Scenic Custom Home in Minnesota Woods Conveys Effortless Elegance with High-End Matte Surfaces

Nestled in the heart of southeastern Minnesota, Rochester offers an idyllic setting for building a dream home with its panoramic views and easygoing atmosphere. The community combines the serenity of small-town living with the convenience of urban amenities, drawing in people from all stages of life. Home to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, Rochester is rich in history and forward-thinking spirit, which is reflected in its dynamic community and distinctive custom home designs.

The city caught the attention of a couple looking to return to their Minnesotan roots after many years in western states, spanning California, Oregon, Montana and Utah. They found a peaceful wooded site perfect for building a one-level rambler home with a defined guest wing.

The couple partnered with their niece Jean Rehkamp Larson, architect and cofounder of Rehkamp Larson Architects, to create a welcoming yet contemporary home design with an emphasis on outdoor connection. "We embrace working for friends and family - it's a privilege to design houses for people we deeply connect with,” Rehkamp Larson shared. “And as a bonus, we get to see the projects more frequently at family gatherings."

With an eye for modern materials, Rehkamp Larson accompanied the couple to Higgins Custom Cabinetry to pick surfaces for their home's cabinetry.

"They were immediately drawn to RAUVISIO noir, and kept coming back to it," she said. "This surface provided the clean, modern look they were looking for and just the right amount of matte."

The couple selected RAUVISIO noir After Dark for their cabinetry in the kitchen, study and primary bedroom walk-in closet, adding dramatic European flair throughout the home. The super-matte surface was paired with warm brass handles from Atlas Homewares' Tom Tom Collection. This timeless black and brass combination complements the dark, moody Brazilian quartzite kitchen counters and backsplash. Light wood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining and living areas balance the dark finishes, offering sweeping views of the Minnesota woods.

For the laundry room and primary bathroom vanities, the couple selected RAUVISIO noir Olive Detour. This sophisticated, muted green brings natural hues indoors, continuing the theme of outdoor connection. Book-matched quartzite slabs behind the tub and skylights heighten the natural serenity of the bathroom, creating a relaxing retreat.

To meet their clients' modern vision, Higgins Custom Cabinetry built the cabinetry in an atypical fashion. "This project was unique and challenging for us, because we had to build our cabinetry in a new way," said Adrian Gabor, sales designer at Higgins Custom Cabinetry. "We created a hybrid Euro/Inset build with double edgeband fillers and seamless cabinet sides, tops and bottoms for a sleek look."

Additional features of the cabinetry include Rev-A-Shelf pantry pullout organizers and flush-inset appliances for a cohesive appearance. According to Gabor, integrating the top trim of the cabinetry with the wood soffits throughout the home was challenging, requiring precise measurements due to the lack of room for scribing. However, Gabor noted that Hartert Builders' consistent wall, floor and window heights helped the Higgins team overcome these challenges.

Reflecting on the design process, Rehkamp Larson shared, "Choosing the dark black and olive green finishes offered by RAUVISIO noir added depth to the warm yet bold color palette of the home. These color choices and the durability of RAUVISIO noir were important features to the clients."

RAUVISIO noir is a self-healing surface, providing exceptional resistance to scratches. The resilient surface is also fingerprint, impact, bacteria, mold and stain resistant, all while offering a touchable matte finish that invites the senses to linger.

"I always emphasize during showroom walkthroughs how durable RAUVISIO noir is," said Gabor. "We have tested it ourselves, and it lives up to its properties. I even have RAUVISIO noir in my own kitchen - the product looks amazing while offering incredible durability."

For a seamless and resilient joint between the edgeband and surface, Higgins Custom Cabinetry used a hot air edgebander to apply REHAU zero-joint LaserEdge edgeband to the cabinets. "This type of edgeband seals the edges, protecting doors against water damage," said Gabor. "It's great for sink areas where doors can get damaged fast. The durability of the edgeband and surface is especially important when you have kids or dogs."

With two dogs of their own, the homeowners can enjoy the effortless elegance of their home for the years to come.

"The homeowners are delighted with the house," Rehkamp Larson said. "They were active participants in the design from beginning to end, so the house is tuned to their preferences. They appreciate the level of detail and refinement and the mix of materials, including the dark stained trim, light oak floors and modern dark cabinets."

Project Details

• Project: Rochester Home, Rochester, MN
• Project type: New construction, completed in 2023
• Architect: Rehkamp Larson Architects
• Builder: Hartert Builders
• Cabinet shop: Higgins Custom Cabinetry
• Interior design: KT Design
• REHAU products used: RAUVISIO noir™ After Dark and Olive Detour with perfectly matched REHAU LaserEdge™ technology
• Photographer: Scott Amundson Photography

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