Jennifer Court Family Room & Sitting Room

Kitchen, Dining Room, Family Room, Sitting Room

This was a typical suburban home with a long rectangular living room. With seating too far away to see the TV or fireplace comfortably, this room was seldom used because of poor layout. There was a beautiful bay window, but the oversized furniture didn’t seem to fit around it. Two columns divided the space and didn’t match the style of home.

We began by removing the columns and adding built-in kitchen seating so the two rooms could be separate, yet shared. Also, we broke up the one large space and created two intimate spaces.

By moving the fireplace to the corner, we were better able to arrange furniture for enhanced conversation and gathering as a family.

In the front sitting room, we lined the area with painted cabinetry in a variety of colors to bring the look up to current trends and distinguish it from kitchen cabinetry. A built-in bench by the bay window is now a cozy, curl-up place to read, or look out to the backyard. Window treatments warmed the space, and it is now an elegant home office and place to contemplate away from the television. It’s a beautiful, inviting space when first entering the home.

Albers Design constructed this project using our proprietary CMA Advantage™ construction deliver method.

Related Project: Jennifer Court Kitchen Remodel >

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Macalaster Groveland Kitchen

Kitchen, Dining Room, Mudroom

This 1915 arts and craft styled home in the heart of the Mac-Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul was in need of updating to support contemporary living. The owners wanted to modernize this traditional four-square but still maintain its historical character.

Modifications included a complete gut and reconfiguration of the original and very small kitchen, opening the kitchen to the dining room and a new mudroom at the side yard door; the client’s primary entrance. An 8 foot’ addition was added for a mudroom and the kitchen was enlarged 4 feet.

The wall between the dining room and the kitchen was removed and replaced with peninsula in the style of the original dining room woodwork. This joined the kitchen and dining room visually while adding additional counter top and base cabinet space. An exterior door and window between the kitchen and the existing screened porch were relocated to provide more countertop work surface in the kitchen. Inset cabinets, the original cabinet style, were used for the new cabinetry and a custom oak breakfast table was designed to reflect the character of the original woodwork. Countertops are soapstone and stainless steel.

A custom tile backsplash in the owner’s favorite colors became the primary accent of the kitchen with the field color in “butter yellow” (which she loves). Additional pops of color in persimmon, green and blue in a carefully planned pattern reminiscent of the arts and crafts style. There were 4 different tiles sizes used and each tile was individually placed.
The mudroom was finished in low maintenance black slate tile floor and persimmon painted built-in coat cubbies suitable for a family of four.

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