Headquartered in Wayzata, MN · Building on Lake Minnetonka for 70+ Years
Custom Home Builder
Wayzata, MN
Stonewood is headquartered in Wayzata. We have built lakefront estates, architect-designed teardown-rebuilds, and bespoke custom homes throughout this community and the full Lake Minnetonka corridor for over seventy years. Wayzata is not a market we serve. It is our home.
Wayzata, Minnesota
Stonewood: Wayzata’s Luxury Custom Home Builder
There is only one builder in the Lake Minnetonka corridor who can say that Wayzata is home: Stonewood. Our offices are in Wayzata. Our team lives and works in Wayzata. The permitting officials, the DNR shoreline coordinators, the architects, and the trade partners we work with on every project are the same people we have built relationships with over decades in this specific community. When a client engages Stonewood for a Wayzata project, they are not hiring a regional builder who treats this as one of many markets. They are hiring the builder for whom Wayzata is the center of everything.
Wayzata, Minnesota occupies a singular position in the Lake Minnetonka residential hierarchy. Situated on the lake’s northeastern shore in Hennepin County, just twelve miles from downtown Minneapolis via Interstate 394, it is the Lake Minnetonka community with the most complete combination of assets: direct lakefront access, a walkable downtown with acclaimed dining and boutique retail, the Wayzata School District consistently ranked among the finest in the state, and a residential character shaped by over 150 years of Minnesota’s most accomplished families choosing this specific stretch of shoreline as their permanent address. The result is a real estate market where the most significant properties, the lakefront estates on Ferndale Road Peninsula, the Wayzata Bay waterfront homes, the architecturally distinguished residences in Locust Hills and Wayzata Highlands, represent some of the most coveted and highest-value residential properties in the entire Upper Midwest.
Stonewood has built on these streets, on these bays, and for these clients for over seventy years. That history is not a marketing claim. It is the foundation of every project we undertake in Wayzata today. Stonewood is Wayzata’s builder.
Wayzata: The Crown Jewel of Lake Minnetonka
Why Wayzata Stands Alone on Lake Minnetonka
Wayzata is the Lake Minnetonka community that every other Lake Minnetonka community is measured against. Its position on the lake’s northeastern shore, directly adjacent to the bay that bears its name, gives it the most complete combination of lake access and urban proximity of any community on the water: twelve miles from Minneapolis via I-394, walkable to one of the finest small-town downtowns in the Upper Midwest, and directly on a lake that has defined Minnesota’s residential aspirations since the mid-1800s. When Minneapolis’s most prominent families began seeking summer retreats in the 1860s, Wayzata was their first destination. That original pattern of aspiration, investment, and prestige has not changed in 150 years. It has deepened.
The city’s residential character reflects its history. Early and mid-century estates that have been renovated to contemporary standards while preserving their architectural character line the lakefront corridors. The magnificent Ferndale Road Peninsula, where land values have historically compared to California’s most exclusive coastal communities, hosts some of the most architecturally significant residential properties in Minnesota, on lots with 150, 200, even 300-plus feet of Lake Minnetonka shoreline. Wayzata Bay’s own waterfront, directly adjacent to the downtown and the Wayzata Yacht Club, offers one of the most sought-after residential positions on the entire lake: the ability to walk from your dock to dinner at Bellecour or Gianni’s Steakhouse without getting into a car. No other Lake Minnetonka community offers this. Wayzata offers only this.
Wayzata’s Luxury Custom Home Market
Wayzata’s custom home market is one of the most active and demanding in the entire Twin Cities metro. The combination of irreplaceable lakefront positions, the Wayzata School District’s consistently top-ranked status, and the city’s proximity to Minneapolis creates a residential market where buyers invest with conviction and hold for generations. New construction in Wayzata happens primarily through two paths: teardown-rebuilds on the city’s established lakefront and interior lots, where older structures are replaced by architect-designed custom homes that fully realize the potential of their irreplaceable sites; and development of the remaining build lots in Wayzata’s sought-after neighborhoods, including Wayzata Highlands, Locust Hills, and the estates surrounding Stonecrest of Wayzata.
