Kootenia Homes Featured on Houzz: “Bathroom of the Week – Refined Rustic With a Custom Sauna”

We’re excited to share that one of our recent projects has been featured on Houzz in the article: Bathroom of the Week: Refined Rustic With a Custom Sauna.

At Kootenia Homes, we love creating spaces that blend thoughtful design with the way our clients actually live. This lakeside Twin Cities home was designed as a gathering place for a family with four grown daughters and grandchildren—a place where everyone could come together to enjoy “lake life.” The result is a spa-like bathroom retreat that reflects Minnesota’s natural beauty and Scandinavian heritage.

A Lakeside Retreat Designed for Real Life

The home, located near White Bear Lake, was designed with easy access to the outdoors and the lake. The bathroom connects directly to a lakeside hallway and patio, allowing family and guests to go straight from swimming to the sauna without walking through the main living spaces.

This thoughtful layout makes the bathroom highly functional for an active household while maintaining the relaxed feel of a lakeside getaway.

A Collaborative Design Vision

The bathroom was designed by Amy Leferink of Interior Impressions in collaboration with TEA2 Architects, with Kootenia Homes bringing the vision to life through construction.

The design blends several influences:

• Scandinavian wellness traditions

• Minnesota’s “Up North” cabin aesthetic

• Coastal New England architectural elements

Natural materials were a key theme throughout the space, including rift-sawn white oak cabinetry, river rock textures, and stone surfaces that echo the surrounding landscape.

Natural Materials Meet Durability

Because the bathroom experiences heavy use—wet swimsuits, steam, and frequent traffic—durability was just as important as aesthetics.

The design includes:

• Porcelain floor tile with a natural limestone look for durability and easy maintenance

• Rustic wood-look porcelain tile in the shower for a warm cabin feel

• River rock flooring and accents that reflect Minnesota’s lakeshore environment

• Blue Dunes granite used for the vanity and bench surfaces

These materials create a warm, organic palette while ensuring the space will hold up beautifully over time.

A Custom Finnish Sauna Experience

The centerpiece of the bathroom is a custom-built Finnish sauna, designed to create an authentic wellness experience at home.

Unlike freestanding or infrared units, a fully built-in sauna requires specialized planning during construction. Proper ventilation, electrical capacity, moisture-resistant materials, and drainage all have to be integrated into the structure.

This sauna features:

• Bleached blond teak interior

• An L-shaped, two-tier bench layout

• Seating for up to eight people

• Heated stones for traditional steam

The result is a true spa experience—one that the homeowners’ family quickly embraced.

Designed for Long-Term Living

Another important aspect of the design was future accessibility. The entire bathroom is curbless and wheelchair-friendly, with easy transitions between spaces and a built-in bench for additional support.

Thoughtful details like these ensure the home will remain comfortable and functional for years to come.

Building Homes That Bring People Together

At Kootenia Homes, we believe the best homes are designed around how people live, gather, and relax. This project is a perfect example—a bathroom that feels like a private resort while supporting the everyday rhythms of family life.

We’re honored to see this space recognized by Houzz and grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such talented design partners.