Forever Home

For this Minneapolis couple entering the joyful chapter of retirement and grandparenthood, our challenge was to transform their-worn 1939 Colonial into a home that could serve as both a practical haven for aging in place and a welcoming hub for gatherings of all sizes.  The home’s original compartmentalized layout was reimagined through a strategic U-shaped addition, preserving yard space while accommodating a new primary suite, sunroom, and mudroom. In the middle of the open-concept living area, the kitchen is layered with warmth and texture. Mid-tone, rift-cut white oak cabinetry is accented with reeded tambour and custom-colored fire-molded glass, creating rhythm and interest.

A cleverly concealed scullery, painted in cheerful yellow and blue features a second sink, ovens, and whimsical details like a pass-through serving window to the porch and a secret clubhouse door for the grandchildren, hidden in the old stairwell. The private primary suite offers a serene retreat, complete with a vaulted ceiling and a luxurious, low-maintenance bathroom featuring full quartz shower walls. The finishes throughout mix the traditional with the unexpected—durable terrazzo-inlay tile grounds the entryways, while whimsical wallpapers and custom-painted vanities add joyful pops of color, perfectlyreflecting the homeowners’ personalities. This renovation is a testament to design that looks forward and back, creating a timeless, functional, and deeply personal home built for a lifetime of memories.