Bennett Bay Beauty

Builder: Gunder Construction
Design: Eric Hedlund Design

One of the challenges in designing this luxury Bennett Bay lake house was that it had to accommodate an active family and their guests without sacrificing sophistication.

To accomplish this, designer Eric Hedlund created efficiencies in space rather than increase the square footage.

A glass wall wraps around the corner of the dining space. It opens to connect the indoor and outdoor space – without a single post to obstruct the view.

For example, a generously sized dining table seats 12. Open a seamless glass wall to the outdoor table and suddenly you have an unobstructed, open-air dining experience for more than 20 guests.

“The homeowners wanted to entertain a lot of people,” Hedlund says.

Much consideration was given to lighting. “That was kind of a challenge because it’s a big space but not so massive as to destruct the view,” says interior designer Amy Young.

Hedlund maximized function throughout the 5,000-square-foot retreat. The homeowners have two children, 8 and 10 years old. Rather than design traditional kids’ rooms, Hedlund created guest suites. A third bedroom in this four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home serves as a bunk room with eight built-in beds.

The bunkroom can accommodate eight and sits off a bonus room, perfect for entertaining younger guests.

It was important to design the summer home so that it could withstand the wear and tear of kids, a dog and steady stream of guests, yet keep the appearance of sophistication, Hedlund says.

“They wanted it pretty indestructible,” he says. “There’s a lot of in and out.”

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At the same time, Hedlund magnified luxury, creating spaces that impress.

The powder room with its padded leather walls and acacia wood vanity is a showpiece. To Hedlund, powder rooms aren’t simply a main-floor necessity; they can be works of art. “We always funk them up,” he says.

The powder room features padded leather walls, an acacia wood vanity and a stone-cut bronze sink.

The floor-to-ceiling, glass-enclosed wine room is also something to admire. Positioned in the entryway, this tempered room displays 1,200 bottles of wine. Tucking it away, like most wine cellars are, was not an option.

A glass-enclosed room that showcases 1,200 bottles of wine is positioned in the entryway of the home.

“It’s probably the most expensive piece in the house, so why hide it?” Hedlund says. “More and more we are putting it at the entry of the house.”

*An open floor plan allows for unobstructed views of Lake Coeur d’Alene.*

Perhaps what impresses the best is the massive picture window perfectly positioned in the great room and framing what is arguably the best view of Coeur d’Alene’s treasured lake. N

By Kristina Lyman
Photography By Joel Riner

As Featured In: 2018 Summer/Fall CDA Edition