Airbnb Design: Inside MidMod Minnesota Lakehouse Featured by Architectural Digest

Some vacation rentals are beautiful. Others tell a story.

Tucked away on 30 private acres of Northwoods forest just outside Grand Rapids, Minnesota, MidMod Minnesota Lakehouse is one of those rare homes that stops you mid-scroll. Soaring wood beams, walls of glass framing a quiet lake, and interiors restored with real reverence for the era — it’s easy to see why Architectural Digest recently named it among the most scenic lake house Airbnbs in the country.

Built in 1955 and architect-designed, this home has been thoughtfully preserved through the decades and just as thoughtfully elevated for modern stays. Step into the open-concept great room and you’re met with vaulted ceilings, a wall of glass, and a striking double-sided stone fireplace anchoring the space — the kind of detail that makes a room feel both expansive and completely grounded at the same time.

But what makes this property extraordinary isn’t just the architecture — it’s the intention behind it. Every detail here orients you toward connection: to the land, to yourself, to the people you’re with, and to real, unhurried rest. Wake to sunrise quietly breaking over the water. Coffee on the dock. The cedar sauna at sunset. This is mid-century modern design doing exactly what it was always meant to do — not just looking beautiful, but making room for a slower, more grounded way to be somewhere.

Refining the Story, Elevating the Stay

I first connected with Jennifer and Robert this spring while helping refine their listing through one of my Airbnb Listing Optimization reviews. We focused on making the listing feel as immersive as the property itself — helping potential guests picture themselves there before they ever clicked “Book.” We also played with a few design touches together, including boutique spa-inspired details that turned their rustic sauna into a genuinely elevated part of the guest experience. Watching this property continue to evolve has been such a joy.

Today, Jennifer and Robert are sharing the story behind MidMod Minnesota Lakehouse — what inspired the restoration, the design choices that made the biggest difference, and their best advice for creating an unforgettable vacation rental.

Photo Credits to Ashley Beaman, Emily Isakson and Mandy Fries.

MidMod Minnesota Lakehouse- Airbnb Design Interview

Tell us the story behind the MidMod Minnesota Lakehouse — what inspired you to create this space?

My husband and I were daydreaming about a place to spend summers with family when we stumbled across the listing for the lake house, and once we found it, we couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was even more breathtaking in person: 30 acres of quiet forest, an almost-private lake with only one neighbor, a small log cabin, a sauna, and then the house itself. We’d lived in a mid-century ranch for years, but nothing prepared us for what it feels like to walk into an architect-designed mid-century modern home–huge windows in every room, massive wood beams, a double-sided fireplace, a floating staircase. We knew we’d found something rare and needed to act before anyone else discovered it.

 

We live in Texas, so the plan was always to use the house ourselves for part of the year and offer it as a rental the rest of the year. It needed real restoration, and even though we’d done remodels before, this project deserved professionals who knew how to restore a mid-century house intentionally. We partnered with Keep, a Minneapolis architecture and design firm, and Grand Rapids-based Edwards LaPlant Construction, and the work happened over the winter of 2025. We spent the following summer furnishing and decorating the house (as well as swimming, paddling, and entertaining) before it went live at the end of August.

It still feels like we have a hidden mid-century gem in the Northwoods!

What kind of experience did you want guests to have when they walk through the door?

We were lucky to live here ourselves the first summer before opening to guests, so I got to have the experience I wanted others to have. The house is 4,000 square feet, but it’s the roofline, materials, and windows that make you feel like you are someplace truly special. There’s so much glass that the lake and forest become part of every room. I’m writing this from the dining table, and my eyes are drawn to the sparkling water every time I lift my eyes.

I think the experience is one of generous, easy luxury: rooms and seating areas for everyone in your group to spread out, along with the simple pleasure of watching the day progress. Loons paddle by, light shifts on the water, wind moves through the trees. And then there’s everything that happens outdoors: walking the trails with our dog, naps in a hammock under the pines, and roasting marshmallows with the kids around the big fire pit in the evening.  It’s absolutely heavenly.

What makes the MidMod Minnesota Lakehouse feel unique and special?

Minnesota has so many beautiful natural areas, and truly does have 10,000+ lakes. There’s a lot of internal tourism here, and people from the Twin Cities and other urban areas love getting away “Up North.” So the real challenge in year one was differentiating ourselves from the many beautiful cabins and resorts (what Midwesterners call small collections of cabins) throughout northern Minnesota.

We’re equally in love with the house and the setting. Guests are usually drawn in first by the architecture: the vintage wood paneling, the retro velvet sofa, the taconite fireplace, the floating staircase. But in my opinion, the quiet, non-motorized lake and acres of forest are just as special. Most lakes come with neighbors and boats zooming around, which has its place, but the MidMod is for enjoying the stillness of the forest and water. That’s a big part of what makes it magical.

What’s your favorite moment at the lakehouse — morning coffee on the dock, cozy nights inside, something else?

It’s hard to pick just one, but we recently set up Adirondack and lounge chairs around a Solo Stove just outside the kitchen, overlooking the lake. It’s become our favorite spot for coffee in the morning and a cocktail in the evening. It’s a great place to enjoy the view, the breeze, the sounds of the lake and forest. The frogs have a loud social hour every evening, which always makes me laugh, and despite Minnesota’s reputation, mosquitoes haven’t been much of an issue for us.

