6680 St. Croix Trail, Hastings
Marvelously designed, engineered and constructed, welcome to this beautiful sanctuary set on 50 rolling acres just minutes from Afton Alps, Afton State Park, and two marinas on the St. Croix River.
This stunning home is actually two very diverse homes in one building - married together to create a structure of outstanding strength and resilience.
The upper structure is of Timber Frame Construction. The timbers were recovered from a large Twin Cities warehouse and are 100+ year old Douglas Fir. The construction components, including the fire sprinkler system, are Commercial Grade for strength and durability. The interior trim work was done by Swedish craftsmen, expert with Timber Frame Homes.
The lower level structure starts at 35-40 foot below grade and is 16” cement block construction. The block is 16” deep and is reinforced with rebar and cement every 4th course and every other core. There are two indoor pools in the lower level. One High School sized lap pool and one recreational diving pool. It is 75’ from the pool deck to the roof!
The recreation pool area also has an 8-10 person sauna with a complete window wall so that swimmers can be watched from within the sauna, a ¾ bath, one of the TWO 3-car garages, and several mechanical areas.
Highlights
§ Certified, Authentic Timber Frame joinery, mortise-and-tenon with 1” Oak pegs throughout – only one steel joint in the entire structure.
§ Massive Douglas Fir beams are free of checking (lengthwise cracks) because they were seasoned for 100+ years prior to construction.
§ No cost spared in making the structure massive, solid, and maintenance-free, including stone exterior, paved ½ mile driveway and 12 zone in-ground watering system for the lawn.
§ All construction specifications are commercial rated to 150lb/sq/in live load (sufficient for a dump truck in the living room).
§ Pre-stressed concrete planks used in place of conventional wood trusses in floors – equals zero squeaking, zero movement, zero noise transfer.
§ Structure aligned and each window specified to specific site-solar study to maximize solar heat in winter, and minimize in summer.
§ 65 ton free-standing (suspended on concrete planks) hand-laid solid fieldstone fireplace with three fireboxes for cozy lodge nights.
§ Two separate atmospheres within the home, one chlorinated and one not – air-lock door systems avoids contaminating the living space with pool chlorine.
§ Randy Aanes designed and hand crafted ash cabinetry throughout, including a free-standing kitchen where the cabinets are the walls, and a breathtaking black cherry paneled office.
§ HVAC super-tuned for least-cost operation and optimum comfort. 13 Wirsbo in-floor heat zones (no cold piggies on the slate bathroom floors) with approximately 5 miles of tubing, 8 air-handlers for seven zones of forced-air heat, 6 A/C units for complete summer comfort, two air-to-air exchangers for zero humidity transfer between the pool atmosphere and the living atmosphere, plus two whole-house fans that can change out the entire living atmosphere in the home in under 15 minutes.
One level up, but still in part of the concrete section of the home, is the formal entry, atrium, exercise area and office.
§ Two cedar lined front closets.
§ Exercise area overlooks the recreation pool area.
§ Office is lined with beautiful Black Cherry cabinets with flush panel doors and has windows on two walls with hidden white board and ceiling-level glass-front bookshelves.
§ One built in cabinet specially designed for central computer server with networking, including satellite internet and DSL.
§ Office has separate heat and A/C controls
§ An underground built-in, fireproof 2’ x 1’ x 3’ safe.
The Timber Frame part of the home is breathtaking. The design takes full advantage of the sweeping vistas of the rolling hills. This unique property is home to over 25 species of trees, mostly ancient Red and White Oak, but also including various Pines, Birch, Cherry, Cottonwood, Chinese and White Elms, Maples, and several varieties of Apples (including Haroldson for pies in the fall). The fall is a special time of year – no need to take driving trips to view the color!
