Imagine buying a piece of property
that your grandfather had sold to someone else before
you were born. That is exactly what Brad and Kathy
Barker were able to accomplish, thanks to their persistence.
In the early 1900s, Brad’s grandfather owned
a resort on Minnesota’s Kabekona Lake. During
Brad’s childhood, his family spent their recreational
time there, even though by then the property no longer
was in the family. Brad remembers swimming in the
Kabekona River and having family picnics.
After Brad and Kathy were married, they dreamed of
owning a log home built near the lake and periodically
drove out to the area. One day, they learned that 8
acres that Brad’s grandfather once owned had
come up for sale with the Kabekona River running right
through it. “We wanted a log home because it
offers such a relaxing atmosphere,” Kathy says. “We
are very outdoors people, and the uniqueness of the
logs connects us with nature.”
The Barkers have lived in the Walker, Minnesota, area
for most of their lives and were committed to using
local builders and suppliers as much as possible. They
researched many different log-home companies before
selecting Northwoods Log Homes of Laporte. The family-owned
and operated company specializes in custom-designed,
pre-cut, milled-log homes. The company’s log
package includes custom-made Marvin windows and white-pine
doors with battan strips attached by black lag screws
and matching black hardware.
“This particular home is a very efficiently
designed, medium-size floor plan that fits perfectly
in a wooded area and allows for beautiful outdoor views
through the windows,” co-owner Bryan Kerby says. “We
have modified this particular design many different
times to meet the particular owners’ needs.”
For their builder, Brad and Kathy chose Arnie Novodvorsky,
who has been constructing Northwoods’ homes for
many years. “Arnie has such a sense of detail
in his finish work,” Brad explains. “When
you walk into one of his homes, you can see his unique
touches. You know instantly that you are in one of
Arnie’s masterpieces.”
The Barkers’ 2,850-square-foot home is constructed
using native Norway red pine logs with 7-1/2-inch diameters.
All of the interior, non-load bearing walls are tongue-and-groove
pine paneling. “We looked at several magazines
and toured other homes,” Kathy says. “We
put all of our ideas together and presented what we
wanted to the Northwoods design team. We planned this
to be our last home. If we needed to because of health
reasons, we could live just on the main level.”
The first floor of the home is indeed complete for
all of their living needs, with the dining room, living
room, kitchen, master bedroom and bath, and a laundry-pantry-sewing
room. They added an enclosed three-season porch to
take fullest advantage of the Minnesota weather without
having to worry about pesky insects.
So that their two daughters can have their own space
when they visit with their families, the couple closed
off a portion of the loft and finished it with a full
bath and bedroom. The sitting room-reading room is
found in the portion of the loft that was left open.
A full basement finished in knotty pine tongue-and-groove
paneling consists of an additional bedroom and bath
and the family room. “We tried to style the home
with as much light as possible,” Brad says. “Because
either the sun can be partially blocked by the foliage
in the forest around us during the summer or we have
very short, dreary days in the winter, we added skylights
in the master bathroom and the loft bedroom.”
As they lived only nine miles away in Walker, Brad
and Kathy were able to be at the site daily while their
log home was being built. They acted as their own general
contractor and hired the electrical and plumbing subs.
They cleared the lot and removed the trees that were
growing where the house would be built. They also did
all of the finish sanding in the home’s interior.
Kathy was in charge of decorating the home and adopted
a north woods theme, which has a wildlife motif. They
purchased all new furniture for the home, including
the custom-made pine log dining room set, hutch and
bar stools from Rustic Retreat Handcrafted Furniture.
Kathy accented these with several quilts that her mother
made, as well as some antique family heirlooms.
Brad and Kathy selected No. 2 red oak hardwood floors
for the main living areas, carpeting for the bedrooms
and ceramic tile in the baths. Braided rugs over the
oak floors add a homey touch and are easy to move when
the couple changes the arrangement of the furniture
in their living room according to the season. In winter,
they gather around the fireplace; in summer, they gravitate
toward the expanse of windows in the prow front for
a view of the river.
Cooking is a shared interest for the couple and a
time they enjoy spending together. To make their culinary
time together enjoyable, they equipped their kitchen
with KitchenAid appliances.
The home’s primary heating source is an electric-powered,
forced-air furnace that switches to propane when the
off-peak power is shut off. If they lose electricity,
they can rely on their wood-burning Wilkening fireplace
in the living room to keep them warm on even the coldest
winter day.
Landscaping the lot included creating an environmental
zone between the river and their home. This area they
left in its natural state. As a result, the property
is resplendent with birch, Norway pine and Lady Slipper—Minnesota’s
state flower. Relying on the expertise of Dave’s
Landscaping for assistance, they added blue grass around
the home and replaced the trees that were removed during
construction.
With the Paul Bunyan State Forest adjacent to their
property, Brad and Kathy are able to spend plenty of
time in their beloved outdoors. When Brad is not at
work as a senior special agent for the Minnesota Bureau
of Criminal Apprehension and Kathy isn’t tending
to her duties as an office manager for a local dental
office, they spend their free time in the winter ice
fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country
skiing. The summer months might find them canoeing,
boating or fishing on the Kabekona River or nearby
Leech Lake.
“We don’t have a television on the main
level,” Kathy points out. “We would rather
spend our time enjoying our home, looking at the outdoor
scenery or with each other. The first place we go to
in the morning is the living room window to see what
wildlife might be there or what the weather is like
that day.”
Geese and ducks commonly visit the river, and almost
every morning the Barkers are treated to eagles soaring
over their property. This year, a doe and her twin
fawns have taken up residence in the wooded area around
the home. During the snowy months, the couple
can watch the otters.
Today, Brad and Kathy feel like they have come full
circle, back to Brad’s roots. Throughout their
new home they have proudly displayed old
photos of the many happy times his family spent in
the Kabekona Lake area. “Our log home is all
about our lifestyle. We have been able to design and
decorate it just for us,” Brad says. “We
have developed a theme in our home and it helps define
who we are.”
Kathy echoes this sentiment. “There is nothing
more warm, relaxed, and cozy,” she says, “than
a log home.”
Log Producer: Northwoods Log Homes Inc., 36303
County 39, Laporte MN 56461, (218) 224-2251.
E-mail: info@northwoodsloghomes.com
Website: www.northwoodloghomes.com
Builder: Arnie Novodvorsky, 36942 County 39, Laporte
MN 56461, (218) 224-2676.
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