Lakeside Legacy with StraightLine Design
Once the toast of North Shore Drive, an elaborate three-story summer home and barn built in 1908 brought art, fashion, and festivity to Detroit Lakes. The barn, famous for its lively dances, plays, and gallery exhibits, was the creative playground of former owner Josephine Allen — a commercial artist with roots in the Chicago and New York fashion scene. While the grand home no longer stands, the spirit of the era and its rich legacy live on. Today, Allen’s beloved barn has been reimagined for a modern-day family through a meticulous 3,000-square-foot renovation by StraightLine Design’s Tami and Eric Soyring, along with Briard Construction and Widseth.
by TRACY NICHOLSON
interior photos by JILL OCKHARDT BLAUFUSS exterior & portrait by MICAH J. ZIMMERMAN, AMDAK PRODUCTIONS
from barn to home
In 1969, the landmark property’s original horse barn was pulled from its shoreline site to its current location on the three-quarter-acre lot.
Roughly two decades later, it was converted into a home.
“They had a vision for wanting to maintain the barn influence and pay homage to the history of the building and property; they really didn’t want to lose that, but they also love clean, modern design”
In 2017, the current owners purchased the barn home and, four years later, enlisted StraightLine Design to take on the challenge of modernizing the property while preserving its historic heyday.
“Not long before we got the call in 2021, I randomly told Eric one day that I thought it would be really fun to do a modern barn house project sometime. So, when the call came in, and we did a walk-through on the project, it felt like it was meant to be!”
meet StraightLine Design
StraightLine Design is a husband-and-wife design team based in Detroit Lakes, MN. Tami is a talented interior designer with over 20 years of experience, and Eric is widely considered one of Minnesota’s best in architectural metal design and fabrication. Their grown son, Gabe, also works for the family business as a full-time CAD and installation tech, earning his AAS in Architectural Drafting & Design. Contributing to both facets, including interior design and architectural metals, he has become an integral part of the architectural metal installation process.
Eric and Tami have artfully married their talents, leaning into each other’s strengths to streamline the workload as needed. “It is just such a fun relationship because we are both design enthusiasts, but we both have our areas of expertise,” said Tami Soyring. “My strengths are the interior design specifics, from space planning and visualizing the home’s potential to selections and decorating. Eric’s knowledge of the building trade and communication skills really help accomplish my vision for a project.”
rebuilding the barn
StraightLine Design embarked on the barn home project with demolition already underway.
This project would mark the first time working with Briard Construction as the builder and contractor. “We have nothing but rave reviews about the people, relationship, process, and Briard’s workmanship from beginning to end,” said Tami Soyring.
“Also, BHH, now Widseth, was the architect on the job, and even though we didn’t work directly with them on this project initially, they really did a nice job on the initial layout and changes along the way.”
For the Soyrings, the barn renovation was considered a comprehensive design project, teaming up to re-plan some of the layout, tweak the design direction, create renderings, and re-design the exterior with the help of an architect/family friend.
The two-story “modern barn” now greets North Shore Drive with moody and historic sentiment, reminiscent of the site’s storied past. Here, Tami embraced old and new in a reimagined barn concept fusing Eric’s expertise, including a modernized cupola that harvests natural light into the home.
inviting the view
Inside, natural light and access to spectacular lake views drove the design, with Tami and Eric involved in nearly every aspect until its 2023 completion. “We wanted to open up the view from the front entry to the lake, so we worked with Briard and the architects to make the changes necessary to make that happen,” said Tami Soyring. “It was a really exciting project for us. We came up with design concepts, as well as paint and finish schedules for the floors, walls, ceilings, cabinets, countertops, tile, lighting, and plumbing fixtures. We also decorated the home, compiling the furniture and accessory selections.”
With the interior’s wide-open expanse, Tami gave the entry its own unique identity without physical separation, including a herringbone flooring detail in white oak that transitions into a more traditional installation throughout the remainder of the home.
One of the home’s many stand-out features is the floating stair, fabricated by Eric with white oak treads by JCS Cabinetry out of Audubon, MN.
“The homeowners really wanted the floating tread staircase, but there were some challenges to making that happen,” explained Tami Soyring. “So, we made it a priority to accomplish that for them. It helps that Eric is so gifted in his trade.”
Beyond the kitchen, Tami celebrated the barn’s eclectic past with a sophisticated vintage modern concept expressed through velvet upholstery, leather and metal details, custom vintage and modern furnishings, Philip Jeffries wallcoverings, and a stunning fireplace crafted with hand-selected soapstone.
craftsmanship + contrast
The Soyrings also worked with JCS Cabinetry for the barn’s kitchen cabinetry, built-in window bench, and custom white oak beams throughout the home. “Their attention to detail was amazing,” said Tami Soyring. “We used a combination of a natural finished white oak, along with white and black painted finishes. Then we changed up the texture a bit by doing the reeded white oak on the range hood and some of the insets.”
For the kitchen counters, waterfall island, and backsplash, Tami chose a beautiful, subtle-veined Cambria Brittanicca quartz, which extends to the hidden pantry.
lofty library
Another well-crafted design feature is the loft and library space, which leverages the barn’s ceiling height with custom shelving and a fabricated rolling ladder.
“The homeowner is an avid reader, and she really wanted a library space. During COVID-19, the family also started to learn piano together. So, the piano became a special item to them, and she liked the idea of not hiding the piano away in a corner, so we integrated it into her library,” explained Tami Soyring.
guests welcome
After renovation, the barn has become a year-round, three-bedroom, four-bath home with an open floorplan and flex spaces that can transition to guest sleeping spaces.
rise & read
In their daughter’s room, the family’s interest in reading influenced the design, including modern desk space and a hanging bubble chair — creating an inviting nook to cozy up with a book.
proper primary
In the primary suite, Tami worked with the homeowners to create a custom-tiled shower in Candid Heather marble with unique herringbone detailing and coordinating reeded-wood vanities by JCS Cabinetry. She also positioned an oversized soaker tub with a prime waterfront view and custom tile surround.
“This was seriously a dream project, and we feel blessed and fortunate to have been a part of the fun from beginning to end,” added Tami Soyring. “We take a lot of ownership on jobs we are involved with, especially ones where the clients know what they want and are committed to the process. The homeowners were such great people, and they were amazing to work with — it was really an enjoyable experience.”
DESIGN DETAILS:
Interior Design: Tami Soyring, Straightline Design
Contractor: Briard Construction
Custom Metal Crafter: Eric Soyring, Straightline Design
Flooring/Tile: TJ’s Tile
Cabinetry: JCS Cabinetry
Countertops: Cambria Brittanicca, Fabricators Unlimited
Lighting: Restoration Hardware, Domenico Rinaldi, misc.
Furnishings: Restoration Hardware, Anthropology, Pottery Barn, Coyuchi, Scout & Nimble, Linen & Sand, McGee & Co, misc.
Appliances: Rigel’s
Plumbing/Fixtures: Ferguson Home
Electrical: B&H Electrical
Exterior Siding: Briard Construction
Stone/Masonry: Winter Masonry
Millwork/drywall/painting: Painters Plus, Detroit Lakes
Landscaping: Lakes Area Landscaping
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
StraightLine Design
Tami Soyring
701-306-4392
tami@straightlinedesign.net