As you ascend the steps through the atrium to the great room, the impact of the walls of windows is stunning. The 3 story great room has as its focal point a massive 3 story fieldstone free-standing fireplace. It is an estimated 65 tons of handset fieldstone native to the area. The fireplace houses three fireboxes, the Great Room, the Dining Room, and a loft firebox. Each fireplace offers its own personality. The loft fireplace is small and simple. The Great Room fireplace is set in its own “nook” of reclaimed brick. The Dining Room’s fireplace befits the size of the room with a 16’ mantle and huge open hearth.
The dining room is a wing of itself! The three story open-beam construction is reminiscent of the cathedrals of Europe. Gather the whole clan for dinner – or host a formal state event – and be equally as comfortable at either dinner.
§ Impressive 3 story open beam construction.
§ Beautiful Custom Faux Finish painted walls.
§ Inlaid Berber carpet with a slate surround.
§ Balcony Library overlooks Dining Room and Great Room.
§ Home is also a convenient place for executive team meetings, with 802.11b wireless internet, and wired as well throughout.
The kitchen area is centrally located to be the “control tower” of the main level. The homeowner or caterers will be equally comfortable with the kitchen amenities. There is a separate caterers’ room with double pocket doors off the kitchen that can be used to augment the already generous kitchen prep space.
§ Exposed beams, Timber construction.
§ Freestanding Ash cabinets.
§ Granite counter tops.
§ Computer/electronics Nook.
§ Jenn-Air Double Ovens.
§ Jenn-Air Gas & Electric Cooktop and Grill.
§ Downdraft venting system.
§ Kitchen Aid Stainless Steel Dishwasher.
§ Kitchen Aid Stainless Steel Side by Side Refrigerator/Freezer.
§ Kitchen Aid Stainless Steel Microwave.
§ Huge Center Island with prep sink set in a massive granite top.
§ Eat in table with granite top.
§ Stereo system for Kitchen and Dining Room.
Also on this level is the informal dining area, half bath, and a wonderfully unique guest suite. The guest suite is separated from the living areas of the house by an outdoor walkway, giving your guests privacy. During inclement weather, there is a back stairway that can be used to access the main house. Both the Guest Suite and the Owners Suite above it have wall to ceiling windows on three walls – with the breathtaking views you’ll feel like the eagles patrolling the nearby St. Croix River Valley which frequently visit. It is also not unusual to wake up to five or ten whitetail deer or a rafter of wild turkeys feeding just outside the windows.
§ Exposed beams.
§ 3 Walls of windows.
§ Full Bath with green slate surround.
§ Ash Cabinets.
The next level houses the family bedrooms and the loft library. There are three Juvenile bedrooms and an Owners’ Suite. The Owners’ suite has truly spectacular views from its tower “Crows Nest” position and is complete with its own watchtower deck, 6-person outdoor hot tub and private spiral staircase to all the home levels.
§ Vaulted ceilings and exposed beams.
§ Three walls of windows.
§ Private deck with hot tub.
§ Walk in closet.
§ Glass Block and Slate shower with two shower heads.
§ Slate bathroom floor.
§ Ash cabinets with double sinks.
The loft Library/Office is ‘above it all’ - very private while still being able to keep an eye on almost everything! It is situated in the wonderful space around the freestanding fireplace and the third firebox is here as well as fantastic views of the Dining Room, Great Room and Atrium.
At the very top most level of this home is a large sleeping space – with a birds eye view of the rest of the home! This is the perfect space for kids to play, watch TV or play air-hockey.
Mechanicals
§ 2 Air to Air exchangers – one for each pool.
§ 8 Air Handlers.
§ 3500 sq ft of green slate through-out home.
§ R32 walls and (276) R14 Wilmar Windows through-out home.
§ 400 AMP electrical service.
§ WIRSBO heating – 5 MILES of tubing through-out home through nearly every inch of floor area.
§ The septic system has three 1500 gallon tanks and the lift station to the drain field has two oversized pumps with an alarms system to indicate trouble in the main pump.
§ State of the art security system with central station monitoring.
§ Tyco Commercial sprinklers throughout home. Copper pipe rather than residential orange plastic pipe was used for aesthetic purposes.
