, Streeter says he likes to perform together they create architectural interest on
“Kevin’s a no-nonsense fellow,” attests Salmela. sunrise vinyasas between the staircases on the the main floor. Ceiling beams, fashioned
“He likes high quality products. Even the way main floor. from reclaimed Cyprus pickle vats, draw
he dresses – it’s very clean, straightforward attention upward. Bench by Salmela; rug
and unpretentious but always neat. There’s no by IKEA. Through the window, Kevin Streeter
waste there. It’s very organized, so the house “Kevin’s house is a home because it adheres relaxes in his natural environs.
does represent him.” to his philosophy of keeping things simple,
honest and not excessive,” says Salmela. “He A Salmela-designed platform bed brings the
And it represents excellence in architecture. even said that he doesn’t travel as much as he cube theme indoors; the closet cabinetry,
Salmela Architect’s design of the Streeter used to because he likes staying home.” also by Salmela, keeps lines clean and simple.

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