The recent buyers of this suburban Minneapolis residence sought out a place aligned with contemporary lifestyle, offering easy connection to nature along with the comfort of being near an urban area.
However, upon falling in love with this 100-year-old Tudor-style revival home, they understood that they might require some assistance to restore it.
house design
They believed it was crucial to respect the heritage of the property while expanding it and fitting it with amenities suitable for a contemporary household.
Close teamwork between an interior designer
Martha Drayton
, and the group at
PKA Architecture
proved the perfect solution.
Ryan Fish from PKA states, “The design team tackled the renovation and expansion of this historical home with reverence, functionality, and joy.” Join us as we explore how the final outcome harmoniously blends these essential elements.
The new
kitchen
located in a substantial extension at the rear of the dwelling. It is airy and roomy with
white cabinets
The space has been turned to face the creek, with the rejuvenating green landscape enveloping it. It features an atypical triangular shape.
kitchen island
turned out to be the perfect match for the area. An intelligent blue glass tile splashback in a lantern design introduces a touch of color and pattern into the pristine white setting.
The kitchen proved to be the toughest part of the project for the whole design team. The unusual angles presented major challenges when considering the efficiency of the kitchen layout. Nevertheless, through multiple revisions, we managed to establish an actual working kitchen triangle. Incorporating both the coffered ceiling and the V-groove elements added essential historic touches and clearly delineated different areas within the space,” explains Ryan.
It’s within this recently constructed section of the house where we can truly admire how skillfully the architects and design team have merged the old with the new elements. The space features white cabinets and
countertops
Give the primary kitchen a modern touch, yet glance into the
butler’s pantry
, featuring wooden cabinetry that has been painted in Benjamin Moore white
Providence Blue 1636
, and you will notice that this house seamlessly blends modern and traditional styles with equal finesse.
Even though the homeowners initially thought about adding a contemporary glass-box extension, they eventually chose a renovation that respected the original house’s Tudor architecture and meticulous workmanship. However, it doesn’t stick strictly to tradition; we certainly gave the design an update to fit well with a modern family of six as well as accommodate possible live-in grandparents,” explains Martha.
The
home bar
Part of the casual dining area within the open-plan kitchen adopts the same Benjamin Moore Providence Blue color found in the butler’s pantry.
“We remained faithful to the house and its traditional American aesthetic, yet we managed to add some flair. The bar section, for instance, includes upper cabinetry adorned with antique glass arranged in a crosshatch pattern, which seemed fitting for this home,” explains Martha.
‘The historic
sunken living room
At the forefront of the property lies a space cherished by everyone on our team,” states Ryan from PKA. “This particular area has remained entirely true to its initial appearance. Our design group incorporated a striking bookshelf wall and refreshed as well as delineated an existing fireplace alongside a cozy reading corner.
We adore the vintage allure of this
home library
The living room, featuring walls lined with books, classic club chairs, and an overall warm ambiance.
Even though the design of this area still reflects what it was like when the house was constructed back in 1927, numerous traditional-style fixtures have been updated.
bookshelves
Included are fresh updates, as interior designer Martha shares: “We completely revamped everything and modernized the fireplace with new built-in features. We selected materials that seemed like they were part of the house from the beginning. The aim was for this space to feel warm and inviting, and we aimed to maintain that vibe across the entire home,” she states.
It’s the
family living room
At the rear of the home, which sees the most activity, an open layout connects seamlessly with the kitchen. Featuring walls of windows, it creates an ideal central meeting place for this bustling family, offering them simple passage to the outdoors.
“As you navigate through the home, the areas gradually enlarge and provide panoramic vistas of the creek, with an emphasis on fostering intimate and communal experiences throughout the residence,” explains Ryan.
The architects and designers assured that their renovation would bring a touch of joy, and this airy, luminous space under the rafters undoubtedly achieves that objective.
This area adeptly merges the contrasting ideas of openness and intimacy, achieving both an airy feel and a snug ambiance through tasteful decor. The natural, muted color palette includes furniture such as a woven-top table, a retro-style rug, along with a leather couch designed by Gerard van den Berg.
Benjamin Moore White Dove
All walls have their role to play.
This unexpected and delightful retreat within the attic of the home is among the design team’s most cherished areas, according to Ryan. Initially, during the planning phase for the extension, this area was envisioned as an extra sheltered outdoor spot. However, as the plan developed further, it transformed into a vibrant communal zone reminiscent of a treehouse rather than a traditional attic due to the inclusion of skylights and a Juliet balcony.
A treehouse indoors? Now that’s the type of space we love.
Atop the house as well, this charming and vibrant
attic bedroom
is used as a
guest room
Storage options are plentiful in this space. Underneath the platform bed, you’ll find drawers for extra storage, and integrated bookshelves have been installed in various areas of the room.
For this
bathroom
Under the scheme selected by Martha, an attention-grabbing wallpaper was chosen and paired with slate blue subway tiles along with gold hardware. She mentions, “The clients were open to trusting our vision and taking a risk with the wallpapers, which made it quite enjoyable.”
For Martha, this small room sums up the design ethos throughout the home. ‘It’s the kind of house that could have gone two ways,’ she explains. ‘Sure, you’re renovating for the year 2024 or 2025, and you want it to be fresh and filled with modern amenities. But that can go really wrong if you lose the character and spirit of a house that, in this case, was built in the 1920s. So what we did was give this family a home with everything they want for the future, but that still honors the bones and beauty of the home’s past.’
Shop the look
In the attic lounge area, a coffee table featuring light mahogany legs and a surface crafted from interwoven sugar palm leaves complements the treehouse ambiance of the space.
A multi-colored carpet brings warmth to the sitting space within the treehouse-inspired lounge. Such a hand-crafted rug could provide a comparable aesthetic, anchoring a predominantly unicolor setting with gentle darker tones.
The centerpiece of the family room is the stunning view of the creek, yet the space is adorned with various decorative elements, such as an elegant white table lamp. Consider opting for the Uriah model to achieve a comparable aesthetic.
The refurbished living room boasts a classic library ambiance, making this leather armchair ideal for relishing your favorite reads.
Even in the tiniest bathroom, you can add a touch of playfulness, and Schumacher’s Tiger Palm wallpaper perfectly balances elegance with charm.
In a completely white kitchen, a backsplash featuring blue lantern-shaped mosaic tiles introduces depth and color.
Architecture:
PKA Architecture
Interior Design:
Martha Dayton
Photography:
Taylor Hall O’Brien
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