Stonewood builds throughout both paths. We are experienced in the full teardown-rebuild scope that Wayzata’s most coveted lots require: the DNR shoreline compliance for lakefront parcels, the Hennepin County watershed management requirements, the City of Wayzata’s specific permitting process, and the design standards expected by clients who build on Ferndale Road, Wayzata Bay, or Locust Hills. We are equally experienced in new construction on Wayzata’s remaining build sites, bringing architectural vision and technical execution to lots in the city’s newest and most sought-after residential corridors. In every case, the Stonewood approach is the same: original design specific to the lot, complete budget transparency before a contract is signed, and quality execution that reflects the standard Wayzata demands.
Wayzata’s Landmark Neighborhoods: What Stonewood Knows
Wayzata’s residential landscape is defined by a series of neighborhoods and corridors that each have distinct characters, histories, and market dynamics. Stonewood has built in all of them.
Ferndale Road Peninsula is the most prestigious residential address in Wayzata and one of the most prestigious in Minnesota. The peninsula extends into Lake Minnetonka south of the downtown, hosting estates on deeply private lots with long stretches of lakefront that have been held by prominent Minnesota families for generations. Land values here have historically compared to the most exclusive coastal markets in the country. New construction and teardown-rebuilds on Ferndale Road are among the most significant residential projects in the state, and Stonewood has the experience and the design relationships to execute them to the standard they require.
Wayzata Bay is the city’s most walkable lakefront corridor. The homes on the bay’s northern and western shore are steps from downtown, from the Wayzata Yacht Club, from Wayzata Beach, and from the Dakota Rail Regional Trail. Residences here offer the full Wayzata lifestyle in its most concentrated form: on the water, in the village, with the city at your doorstep. Stonewood builds and manages teardown-rebuilds throughout the Wayzata Bay residential corridor.
Locust Hills is one of Wayzata’s most sought-after residential neighborhoods: wooded lots, lake views from elevated positions, and a community character that combines privacy with easy walking access to Lake Street and downtown. Custom builds in Locust Hills consistently rank among the most architecturally distinguished in the city. Stonewood builds throughout Locust Hills.
Wayzata Highlands and the streets of the city’s broader residential interior offer proximity to the lake, walkability to downtown, and the Wayzata School District address that drives consistent buyer demand. Stonewood builds throughout Wayzata Highlands and the city’s interior neighborhoods for clients who want the full Wayzata lifestyle on non-lakefront sites.
Ferndale Road Peninsula
Wayzata’s most prestigious residential address and one of the finest in all of Minnesota. Deep-private lakefront estates on lots of 150 to 300-plus feet of Lake Minnetonka shoreline. Land values historically comparable to the most exclusive coastal markets in the United States. Stonewood builds and manages teardown-rebuilds on Ferndale Road.
Wayzata Bay and Browns Bay
The lakefront corridor directly adjacent to Wayzata’s downtown, offering the unique combination of private dock access, Lake Minnetonka water frontage, and walking distance to the city’s dining and cultural scene. Browns Bay, adjacent to Wayzata Bay, hosts luxury estates of exceptional quality. Stonewood builds throughout both bay corridors.
Locust Hills
One of Wayzata’s most coveted residential neighborhoods: wooded, elevated lots with lake views, private character, and walking access to downtown and Lake Street. Custom builds in Locust Hills set the architectural standard for the city’s interior residential market. Stonewood builds custom homes throughout Locust Hills.
Wayzata Highlands and Stonecrest
Wayzata Highlands offers walkable proximity to Lake Minnetonka and downtown on generous lots in one of the city’s most desirable residential settings. Stonecrest of Wayzata provides estate-scale living on larger parcels adjacent to the city. Stonewood builds throughout both neighborhoods.
Wayzata Schools: Why the School District Drives Everything
The Wayzata Public School District is consistently ranked among the top three school districts in Minnesota and among the finest in the Upper Midwest. Wayzata High School, Central Middle School, and the district’s network of elementary schools, including Sunset Elementary, Oakwood Elementary, and Plymouth Creek Elementary, serve a community with a deep tradition of academic achievement and an engaged parent community that invests in educational excellence at every level. For Stonewood clients with families, the Wayzata School District is frequently the decisive factor in the choice of Wayzata over every other Lake Minnetonka community, and it shapes every home we design here: spaces built for serious academic engagement, the active family lifestyle that Wayzata’s trails and lake access support, and the outdoor living environments that make Wayzata childhood memories.
