Beachside Haven

LAKEVILLE, MN

Completed 2023

Our clients were in the process of getting their forever home built and wanted us to provide a stunning outdoor space for them to relax and enjoy the lake views that also complemented the new construction home. The lot had substantial grade change throughout, so we had to design a space with a sensitivity to that, but also create a functional and useful space that the clients could maximize their outdoor living and entertaining area.

The designer not only provided a impressive outdoor area for the family to enjoy, she also worked around many tricky facets of the project including difficult grading, low hardcover allowance, working in conjunction with the home builder, tricky access to the property and strict setbacks.

In the end, the clients are thrilled with the completed project! The space includes a cozy porch flanked with a fireplace wall and outdoor kitchen area, tiered landscaping with stunning retaining walls, a private beach area and gorgeous perennials that provide color throughout the year. They love it so much that we have already started the next phases of the project: the front and side yard!

Check out MSP Magazine’s interview with Madison Bloomquist regarding this beachside haven:

https://mspmag.com/home-and-design/lake-living/

Property Serviced by Mom’s Fine Gardening

Behind the Design

Design Notes

Before

The forever home was still going up — and the lot around it fell away in serious grade changes toward the lake. The clients wanted an outdoor space that could relax into those views, complement the new construction, and hold real entertaining.

The Idea

Work with the slope, not against it: tiered landscaping held by substantial retaining walls, a cozy porch flanked by a fireplace wall and outdoor kitchen, and a path down to a private beach — all threaded through a low hardcover allowance, strict setbacks, tricky access, and a home builder working the same site.

After

Perennials carry color through the seasons, the porch anchors the evenings, and the beach ends the day. The clients loved it enough to start the next phase immediately: the front and side yards.

The Brief

—An outdoor space that opens to the lake views
—A design that complements the new-construction home
—Maximized outdoor living and entertaining area
—Sensitivity to a lot with substantial grade change

Tiered, not terraced-over

The grade change became the design: tiered landscaping with stunning retaining walls steps the property down toward the water.

The porch as anchor

A cozy porch flanked by a fireplace wall and outdoor kitchen holds the entertaining, whatever the evening does.

A private beach

The lakeside edge was shaped into the family’s own beach area — the destination at the bottom of the tiers.

Color that keeps going

Perennial plantings were chosen to provide color throughout the year, not just in July.

The hard part

Difficult grading, a low hardcover allowance, strict setbacks, tricky site access — and coordinating the whole build alongside the home builder finishing the house itself.

🏆 NARI Gold Award · NARI Minnesota Remodeler of the Year Awards