I’m also a huge fan of cold water, so swimming out on the lake completely by myself is my very favorite thing to do.

Before refining the space, what felt like it wasn’t quite working — and what changes made the biggest difference? ( like the small Sauna changes etc)

We’ve never worked with a designer before, and while we wanted this place to be our part-time home and feel homey, we didn’t want to overfill it. So we moved slowly and intentionally,  rearranging furniture, and only adding decor once we saw a specific space would benefit from it. 

After we finished up work with the designer and spent more time at the lake house over the winter, we got a sense for what was missing. It was mostly cozy touches indoors, including a few more warm throws, pillows, art, and lamps. Those definitely made the house feel more pulled together. 

The sauna was always a standalone space. It’s a little ways from the house, and very rustic, and just hadn’t been a priority before. Andrea’s suggestions to add some more spa-like comforts and decor similar to the house’s made a huge difference.

As you worked through the design updates, what helped the space start to feel more cohesive and elevated?

We owe the cohesiveness of the space entirely to our architecture and design team, a wonderful married couple who made suggestions for everything from rugs and sofas to linens and lighting. I’m naturally more of a maximalist and had never stuck to a color palette before, so I was honestly shocked by what a difference it made!

Were there any small design changes from Mammamode’s listing optimization and design review that ended up having a surprisingly big impact for guests?

I think our listing is much more engaging now, and less descriptive. I love Andrea’s focus on helping potential guests imagine themselves in the home. 

On the design side, her suggestions for the sauna made a huge difference, both in guest comfort and decor. The new towels, slippers, and art get a lot of love from friends and guests, and the framed sauna guidelines were a small touch that mattered. It used to feel like a rustic space that was separate from the house. Now it’s more comfortable and much better tied in.

What is the best advice you could give a brand new host starting out? 

I would recommend investing in marketing from the get-go. I now know people are genuinely interested in the process of getting a vacation rental ready to launch, and you don’t have to wait until everything is just so. My perfectionism kept me from getting started for way too long, and it cost me.

Unless your background is in marketing, it’s worth investing in help with brand identity, your guest avatar, your listing, and your website, so you’re speaking to exactly the right people. We worked with Brosy Studio for marketing, Stina x George for brand identity, The Fireside Kind for photography, and Mammamode for listing optimization. That support made a real difference. Instagram is great for spreading the word, but Meta and/or Google ads will get you there faster. It’s intimidating to spend money before you’re bringing much in, but it can shorten the runway to actually making money.

How has using a property manager helped you run MidMod from Austin? Any advice for hosts thinking of running an Airbnb remotely

It depends a lot on where you are and where your property is. For us, I think we’d have run into real problems without a local property manager — the size of the house and property, the rural location, the severity of the weather here, and the distance from Texas all factor in. We manage two vacation rentals at home, but managing one remotely, in a market and climate we didn’t know, felt intimidating. Connecting with Grand RapidsBnB early on made it feel possible, and their team has been excellent. It also helps that we spend about three months a year here, mostly summer with a few fall and winter weekends, so we’ve gotten more familiar and confident with the property, the area, and the business side.  

Great design tells a story

Guests don’t simply book a beautiful home—they book the feeling that home creates. Every room at MidMod Lakehouse invites guests to slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy the simple luxury of being present. You can book a stay at Mid Mod Minnesota Lakehouse here.

Your Airbnb listing matters just as much as your design

A beautiful property deserves a listing that tells its story. Rather than simply listing amenities, your description should help guests imagine sipping coffee by the lake, gathering around the fire, or unwinding after a sauna. Those emotional details often make the difference between someone scrolling past—or clicking Book.

Want Help Elevating Your Airbnb Listing?

Even beautifully designed vacation rentals can miss opportunities if their listing doesn’t capture what makes them special. After helping more than 11,000 Airbnb hosts, one thing I’ve learned is that the most memorable vacation rentals are the most intentional. MidMod Lakehouse is a wonderful example of that.

My Airbnb Listing Optimization Service combines years of hosting experience with interior design, guest psychology, and Airbnb best practices to help your listing stand out in a crowded market.

Sometimes it’s not about renovating your space—it’s about presenting it in a way that helps guests instantly picture themselves there.

If you’d like fresh eyes on your listing, I’d love to help.

👉 Learn more about my Airbnb Listing Optimization Service.

Frequently Asked Questions- Airbnb Design

What makes great Airbnb design?

Great Airbnb design combines beautiful interiors with thoughtful hospitality. The best spaces make guests feel something the moment they see the listing—and continue that experience throughout their stay.

Is Airbnb listing optimization worth it?

Yes. A professionally optimized listing can better communicate your property’s unique story, improve guest engagement, and help convert more views into bookings.

What are some small Airbnb upgrades guests notice?

Luxury linens, layered lighting, cozy throws, spa-inspired bathrooms or saunas, thoughtful welcome touches, and a well-written listing often make a surprisingly big impact.

MidMod Minnesota Lakehouse is proof that unforgettable vacation rentals are built through thoughtful design, intentional hospitality, and a clear vision. I’m so grateful the owners shared their story, and I hope it inspires you to think about not only how your Airbnb looks—but also how it makes guests feel.