Downtown Wayzata and the Lake Minnetonka Lifestyle
Wayzata’s downtown is the finest lakeside village in the Twin Cities metro. Lake Street East runs parallel to the Wayzata Bay shoreline, anchoring a walkable district of acclaimed restaurants, including Bellecour Bakery, Gianni’s Steakhouse, 6Smith, and a rotating roster of culinary destinations that have made Wayzata a dining destination for the entire region. The historic Wayzata Depot, preserved as a museum and community space, frames the waterfront district. The Wayzata Yacht Club, Wayzata Beach, and the municipal boat slips provide direct lake access steps from the downtown. The Panoway on Wayzata Bay offers a walkable waterfront park experience unique in the metro. The Dakota Rail Regional Trail deposits cyclists and walkers directly into the heart of Lake Street. Wayzata Country Club and Woodhill Country Club round out the private amenity offering for residents who want the full lake corridor lifestyle. Every Stonewood home in Wayzata is designed to engage with this community, to be a home that participates fully in the Wayzata life.
Custom Home Values in Wayzata MN
Wayzata consistently ranks as the highest-value residential market on Lake Minnetonka and one of the highest-value in all of Minnesota. Lakefront estates on Ferndale Road Peninsula and Wayzata Bay represent among the most significant residential properties in the state, with top-tier properties trading at eight figures. The broader Wayzata luxury market, including premier neighborhoods like Locust Hills, Wayzata Highlands, and Stonecrest, trades at price points that reflect the full combination of school district quality, lake access, downtown walkability, and Minneapolis proximity that no other community in the metro offers at this scale. Stonewood provides full pre-construction budget modeling for every Wayzata client, so you understand the complete investment before a contract is signed.
Request a Pre-Construction Consultation ›What Stonewood Builds in Wayzata
Wayzata Custom Home Services
Stonewood offers a complete range of luxury custom home services in Wayzata, MN: from lakefront estate construction on Wayzata Bay and Ferndale Road to architect-designed teardown-rebuilds in Locust Hills and Wayzata Highlands. Every project begins with the same commitment: your vision, executed without compromise in the community we call home.
Lakefront and Waterfront Estates
Stonewood designs and builds custom lakefront homes throughout Wayzata’s Lake Minnetonka shoreline, including Ferndale Road Peninsula, Wayzata Bay, and Browns Bay. Full DNR setback compliance, impervious surface planning, dock engineering, and lake-view-optimized architecture on every project. This is what Stonewood was founded to do.
Teardown and Rebuild
Wayzata’s most coveted lots often carry older structures that no longer reflect the standard of the site. Stonewood manages complete teardown and custom rebuild from assessment through certificate of occupancy: demolition, all DNR and city permitting, and full construction delivering a home worthy of an irreplaceable Wayzata address.
Build on Your Lot
Have a Wayzata lot ready to build? Stonewood’s design-build team works from your lot’s specific characteristics: water orientation, tree canopy, topography, setbacks, and downtown proximity, to design a custom home that belongs exactly where it will stand and nowhere else in Wayzata.
Luxury Design and Build
From initial concept through certificate of occupancy, Stonewood’s integrated design-build process delivers a single point of responsibility, a unified team, and a seamless build experience. Architecture, construction, and project management under one roof, right here in Wayzata.
High-End Remodeling and Additions
For Wayzata homeowners who want to transform an existing home rather than replace it, Stonewood delivers luxury remodeling and additions held to the same standards as our new construction, with full architectural design and dedicated project management throughout.
Architect-Designed Custom Homes
Stonewood partners with the Lake Minnetonka corridor’s most distinguished architects to deliver homes of genuine architectural significance in Wayzata, from contemporary lakefront estates that engage the water with expansive glass and refined materiality to traditional builds of enduring character that honor the Wayzata residential vernacular.
The Stonewood Process: How We Build Custom Homes in Wayzata
Building a custom home is the largest financial decision most people ever make. At Stonewood, our process is designed so that at every single stage, from the first conversation to the day you receive your keys, you know exactly what is happening, why it is happening, and what comes next. Transparency is not a feature of our process. It is the foundation of it. And in Wayzata, where we are neighbors with our clients, that commitment is personal.
Discovery and Vision Alignment
Every Stonewood project in Wayzata begins with a structured discovery meeting, not a sales call. We want to understand how you live: how your family uses space, what your relationship to Lake Minnetonka looks like, how you entertain, how you use the water, and what your investment parameters are. We learn about your lot, your school district priorities, your timeline, and your aesthetic instincts. Because Stonewood is based in Wayzata, this is also a conversation between neighbors. We know the streets you are building on. We have likely built on them before. This is the context we bring before a single design line is drawn.
