lake minnetonka guest house

(a John Howe House)

Deephaven

Ruth is passionate about architecture, so she was thrilled to collaborate with Prairie Style expert Tim Quigley of Quigley Architects to restore a historic guest house on Lake Minnetonka. The structure was originally part of the Francis W. Little House, designed by Wright in 1913. (Fun fact: the Little's living room is now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.) While the main house was torn down in the 1970s, John Howe, Wright’s former right-hand man and chief draftsman transformed the guest house into a year ‘round residence in the 1980s. Two decades later, Ruth and Tim collaborated with the homeowner to fully restore the home and make it amenable to modern living while honoring Howe's original vision. The project, which was a true labor of love, included reproducing Howe's original light fixtures, furnishings and other details.

"Our client wanted to freshen every surface and upgrade all systems inside and out, while meticulously maintaining the home's historic character. We worked with Ruth to make everything “just so," even recreating furniture that had belonged to the former owners."

— Tim Quigley

Photography by Bill Olexy of Modern House Productions