Minnetonka Couple Brings the Northwoods To Hopkins

Carol Gallagher and Otteau Christiansen have always enjoyed decorating their cabin on Lake Vermilion. Gallagher’s ability to design a unifying North Woods theme was so strong that their cabin was even featured in the book Cabinology and in Mpls St. Paul Magazine.

But there’s only so much space in a cabin for interior design—and only so much money to buy the required accessories. So Gallagher and Christiansen found a way to keep pursuing their love: They started their own businesses specializing in cabin décor.

Lake Lodge & Cabin is a Hopkins business open four days a month and by appointment. The Minnetonka couple hosted their first four-day sell in June and have a fourth sale taking place today through Sunday.

The business is tucked into a plain building on Hopkins’ south side, but the entry to the store feels like walking through the front door of a Northwoods cabin—complete with 100-year-old canoes hanging from the ceiling, buckhorn-handle fireplace pokers, trophy animals and vintage furniture.

Other rooms follow themes, as well. There’s the boathouse, the kitchen, the dining room and the cowboy room. The couple even has a friendly dog named “The Dude”—as in The Big Lebowski—who adds to the folksy atmosphere.

“People come in, and it’s like a museum to them,” Gallagher said.

She and Christiansen shop estate sales, flea markets and auctions to find just the right items, but it takes work to make everything looking as nice as they like. Christiansen has a workshop in the back of the building where he cleans, polishes, paints, fixes and, in some cases, repurposes the items they acquired.

Because the couple has a full-time video production company that keeps them busy, the operation is an intentionally small one—with only a few friends and family helping a key times. But for Gallagher and Christiansen, the store is a labor of love that allows them to continue pursuing their passion.

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If you go …

Lake Lodge & Cabin’s September occasional sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 15 through Sept. 18. The business is located at 1515 Fifth Street South in Hopkins, just south of Excelsior Boulevard off 11th Avenue.

Twin Cities author and architect Dale Mulfinger will from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Mulfinger’s books include The Architecture of Edwin Lundie, The Cabin, The Getaway Home, and Cabinology.

The business will be open four days a month through November. It is also open by appointment. To make an appointment, call Carol Gallagher at 612-201-1352. For more information, visit the company’s website.