Site Analysis and Pre-Construction Budget
Before design begins, Stonewood conducts a thorough analysis of your Wayzata lot. For lakefront parcels on Wayzata Bay, Ferndale Road, or Browns Bay, this includes a full review of DNR shoreline regulations, impervious surface limits, setback requirements from the ordinary high-water mark, and dock access conditions. For interior Wayzata lots, we evaluate soil conditions, drainage patterns, topography, tree inventory, and utility access. Simultaneously, Stonewood prepares a pre-construction budget: a detailed, line-by-line cost model built around your program and your specific Wayzata site. You will know what your home will cost before we begin design. No surprises. No bait-and-switch.
Architectural Design and Custom Floor Plans
Stonewood works with the Lake Minnetonka corridor’s most distinguished architects, professionals who know Wayzata the way we do, to develop custom homes of genuine architectural significance. The design process is collaborative and iterative: you are not handed a plan and asked to approve it. Design evolves through working sessions where your feedback directly shapes the floor plan layout, ceiling heights, window placements, material palettes, and the fundamental orientation of the home toward the water or the landscape. For Wayzata lakefront clients, this phase is about building a home that Lake Minnetonka deserves: one where the design and the setting are inseparable.
Permitting, DNR Coordination, and Pre-Construction Planning
Stonewood manages all permitting with the City of Wayzata, Hennepin County, and the Minnesota DNR on your behalf. For lakefront builds, this includes DNR shoreline permit applications, impervious surface compliance documentation, and any required water resource review for shoreline alterations. Our team’s familiarity with the City of Wayzata’s specific permitting processes, with the city’s planning officials, and with the DNR’s shoreline management requirements for the Lake Minnetonka watershed is the deepest available in the market. We have been doing this in Wayzata for over seventy years.
Construction and Real-Time Transparency
Stonewood’s construction phase is where our commitment to transparency becomes most tangible. Every Wayzata client has access to a dedicated project dashboard with live visibility into schedule milestones, budget reconciliation, change orders, and photo updates. Weekly progress reports include photo evidence of completed work and detailed notes on upcoming milestones. Significant decisions or changes require your explicit approval before Stonewood proceeds. You will never receive a surprise invoice or discover that a change was made without your knowledge. This level of accountability is not standard in the custom home industry. At Stonewood, in Wayzata, it is non-negotiable.
Quality Control and Inspections
Stonewood employs a multi-point quality control protocol at every critical phase of construction: framing, rough mechanicals, insulation, drywall, trim, and final finishes. Material verification confirms that specified products are actually installed. We coordinate all municipal inspections required by Wayzata building code and, where warranted, engage independent third-party quality audits. For lakefront builds, this includes inspection of shoreline drainage infrastructure specific to Lake Minnetonka’s regulatory requirements. The standard we hold our Wayzata projects to is higher than code. It has to be, because we live here too.
Closing, Walkthrough, and Warranty
As your Wayzata custom home approaches completion, Stonewood conducts a detailed pre-closing walkthrough to identify and resolve any punch list items before your move-in date. We provide complete documentation packages including warranty information for all installed systems, appliance manuals, paint colors and material specifications, and contact information for all major trade contractors. Stonewood stands behind every home we build with a comprehensive builder’s warranty. In Wayzata, where we live and work alongside the families we build for, that warranty is a commitment between neighbors.
Technology-Driven Transparency on Every Wayzata Build
Your Project Dashboard
Stonewood clients in Wayzata have 24/7 access to a dedicated project dashboard with live visibility into schedule milestones, budget reconciliation, change orders, and photo documentation. Whether you are at your Wayzata property daily or traveling for work, your project is always fully transparent and always accessible.
Comprehensive Visual Documentation
- Drone Photography: Aerial progress documentation of your Wayzata build capturing roofline, shoreline orientation, dock access, site development, and the relationship of the home to Lake Minnetonka at every major construction milestone.
- 360-Degree Photography: Immersive interior walkthroughs so you can experience your Stonewood home at any construction phase, from anywhere in the world.
- Before and After Documentation: Especially important for teardown-rebuild projects on Wayzata’s lakefront lots, these complete photographic records serve insurance, warranty, and personal history purposes for decades.
- Weekly Photo Reports: Every progress report includes photo evidence with written notes on completed work and upcoming milestones. Never a vague status update without visual proof.
