A Manor of Speaking
Words by Andrea Darr | Photos by Matthew Anderson
Timeless European influences and modern craftsmanship define the character of this 2022 Artisan Home..
or his 40th birthday, Joe Christensen and his wife went on a bike tour through Europe. Besides the incredible trip, what Joe got was inspired. âIâm definitely inspired by travelâthe settings, the things people do,â he says. As the co-owner of Cardinal Crest Homes, Joe is constantly on the lookout for fresh ideas, methods and materials to use on new builds and home remodeling projects. A style preference kept resurfacing from his trip: English Cottage. âTypically when you think of an English cottage, you think of smaller, quainter homes,â Joe says. But when the opportunity arose to be part of the Artisan Home Tour last summer, Joe knew this would be an ideal time to lean into the intricate, craftsman details of the style. And he knew just the place to showcase this particular homeâin the Northland. Shoal Creek isnât exactly the English countryside, but the golf course greens and gently rolling hills of Eagle Pointe are quite beautiful. âBoth Adam Shaeffer, my business partner, and I live in the area,â Joe says. âPeople see it as miles away, so this felt like an opportunity to show that it isnât.â
The homeâs historically useful parapet walls are strikingly different from anything in the near surroundingsâeven distinguishable from Route 152.
âWe wanted to place it in that historical timeframe, with updated modern features, of course,â Joe says. âIt feels timeless and familiar, but built for today.â
At 7,500 square feetâand with a six-car suspended garageâits size fits the American Dream, while its extensive details place it outside of the usual. The front entry is highlighted by a limestone surround, vertical cypress siding and dormered windows. The back elevation continues to impress with its own attentive detailing. âItâs just as good looking,â Joe says, adding, âIt isnât always done that way.âÂ
The flat walkout lot is ideal for a poolâan element Cardinal Crest didnât build for the tour yet envisioned for the future homeowner.Â
âFor the size of the home, we anticipate a family perhaps on their way to being empty-nesters but always hosting family and friends,â Joe says.Â
The 1.5-story floor plan is conducive to a range of lifestyles with its open-living concept, wide entry with a steel- and glass-enclosed home office and main-level primary suite.
Vaulted ceilings and special ceiling treatments volumize and incentivize you to look up in nearly every room. Â
âWe incorporated a ton of woodwork, beams and details on the ceilings,â Joe says. âWe leaned into that experience of looking up. It adds a certain draw in any space.âÂ
But small touches are equally striking. Vintage paintings and rustic furnishings make that cottage character shine through. For instance, in the laundry room, an antique chair placed against an emerald green wall next to a window stages a scene.
âItâs wild how the right interior design takes you to another place,â Joe says.Â
The walk-in pantry, featuring the same deep green color, is another crowd favorite, with a ceramic pendant softly lighting a farmhouse sink. A connecting larder (aka pantry) features a rolling ladder for reaching high-up items. Cute as it all is, it also encompasses the luxury of a wine fridge.Â
âItâs a balance of the modern finishes we want today while paying homage to the old,â Joe says.Â
Older textures are also featured throughout the home, including lime plaster, over-grouted limestone and a stone wall behind the bed in the primary bedroom.
Even paired with newer materialsâsuch as steel handrails and white oak cabinetry and floorsâthe finishes are natural and even raw looking when viewed up close.Â
âIn modern buildings today, people are looking for perfection,â Joe says. âThey donât appreciate the handcrafted work, but we like that part. Thereâs something poetic about it.âÂ
The kitchen, meanwhile, is a functional work of art. Natural quartzite countertops with an integrated sink serve many purposes and are easy to clean. A bridge faucet befits the cottage theme, while a large-scale light fixture accents the space in trendy grandmillennial style. Â
For those of us who predate the digital age, something as simple as a light switch can be fascinating. While the electrical outlets are purposefully concealed away in this house, all the switches stand out. Textured brass knobs bring a satisfactory click that delights every visitor.Â
These details and more came to fruition through the collaborative effort of Cardinal Crestâs in-house team who worked two years to get this house ready for its debut. Though the home tour it was built for lasted only a short time, this house will long stay impressive. Â
âWe love when people go back and say, âI didnât see this the first time,ââ Joe says. âMy favorite thing is when a homeowner notices a detail six months after theyâve moved in. Those small details tell a story, and the story is that we are thinking of lots of things, both big and little. Itâs like leaving Easter eggs behind.â

Resources
Architect/Interior Designer/Contractor: Cardinal Crest HomesÂ
Engineer: HD EngineeringÂ
Landscaper: Hermes LandscapingÂ
New Home Community: Eagle PointÂ
Real Estate Agent: Tom JohnsonÂ
Appliances: Factory Direct ApplianceÂ
Antiques: Bella Patina, Prime Antiques, Painted SofaÂ
Cabinets: Precision Woods Inc.Â
Closet: Scott Swift Custom TrimÂ
Countertops: RockTops
Electronics: Bravas KC
Â
 Flooring: Kennyâs Tile & Floor CoveringÂ
Rugs: Amber Interiors, Golden & Pine, McGee & Co.Â
Hardware: Locks & Pulls, Rejuvenation, Anthropologie, West ElmÂ
Plumbing Fixtures: Hampton PlumbingÂ
Paint: Millennium PaintingÂ
Siding: Legacy Pre FinishingÂ
Roofing: Royal RoofscapesÂ
Windows: PellaÂ
Window Coverings: Home Goods
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What a stunning home that illustrates how travel can inspire a dream home design and a bright way for Cardinal Crest Homes to showcase a quality new design build.! - Will Brown Interiors