Editor's Pick - Home For the Family
Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine - February 2008
Awad + Koontz
Project: Remodelor's Showcase
Project #63 in Minneapolis
Project Scope: The goal for this South Minneapolis remodel was clear; A family with three young children, a stay-at-home mom, and a work-from-home dad needed to make life easier and more functional. This meant adding a home office, opening the kitchen, and creating more everyday living space. At first, the homeowners were daunted by the prospect of a messy remodel. They weren't married to their home, they thought, so they hunted around for new houses but always came up short. In time, they realized they loved their neighborhood and welcomed the chance to tailor a project to meet their needs.
Results: According to Ali Awad, one of the main challenges of remodeling and adding on to an older home is making sure the new spaces "make sense" with the old spaces. In this case, Awad + Koontz used the home's original dining room as a natural segue to the new kitchen. The homeowners wanted to have the option to entertain in the formal dining room, but knew the kitchen and family room would become the heart of the home. Awad reconfigured a narrow galley kitchen into pantry storage and a powder room, and then added a new kitchen, mudroom, and sitting/play area to the back of the home. The mudroom, easily accessible from the garage, has built-in coat cabinets and a handsome interior window. The kitchen boasts a spacious cooking zone with a matte granite island designed to do double-duty as a table, maple floors to match the originals and custom cabinetry.
In addition to the new kitchen and family space, the homeowners wanted to rearrange the second level to accommodate a fourth bedroom, a home office, and a retreat-style owners' suite. Awad + Koontz rose to the challenge and did so in less than 500 square feet to, at least in part, preserve the architectural integrity of the Arts and Crafts home. The fourth bedroom, something of a rarity in Minneapolis homes, ensures that everyone in the family gets a private nook. The home office is an extension of the owners' suite that allows the occupant to, during the workday, disconnect from the buoyant noises of the brood down below. The owners' suite is a cozy yet open and airy space with large double-hung windows that let in abundant natural light.
Natural light floods the main level, too. It's practically the defining element of this project that combines architectural charm and character with comfortable, casual spaces designed to withstand the daily bustle. –K.R.
© 2008 MSP Communications, Inc.