Financial Controls That Protect Your Investment
- Milestone-Tied Payments: Structured payment schedules tied to verified, completed milestones, not arbitrary dates on a calendar.
- Independent Verification: Work completion is independently verified before any draw is released.
- Change Order Approval: No change moves forward without your written approval. No exceptions, at any stage of the Wayzata build.
- Budget Reconciliation: Regular budget reconciliation and cash-flow forecasting throughout your build, so you always know exactly where the project stands financially.
Common Questions
Wayzata Custom Home Builder FAQ
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Stonewood is headquartered in Wayzata and has built luxury custom homes throughout the Lake Minnetonka corridor for over seventy years. This is our home. Contact us today to schedule your discovery meeting and let us show you what building with Wayzata’s builder truly means.
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Where Stonewood Builds in Wayzata
Stonewood custom homes are built throughout Wayzata: on the shores of Lake Minnetonka’s most legendary bays and peninsulas, in the city’s premier interior neighborhoods, and throughout every residential corridor that defines one of Minnesota’s most distinguished communities.
Most Prestigious Address, Wayzata MN
Ferndale Road Peninsula
Ferndale Road Peninsula is Wayzata’s most coveted residential address and one of the finest in all of Minnesota. Estates on deeply private lots with 150 to 300-plus feet of Lake Minnetonka shoreline define a residential standard that has historically compared to the country’s most exclusive coastal markets. Stonewood builds and manages teardown-rebuilds throughout Ferndale Road.
Downtown Waterfront, Wayzata MN
Wayzata Bay and Lake Street East
Wayzata Bay, directly adjacent to the city’s acclaimed downtown, offers the unique combination of Lake Minnetonka water frontage and walking distance to Bellecour, Gianni’s, and the full Wayzata dining and cultural scene. Lake Street East is the heart of the downtown corridor. Stonewood builds and manages teardown-rebuilds throughout the Wayzata Bay waterfront.
Premier Interior Neighborhood, Wayzata MN
Locust Hills
Locust Hills is one of Wayzata’s most coveted residential neighborhoods: wooded lots with lake views from elevated positions, private character, and walking access to downtown and Lake Street. Custom builds in Locust Hills set the architectural standard for the city’s interior residential market. Stonewood builds throughout Locust Hills.
Adjacent Bay, Wayzata MN
Browns Bay and Wayzata Bay Corridor
Browns Bay, adjacent to Wayzata Bay, hosts luxury estate homes with pristine water access and exceptional quality in one of the most private lakefront settings adjacent to the downtown. Stonewood builds and manages projects throughout the Browns Bay residential corridor.
Walkable Lake Community, Wayzata MN
Wayzata Highlands
Wayzata Highlands is a sought-after neighborhood offering walkable proximity to Lake Minnetonka and downtown Wayzata on generous lots in one of the city’s most desirable residential settings. Stonewood builds throughout Wayzata Highlands for clients who want the full Wayzata lifestyle on expertly designed non-lakefront sites.
Hilltop Estate Enclave, Wayzata MN
Minnehaha Curve and Rice Street Area
Minnehaha Curve and the elevated residential streets near Rice Street and Broadway offer some of Wayzata’s most prestigious hilltop addresses, with elevated positions, mature tree canopies, and a historic residential character. Stonewood builds custom homes and manages projects throughout this distinguished Wayzata corridor.
Estate Neighborhood, Wayzata MN
Stonecrest of Wayzata
Stonecrest of Wayzata offers estate-scale residential living on larger parcels adjacent to the city, combining the Wayzata School District, lake access, and spacious site conditions that attract buyers who want the Wayzata address with room to build ambitiously. Stonewood builds throughout Stonecrest.
Downtown Walk, Wayzata MN
La Salle Street and New Wayzata
La Salle Street and the New Wayzata neighborhood represent some of the city’s most active new construction corridors, with architect-designed custom homes on walkable streets blocks from Lake Street and the Wayzata waterfront. Stonewood builds throughout the La Salle Street and New Wayzata area.
Trail and Lake Access, Wayzata MN
Dakota Rail Trail and Panoway Area
The residential neighborhoods adjacent to the Dakota Rail Regional Trail and Panoway on Wayzata Bay offer Wayzata addresses with direct trail connectivity and walkable lake access. Stonewood builds custom estate homes throughout the trail-connected and Panoway-adjacent residential areas of Wayzata.