1917 Lakefront Home Lights Up Winter Loppet
Discover the 1917 lakefront home that lights up the Winter Loppet, dazzling visitors with thousands of luminarias against historic brick and lake views.
Built in 1917, a grand brick home on the shore of Lake of the Isles has become a focal point for the annual Luminary Loppet, a nighttime winter gathering illuminated by thousands of luminarias.
Historic setting draws crowds each winter
The house, perched on a rise with sweeping lake views, retains original elements such as a slate roof and detailed plaster ceiling moldings. Interior designer Heather Peterson describes the historic home as “the prettiest in Minneapolis’ chain of lakes.” She notes the surrounding neighborhood is leafy and that each residence offers a unique character.
Winter visitors can rent boats from a nearby boathouse and skates from an icehouse, but the highlight is the Luminary Loppet. Participants walk the frozen lake under a canopy of luminarias, some shaped like ice pendants that “look like blown glass,” according to the event description.
Renovation blends old and new
When a young family moved from Seattle, the home’s large, well‑proportioned rooms offered a major upsizing opportunity. Peterson says the first task was “to scale everything correctly while space planning.” The family needed a cozy setting for four while also being able to host Thanksgiving meals and school fundraisers.
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The wife’s aesthetic drew on Sister Parish and English Country style, bringing pieces from a prior designer in Seattle into the new family room. The husband preferred a clean, mid‑century look, which she incorporated into the home office. She summarizes the scope of work as “decorating,” noting a previous owner had already renovated the kitchen and added the family room.
Decisions about which historic features to keep proved challenging. “The question is one of strategy,” Peterson explains. “How much do we need to update for maximum impact?” The earlier renovation had introduced contemporary elements, so the goal was to align the interior with the home’s historic character without a full rebuild.
In the kitchen, new lighting and hardware were added, the island was painted, and softer barstools were selected. The powder room received a gut remodel, yet its compact size kept the project manageable. The family room’s cherry built‑ins originally clashed with a black granite fireplace surround; hand‑made tiles from Kristen Falkirk, traditional sconces, and a vintage painting were introduced to harmonize the space.
While the home’s layered history could have been erased, Peterson chose to preserve it, showing that careful decorating can be as transformative as a major renovation. The result is a residence where century‑old character, collected furnishings, and family traditions coexist.
