Great clients help make great projects. The starting point for this project was an active young couple, two small children, two energetic dogs and not enough space to accommodate everyone and everything. Not an uncommon theme in many Minneapolis homes
The homeowners love their neighborhood, but their existing kitchen was cramped, disconnected from the rest of the house, and lacked key functionality. They also desired better access to their outside spaces and to the incredible east morning light that was not captured well in their existing kitchen.
The design approach we landed on with the clients, was an addition and reconfiguration of the back of the home. Our design resulted in more open connections between the living room, dining room and kitchen, a larger, multiple cook’s kitchen with room for the whole family and new door access to the patio in the backyard. Situated in the addition, the new kitchen is now filled with natural light from windows on the east and south and connects, physically and visually, to the family’s terrific backyard. We paid homage to the existing home’s details by creating archways that mimicked the homes existing openings. However, we also turned up the detailing a bit by interjecting a more contemporary material palette using rift-sawn white oak and painted dark cabinets. The north “more opaque side” of the kitchen is mostly oak while the lighter east and south elevations of the kitchen use a more sparse amount of cabinetry and large windows to take advantage of all the natural light. The clients are loving their new spaces indoor and out!
“We worked with the Locale team for nearly a year imagining, thoughtfully planning, and executing an extensive remodel project to our home. And we are truly grateful to Locale team for the holistic end-to-end experience. As first-timers, we researched extensively and met with multiple design-build companies. We knew that Jim and the Locale team were the best partners for us as they were candid about the process, realistic and thorough when it came to budget, and exceptionally organized. Furthermore,
Jim and Bill spent weeks getting to know us, thoughtfully asking questions, and making recommends that ultimately brought both our aesthetic and functional design dreams to life. We loved these meetings! The execution of the project itself was fantastic. In fact, we continue to receive compliments from neighbors on the professionalism of the Locale team and all the sub-contractors who worked with Locale on our project.
Remarkably, we stayed both on schedule and within budget. We always understood what was happening, as we met with the Locale team weekly throughout the 6-month build process. Our confidence in them never once wavered. The result exceeded our high expectations. We are over the moon with our expanded, updated space! We love how the original frame blends into the addition, and how the style updates still hold nods to the original house. Thank you to Jim, Bill, Andy, and the entire Locale team for everything you do!”
Photography by Scott Amundson