Isles Eclectic

Adventurer-explorer Dan Buettner purchased his turn-of-the-century Lake of the Isles home in 2006 because of its location. “It is uniquely close to nature and to every imaginable urban amenity,” he says. Then, without missing a beat, he jokes, “If I need a tattoo, I can get one three blocks away.”

Buettner made a name for himself setting world records for endurance bicycling and for reporting in National Geographic, his own books, and on national television about the life-extending traditions of the cultures he discovered traveling the world. Along the way he found what he dubbed “Blue Zones,” places where people’s daily habits seemed to contribute to longer life expectancies.

When his home was selected as one of this year’s ASID Showcase Homes, Buettner asked all the designers to incorporate facets of the Blue Zones principles he abides by into their designs. For instance, to “move naturally” is a basic Blue Zones tenet. To that end, Buettner and the designers created a destination room on the third floor to entice the family to climb three flights of stairs daily. This small nook is designed to resemble a cabin on a ship, with a pullout bed and windows that offer a 180-degree view of the lake.

Typically, Showcase Homes undergo major construction, but the previous owner, Lars Peterssen of Peterssen/Keller Architecture, had already renovated much of Buettner’s home, so many of the changes in this renovation were aesthetic, not construction-based. Peterssen is also the architect of this renovation.

In the 12 years that Peterssen and his partner, the author Robert Alexander, lived in the house, they renovated the exterior of the home, removing the asbestos shingles that covered the original white clapboard siding and replacing them with cedar shakes and stucco. They swapped the jalousie windows on the porch for new Marvin Windows and turned the kitchen from a corner room into part of the main circulation of the house.

Prior to deciding to have his house be part of the ASID Showcase Home Tour, Buettner had hired Peterssen and Vujovich Design Build to design a new master suite, but eventually shelved the project. “One day,” recalls Peterssen, “I started getting multiple calls, from the interior designers and from Dan, that he was considering making this the Showcase house.” They moved forward with the design, which reflected Buettner’s desire for more windows and more access to the lake. “I think Dan really wanted to make it more of his home,” says Vujovich co-owner Ed Roskowinski. “He’d lived in the house for a little bit of time, but hadn’t had the time to invest in making it his own.”

The master suite spans the front of the house on the second floor, and prior to the renovation had three windows facing the lake. To open it up, the two side windows were converted into double windows and the middle window became a door that opens onto a balcony overlooking the lake. The custom-made master closet is open to the master bath, which takes on a decidedly modern aesthetic.

The designers tailored the bedrooms of Buettner’s children—Danny, 23; Irene, 15; and Rafael, 12—to reflect their tastes. Rafael’s room is sports-themed. Irene’s room incorporates splashes of pop art. And when eldest son Danny stays over, he will use either one of two twin beds in the guest suite or the pullout bed in the destination room.

The updates made to the main level of the home were mostly aesthetic. The front porch’s facelift included installing blue woven vinyl flooring (on the ceiling), while the formerly painted-white wood floor was stripped and stained to its natural color.

Stencilwork on the main level was preserved, including Buettner’s favorite designs in the dining room. “It looks like a Russian acid trip,” he says, in all seriousness. The floral-and-gold-leaf design was created for Peterssen and Alexander by a local artist, who since died while riding his bicycle near Fort Snelling. The coincidence was not lost on endurance-biker Buettner who requested that the stencil stay in the final design.

The ASID team utilized much of Buettner’s own belongings in the redesign, including artwork, artifacts, and furniture. Buettner has been on 20 expeditions and brings home treasures from each trip. “I have brought home ancient Chinese furniture, heads of gods, artwork. The objets d’art trigger memories from these expeditions,” he says. One such item is an oversized, carved wooden head of a wind god he found on a stop in Guerrero, Mexico, when biking from Alaska to Argentina.

Buettner is showcasing many of his and his family’s personal achievements in a dedicated space he calls his Pride Shrine. The idea behind it is that the number of pleasant moments you have during the day directly correlates to your overall happiness. Having a special place to aggregate those mementos that make you proud—diplomas, family photos, trophies—can serve as a constant reminder of your accomplishments. Buettner’s Pride Shrine sits in the most trafficked part of the house, outside the bedroom doors on the second level. Some of his personal trophies on display are Guinness World Records certificates, his National Geographic cover story, photos of his children and grandparents, artwork by his daughter, and sculptures from his expeditions.

Post-renovation, the house doesn’t just speak to Buettner’s aesthetic sensibilities. For him, placing a Blue Zones grid over everything has a deeper impact. “Statistically speaking, living in this house should make you live longer.”

Get in the (Blue) Zone Buettner’s commitment to self-betterment includes living by his Power 9 habits: 1. Move naturally. 2. Cut calories by 20 percent. 3. Eat a plant-based diet. 4. Drink red wine. 5. Plan de Vida: Determine your life purpose. 6. Downshift (relieve stress). 7. Belong/participate in a spiritual community. 8. Put loved ones first/make family a priority. 9. Pick the right tribe.

Supporting Sponsors

Calhoun Contractor

Isles Contractor