RATHSKELLER RETREAT

Located on a peninsula of Schmidt Lake, somewhere deep in the Minnesota wilderness, is this rustic, hunting lodge-style retreat brought to life by architectural designer Jeff Murphy of Murphy & Co Design .

The lake was named after the Schmidts, who've been fishing it for years. That would come in handy when it was time to carve a detailed map of the lake into the 4" thick cedar bar. Since a map of the lake didn't exist, Jeff Murphy took a satellite image of it, traced the outline and then had the Schmidt brothers tell him what the depths were. He then drew his own map, which included the house location, roads, and lake contours and had it carved into the bar.

The design and details like that are what makes this retreat so special. To create the hunting lodge look, Jeff Murphy used a post and beam design, along with stone on the walls and fireplace-surround and plenty of wood - also on the walls, the coffered ceiling in the TV area, and the bar. There is a little bear (also custom-carved) that holds up one of the upper glass cabinets.

The ceilings are 11' high, allowing transom windows for additional light and to gain views of the treetops from this lower level. The ceiling above the bar area is copper paneled with a copper frieze, reminiscent of an old lodge bar.

There is also a secure Gun Room that uses a fingerprint scanner for access just off the bar area and a neon sign for Schmidt beer, which, for some reason, is a family favorite.