Editor's Note: The following originally appeared in the 2022 Fall Home magazine, which was included as a free insert in the Oct. 1, 2022 issue of your local newspaper. Read the magazine in its entirety  HERE  online.

Subscribe to the Detroit Lakes Tribune , the Perham Focus , or Wadena Pioneer Journal  to receive more great community-focused articles, magazines and local news content from across the family of Forum Communications Company-owned newspapers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The newly-built house owned by Kevin and Joy Reski on East Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes may be a draw for dreamers on the Damien Home Tour who want a modern abode on the lake, as well as history buffs.

When the Reskis purchased 1558 East Shore Drive in 2014, the house on it was a century-old Cape Cod cabin with cedar shakes and shiplap siding. There was also a legendary boat house known to bootleggers and party-goers.

“The house had structure problems,” Joy said. “The cement (in the foundation) didn’t have rebar. There were steel support legs, but they were cranked as much as they could be to stabilize the cabin.”

Her husband added the flooring had warped to the point a ball could be set on the floor and it would roll to the wall.

“I was getting tired of fixing things every weekend,” Kevin said. “I figured we could chase the house around for another 100 years and laugh about it, or get it gone and enjoy the lake.”

Two years ago, the Reskis decided the time had come to start from scratch. On September 24, 2020, the cottage was removed, leaving a building footprint of 40 square feet. Kevin explained the new structure could be the same footprint as the original cabin, but if any additional space was added there would be more restrictions. So, they decided to keep the same square footage, but with better use of space.

They found house plans online that fit their footprint and called Franklin Fence for a price estimate. They said the lumberyard, which is based in Vergas, offered to draft the plans if they purchased the lumber through them. The offer made the decision an easy one for the Reski family.

“We asked for a deck, brrrp, done; wanted these kinds of rails added, brrrp, done,” Kevin said. “It was all brrrp, done, and then here is the list you need to buy to build. It was that easy.”

For those enjoying the tour, the striking beauty of the Appalachian pine luxury laminate offers a warm welcome to the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home. As eyes are drawn to the large windows on either side of the main living space, visitors will see how a unique open space concept is tied together with the kitchen as the centerpiece.

“For me, the kitchen was the most important part (of the new house plans),” Joy said. “I’d seen kitchens that had islands but only on one side. I thought, why not two islands?”

The kitchen islands are a bright blue that is accentuated by earthy tones surrounding them.

“I like blue, and wanted to be bold,” she said, divulging a pillow with a beach scene on it provided inspiration for the color motif.

In the center of the kitchen island, facing the living room, is a pot rack hanging from the towering ceiling. Under it, the stove. Joy ordered the appliance from a friend’s store. After it was installed, she grabbed a pizza and opened the oven door.

“It was blue inside,” she said. “I never told him that (blue) was the (kitchen) island color. We call that a popcorn miracle.”

The other island counter faces the dining area and is where the sink and dishwasher are located. Off to the side of the kitchen is a butler’s pantry with plenty more cabinets and counters, as well as a main floor washer and dryer.

“We went with white for those cabinets,” Joy said, noting too much blue would’ve pulled away from the kitchen island being the centerpiece.

Kevin was pleased with the ease of getting the cabinets made to order. He said they simply brought in pictures from a magazine of the style they liked to Shannon Cabinets in Frazee “and brrrp, it was done.”

As for the countertops, Joy said they previously had granite but opted for quartz this time; the reason being less maintenance. She explained quartz is low-maintenance and easy to clean.

“You only have to worry about putting something hot on them,” she said, adding that may cause discoloration.

The large dining room area on the sink-side island counter leads to the lakeside patio door. A step outside provides another gathering space with a 20-square-foot stamped concrete patio, they declared it their favorite space. In addition to another seating area, the outdoor patio boasts a natural gas grill and fridge that are built into cabinets and a sink that is plumbed for hot and cold water. A pergola covers the area that offers views of the lake and a large fire pit encircled by a century-old rock wall that extends to the famed boat house.

The boat house was originally built as a logger’s cabin, or as rumor has it, for bootleggers. Kevin noted in the 1920s, their property was connected to four adjacent properties. The plentiful land was home to many gatherings and even had a tunnel.

“From what I heard it was party central," Kevin said, noting the tunnel starts at the neighbor's property and exits near the boathouse. The boathouse was built in 1922 and offers 528 square feet between a stucco wall structure that is blended with a stone base. The bottom floor is used for storage of lake toys. The upstairs provides a one-bedroom guest cabin that includes a living area, kitchenette, bathroom and inspiring views of the lake.

Much like the boathouse, the house also has a basement. The Reskis utilized that space to create a four-car garage with heated floors. The area also offers a cozy cove for Kevin to catch a game on the TV or strum his guitar and a man’s bathroom.