Legendary Homes of the Minneapolis Lakes

For tens of thousands of Minnesotans who walk and bike and paddle around Minneapolis’s beautiful Chain of Lakes every year, the lovely homes that surround these fine city parks are as intriguing as the exquisite views of open space and sparkling water. Legendary Homes of the Minneapolis Lakes invites readers inside twenty-eight of the most architecturally significant dwellings.

In these pages, photographer Karen Melvin and architectural writer Bette Hammel turn their attention to the finest homes around Lake of the Isles, Cedar Lake, Lake Calhoun, and Lake Harriet. Generous homeowners have opened their doors and shared the stories of construction, renovation, and interior design. Featured architects include Harry Wild Jones, Purcell and Elmslie, Edwin Lundie, Close and Associates, Vincent James, and David Salmela.

From the Italianate entryway of the Martin House to the whimsical living room of the Kaufman/Lacey House; from the Arts and Crafts kitchen of the Smith/Liepke House to the Rand/McGlynn Phelps House’s stunning formal dining room, Legendary Homes of the Minneapolis Lakes offers views of interest to all. This lavishly illustrated and informative book answers the lake walker’s burning question: I wonder what it’s like in there.

Karen Melvin is an interiors and architectural photographer whose work has appeared in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, and Woman’s Day. Bette Hammel is an architectural journalist who has written for Architecture Minnesota, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Midwest Home, and Architectural Record.