LakePlace.com Offers This Beautiful Bemidji Lake Home - 2008 Total Remodel

This is an extraordinary lake home that is being sold on the western shore of Hennepin Lake in Becida, Minnesota. For those that are not familiar with this area, Becida is located about 18 miles south and west of Bemidji, Minnesota and about 15 miles from Itasca State Park, the actual Headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River.

Hennepin Lake is tucked into the northwestern corner of the Schoolcraft Game Refuge and surrounded by thousands of acres of public land. This small natural environment lake is 407 acres, with water clarity up to 9.2 feet and home to most every species of fresh water fish found in Minnesota. The bass, pike and crappie fishing is always productive and the DNR has been stocking walleye on a regular basis for years.

The view that this home enjoys is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Looking south across Hennepin Lake into the undeveloped land is a look into the Minnesota from many years ago, and it is extraordinary. You can see an unnamed island, miles of forest and not a single building. The island is under federal land control, supports a stand of ancient timber and an active bald eagles nest. In the winter it is not uncommon to get a glimpse of the pack of timber wolves that call the vast adjacent wilderness home. This priceless view will never change except with the march of the seasons and forces of Mother Nature.

The front of the large 18' X 32' deck is a scarce 30 feet from the water edge as it cantilevers out over the bank. On a summer's day you can bask in the sun on the deck and watch the large bass sun themselves along the shore. At night, the view of the Northern Lights as they dance in the night sky are only upstaged by the call of the loons as they proclaim sovereignty over their end of the lake.

The house itself is a master craftsman's project. It is 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 baths with a custom kitchen, family room and a great room that enjoys the above view off the lake side deck. The master suite is complete with a dressing room, 4' X 5' dual head shower, Jacuzzi tub, direct access to the lake deck, 10' ceilings and an array of 18 windows designed to welcome the morning sun. Winter light fills this space, with generous solar exposure from the east and south. Summer sunshine is filtered through the oaks surrounding the house.

Within the home custom trim and cabinets showcase the quality and attention to detail that is seen throughout this property. The native Aspen trim is offset by the use of strong contemporary colors blending modern decor with nature in every corner of the house. Ceramic tile, Andersen windows and stainless steel kitchen appliances are further emphasis of the quality this home has to offer.

The solar orientation of the house provides comfortable natural warmth during the Minnesota winter months. The dual fuel, off peak electric and propane, furnace provides for comfortable and cost effective heating, while the family room gas fireplace provides ambiance and a back-up heating system in the event of a power outage.

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Builders Bio:

I was born in 1948 in Bemidji MN, a tough little town in Northern Minnesota. I've often wondered what motivated my folks to move there after WWII, but the lakes and forests provided a good place to grow up, so I'm glad they did. After high school and a couple years in the military, I began working in construction as a laborer. The idea of making things, of pulling up in the pickup and nailing together a permanent structure, kind of drew me in. I decided to pursue a career in carpentry, a trade in which I am still involved.

I have been lucky enough to have had a diverse educational experience, which culminated in a Masters degree from Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture in 2002. Before that there were eight years with the nuns of St Benedict, public high school, vocational school, and a BS in Construction Technology from the University of Wisconsin. The mix of public and private, of academic and skill-focused work, prepared me well for the self-motivation required at Taliesin.

Until coming to Taliesin I always pointed to my nine months in vocational school as my best educational experience. I had an excellent teacher there, a guy who was able to demonstrate that the carpenter's trade was a door to understanding a good deal more about the world than one might think. From him I learned to design and create things that had beauty and function; also that a well-made tool felt good in my hand, and that dedication to developing my skills would earn respect. Also how to lay out a wall and hang a door, of course, but the "why" was emphasized at least as much as the "what". After ten years as an apprentice and journeyman, I came to know that I would be happiest designing and running my own projects. Working on a crew for a contractor was all good too, but it wasn't for me. And I needed to learn more.

In 1982, after completing the UW-Stout degree, I moved back to Bemidji and married my wife Billie. She is an artist and someone who has had a great deal of influence on the aesthetic side of my building career.

By the mid-nineties, I was starting to think of changing gears but most scenarios looked like semi-retirement, an option that was about as appealing as a flat tire. I wanted to use my skills in a different way, but I still wanted to use them. As luck would have it I came across a book on the work of Mr. Wright in the winter of '96 during a cold spell that had me immobilized for extended periods of time. I read the book, put it aside, then picked it up and read it again. Then my wife and I visited Taliesin West, taking the $10 tour like everyone else and I found out that "...there are still people living and working here? And they have a school here?..." I was intrigued. I visited Taliesin, took some informal interviews, talked to some architects. I knew that I was more than intrigued, that this was a path that had to be followed.

I would have to admit that when I began my three years at Taliesin, I did not know a whole lot about architecture, but I did know about buildings and about life - two understandings that served me well during three years of immersion. Taliesin unfolded me, took me to a level of understanding that I didn't know existed, and it prepared be to begin again.

After my degree was finished I returned to building, but did so with new eyes and a renewed focus on design values. I am still living in the woods of Northern Minnesota, still running my own scene, and operating a Design-Build office.

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The 2008 total remodel is almost complete and the lake home is ready to view. If you have any questions or you would like to set up a showing, please use the contact form at the bottom of this page. Thanks!

• 2008 Total Remodel
• 276 Feet of Lakeshore

• 5.59 Acres of Privacy
• 3 Beds / 2.5 Baths

Hennepin Lake

Hubbard County MN

Lake Area (acres): 418
Littoral Area (acres): 407
Maximum Depth (ft): 14
Water Clarity (ft): 9.2

Dominant Bottom Substrate: Sand
Abundance of Aquatic Plants: 21 Varieties
Maximum Depth of Plant Growth: 7.8

• Hennepin Lake
• Bemidji (Chamber)
• Hubbard County
• Itasca State Park

• Bemidji (Tourism)
• Bemidji (Wikipedia)
• Hubbard County (Wikipedia)

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