A Designer Couple Bring a Touch of Californian Modernism to Their Dream Home in Minnesota
Partner Story
When Heather and Brad Fox first discovered their lakeside home in Minnesota, it was more bachelor pad than the family home they needed—we’re talking one bedroom, three bars, and four living spaces. But, they quickly fell in love with the view and site and decided to make some radical changes. "We instantly saw the potential with the space and knew we could make it our dream home," says Heather.
Heather and Brad Fox live in the home with their two sons, 12-year-old Graham and 10-year-old Wes. The exterior is defined by a striking black scheme that conceals the more playful interior—which is hinted at by the pink and white midcentury-style pool furniture. The minimalist ebony window frames—from the Marvin Essential collection—blend into the ebony facade to create the appearance of a wall of glass. "We love our dark exterior and how well our windows blend into it," explains Heather. "When looking at the house from the back, it looks so seamless."
The couple had all the skills they needed to lead the ambitious project themselves: Heather owns homewares store and design studio Foxwell Shoppe + Studio, while Brad is the owner of Fox Realty and development company Fox Homes. As a result of their keen eye for design, the home was transformed into the perfect 6,800-square-foot family home, with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and ample living space spread out over two levels, with a ground floor that opens out through glass doors to a resort-style swimming pool.
"It was a true labor of love," says Heather. "Every inch was customized and designed by us for the way we wanted the house to be. We never plan on moving."
"Living in a climate that experiences the highest of high temps and lowest of low temps, quality windows are so important," says Heather. "We love that our home feels cozy all year long and the bright sun that shines inside year round, which makes us all happier people."
During the renovation, drastic changes were made to the layout, including moving the kitchen to the rear of the home to capture the lake views. The kitchen opens out to the pool and a sun-drenched timber deck through sliding glass doors from the Marvin Elevate collection, dissolving boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.
From the outset, Heather and Brad knew they wanted three large bedrooms on the first floor level, all with built-in storage, as well as a laundry room and walk-in pantry to make family life easier. They were also keen to create a large dining room for family gatherings and revitalize the pool area for entertaining friends and family.
This reconfiguration of the home is defined by large windows, sliding glass doors, vaulted ceilings, and a practical layout that will stand the test of time. These elements offer an impressive canvas against which the couple could add more personal touches, such as lighting, wallpaper, art, and furniture.
The black and white floor tiles in the bar area are complemented by the ebony Marvin Essential window frames and blue cabinetry that celebrates the couple’s love of midcentury design. Bamboo bar chairs and a feathered pendant light add a touch of playfulness.
It’s the connection with the outdoors, both physically and visually, that truly characterizes the home though. The ground floor, for example, can be accessed from the pool area via two doors—one that leads directly to the bar, and another that leads to a pool bathroom complete with lockers for guests. The bar also features a sliding glass window that makes grabbing a top-up from the keg an easy task while relaxing outside.
The vista through the trees to the lake was one of the first things that attracted Heather and Brad to the home. The Marvin Essential windows offer sweeping views and invite the outside in, creating a vibrant backdrop to family life that changes with the seasons. "We changed all of the windows to add nearly double the amount of glass to the house," reveals Heather. "We love how it lets in such incredible light and captures our great views!"
Throughout the home, the main windows are from the Marvin Essential collection, which were chosen for their modern aesthetic that ties into the couple’s "colorful Californian modern" style, while the doors are from the Marvin Elevate collection and feature three or four sliding panels for expansive views. These two collections also share a sleek, minimal style and ebony color option that makes the couple’s vision for a seamless interior possible.
The windows in the bar area are a more modest size than those in the living area, yet boast the same effect thanks to the simple, graphic frame. Set into a white-tiled wall and framing the ebony cladding, this window adds an element of drama that complements the striking blue cabinetry and gold details.
"We use Marvin windows and doors for all of our projects," says Heather. "We love the quality, style and ease of working with them. They were the perfect partner for this project and were able to help us get as much glass as we could in each room."
The spacious primary suite on the first floor overlooks the tree canopies, offering a retreat from the everyday. "We love that the house doesn’t look too grand on the exterior and often surprises people with how much space we have on the inside," says Heather. "We also really love that we were able to vault the ceilings."
Other fun touches include a conversation pit—which was originally one of the three bars—that is a comfy nook for reading or play; a collection of globe lights on golden stems suspended above the living area; and bright blue cabinetry in the bar area.
The globe lights in the living area create a soft, intimate light and were a part of the scheme from the concept stage. "I would call our style ‘colorful California modern'," says Heather. "We had a lot of fun with color and lights, but kept the lines clean and neutral. Knowing we’re here for the long haul, we were able to customize things differently than we have in the past."
Even the primary en suite features Marvin windows—a large picture beneath two operating awnings, which frame lush tree views. The ebony finish complements the black, built-in fireplace and boldly juxtaposes the muted interior.
Transforming the entire house—including the pool area—took nine months, with one month of planning before the works began. "The biggest surprise was how much fun we had creating this space with our team and family," says Heather. "We knew we could take risks and do what we loved since it is our home and we have no plans to sell it. This truly is our forever home!"
Make space for what matters at marvin.com/makespace.
Project Credits:
Owners / Designers: Heather Fox & Brad Fox
Contractor: Fox Homes
Published
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