Homeowners often weigh the benefits of renovating against building new. Some prefer the classic beauty of historic styling and others favor the elegance of modern architectural designs. A few want to have it all.
Working closely together, City Homes, LLC; Everson Architect and Liquidpink Interiors combined their individual areas of expertise to achieve their client’s blended vision. The resulting home merges existing and expanded space and mixes traditional and contemporary aesthetics. Large windows support the home’s cohesive appearance and the family’s indoor comfort and outdoor views.
Expanded Space, Local Inspiration
When the homeowners first contacted City Homes’ Rebecca Remick, she learned they were an active family with two growing boys, two dogs, busy work schedules, an aging house and an unusually shaped lot in Shorewood, Minnesota. The family had managed through the pandemic, forcing bedrooms to serve as offices and classrooms. They wanted a refresh with better functionality, more room, and lots of natural light and views.
Kolbe is a team player. We trust them to come through.
“They had lived in the house for a while. They had always planned to remodel and add on. They liked their home and their plot of land, but they needed more space,” remembered Rebecca. They needed an improved transition between the main entry, the primary residence and the garage. They also were looking to add a mudroom, accommodate another vehicle and provide more flex-space for the teens and workspace for the adults. Additionally, cosmetic updates were sought for both the exterior and the interior.
“They had thought a lot about what they wanted regarding sightlines and space,” Rebecca continued. “They even knew the views they wanted through their windows.”
Finding inspiration nearby, they appreciated the big windows and bold, clean lines of a neighbor’s home that City Homes had built. “They liked the contemporary, modern style and cube shape,” said Rebecca. “They liked the boxy simplicity of it.” The challenge was to create something strikingly modern that still felt connected and familiar to their existing home.
Collaborative Approach, Seamless Process
“We always partner with an architect and an interior designer. We can’t do our work without either of them,” noted Rebecca. For this project, she referred the clients to Tommy Everson of Everson Architect for his experience with modern and contemporary home designs. She also called on Stephanie Lalley, CID, LEED AP of Liquidpink Interiors, for her purposely personalized approach for interior design.
“We love working with both Tommy and Stephanie,” added Rebecca. “We rely heavily on them. We go to all the meetings to make sure we’re working together to give the clients what they want in the best way possible.”
“This project with City Homes and Stephanie was a good fit for us, and the client was fun to work with,” said Tommy.
Stephanie agreed and added, “What I’m most proud of about this project is our team approach between the homeowners, City Homes and Tommy. It was a seamless process and the results reflect everyone’s roles.”
Connected Structures, Contrasting Designs
After considering the client’s needs, Everson Architect presented two options.
“One: we could make the addition match the existing house, using the same traditional siding materials and hip roof style. Or two: we could make the addition contrast the existing house, using sleeker materials and a flat roof to achieve a more modern aesthetic,” explained Tommy.
“They decided they liked the contrast of keeping the original portion of their house more traditional, and making the addition more modern. This was both an aesthetic and functional choice, as the flat roof of the addition allowed for more volume in the interior spaces than a hipped roof would have allowed, given building height restrictions per the local zoning code,” said Tommy.
We wanted the window frames to be minimalist. We like Kolbe windows for narrow sightlines and crisp details. There are no extraneous elements like curves, swoops or sticking.
The decision guided the project forward. The integrity of the original house was maintained as a single-story cube topped with a pyramid-shaped roof. The existing garage was replaced by a newly built, larger cube with a flat roof. The old and new structures are connected by a low-profile link that serves as the main entry. Tommy elaborated, “We retained the cedar shake siding and stained it darker to get even more contrast with the smooth, white exterior siding which defines the new elements and addition.”
Bigger, Better, Bolder Windows
The clients made it clear that expansive windows were central to their home’s design. Tommy invited them to the Artisan Home Tour to see the Orchard Creek Overlook, another modern home he designed showcasing exceptional, custom windows. Impressed, they also visited Kolbe Gallery Twin Cities to review the full product offering.
“We were set on Kolbe from the start and--after visiting the Kolbe Gallery--so were the homeowners,” shared Tommy. “For some projects, we choose Kolbe because they have something unique that no one else has to offer. With this project, we recommended Kolbe because we knew the modern aesthetic would be a match.”
Rebecca also supported this choice. “Kolbe and its customer service are great. They understand construction and the reaction times and lead times that are necessary. Every project will have its hiccups. It’s important to know how we work together to solve issues when they come up. Kolbe is a team player. We trust them to come through.”
Kolbe’s Forgent® Series products provide a high-end look with high performance and high value as both replacement windows on the existing home and as new windows on the addition. With a Glastra® exterior--an advanced, proprietary hybrid of fiberglass and UV-stable polymer--these windows require minimal maintenance.
“Nothing else comes close to this in the fiberglass products we’ve seen. It looks more refined. You can tell there’s a lot of attention to detail,” complimented Tommy. “We wanted the window frames to be minimalist. We like Kolbe windows for narrow sightlines and crisp details. There are no extraneous elements like curves, swoops or sticking.”
The windows are the remodel,” emphasized Stephanie. “They are so important to this home. It was a very successful project.
For this project, Tommy said, “We chose black finishes for the windows to give them a sharper, more modern appearance. The windows were the unifying element between the old and the new. We looked for opportunities to make it better and bigger with windows that spanned from wall to wall to ceiling. We love Kolbe for its clean appearance and ability to give us the maximum viewable area.”
Intentional Symmetry, Visual Continuity
The clients were aware their desire for expansive windows presented challenges given their location. “It wasn’t just a straightforward addition. The lot is an awkward shape that comes to an acute angle on the north side. The property is on display from every side, so it has three front yards with respective setbacks,” explained Tommy.
“It’s a big lot. The street wraps around the property on three sides,” said Rebecca. “They wanted big windows but not to feel like they were living in a fishbowl.”
Everson Architect strategically positioned the windows to maximize their size and sightlines. “The large windows were a definite must,” reiterated Tommy. “There’s a wooded area out back which helps connect to views of nature. From the second story of the addition, you have views to the lake through the big windows. On the side facing the drive, you have the intentional symmetry of the windows above being proportionally sized and directly aligned with the garage doors below.”
“For these homeowners, the modern look was the priority and Kolbe delivered,” echoed Rebecca. “Having that appearance and the visual continuity was key.”
Stephanie expanded on this idea: “What’s amazing is when you walk in, you don’t know where the old house stopped and the new started. When you’re inside you can’t tell they’re different, but on the outside, you have those distinctions.”
Light, Views and Color
For the house’s interior, Stephanie said, “They wanted to keep it very clean, simple and open. The project has a soft geometry with very clean lines. We kept it very warm inside the house. The floorplan is open, airy and brings in as much light as possible. It’s like being in a tree house with all the windows and natural light.”
The window in the eat-in kitchen area’s breakfast nook was one of the most important to the homeowners. It is a favorite space for the family to gather and enjoy the light and view. “They use it a lot. The window is like a framed picture,” described Stephanie. “It makes you feel like you could be sitting outside.”
The interior finishes feature natural wood and stone and a neutral color palette. “Jewel tones in the pillows complement the green background of trees through the windows,” noted Stephanie. “All you see is the windows and their views. There’s minimal furniture and nothing pushes up against the windows.”
“The windows are the remodel,” emphasized Stephanie. “They are so important to this home. It was a very successful project.”
All involved felt their collaboration was key to meeting the client’s goals for greater functionality, more space, and a unique blend of renovation and new construction with traditional and modern design styles. Reflecting on the accomplishment, Tommy said, “The project turned out great. The clients were very happy.”