This lodge-style home in Afton, Minnesota was designed as a woodland retreat for a young family moving from the city to the country. Surrounded by towering pines, a winding creek, and abundant wildlife, the home provides both rugged grandeur and intimate connection to nature.

The architecture recalls Swedish lodges of the 1600s, with rough-hewn timbers, a grand 20-foot river rock fireplace, and soaring ceilings. The Great Room invites all to gather at the hearth, balanced by a kitchen of richly stained cabinetry, a family banquette, and dreamy dining windows with forest views. A brawny staircase leads to a loft for the children, where play and sleep overlook the beams of the great hall below.

Throughout, rustic materials and curated textures root the home in its environment. Slate floors echo the forest floor, wrought iron fixtures and strapping hardware reinforce the lodge style, while curated European textiles, vintage prints, and worn leathers add layered warmth. Oxblood and cognac accents introduce richness, complementing nubby fabrics, hides, and weathered woods.

The sunroom, wrapped in deep lagoon green and open to birdsong through double-hung windows, is a family favorite — a screen-free sanctuary for reading and quiet reflection. The father, an ornithologist, finds inspiration here, with art and décor celebrating the natural environment.

Everyday life flourishes in this retreat: gardens filled with vegetables and herbs, chickens wandering near the timber archway entry, and family meals shared in the kitchen. The Afton Lodge is at once stately and humble — a soulful country home grounded in nature, layered in history, and alive with family memories.

Location

Afton, Minnesota

Design Partners

• Interior Designer: Lucy Interiors

• Photographer: Spacecrafting

• Builder: Vujovich