Back in Time

a spacious bathroomStephen Regenold is a Minneapolis writer.
Photos by Amos/Smith Photography.

Elegant newcomer fits classic neighborhood.

In the heart of this Hopkins neighborhood, at the end of a quiet street lined with 100-foot-high oak and elm, sits a new home. But you’d never know it. Classic and timeless in its own right, the house fits right in with the surrounding family homes, some built more than 75 years ago.

“We built this house to have Old World charm, and to be livable and homey,” says Greg Narr, president of Narr Construction, Inc. “There’s a feeling of warmth and quality throughout the home.”

But it also has all the modern amenities you’d expect in an upscale property. Indeed, the smart, elegant design of the multifaceted 5,430-square-foot interior leaves little wanting.

Among the home’s outstanding features are its huge second-floor owner’s suite with a generous walk-in closet, handcrafted built-in cabinets, and sunny bathroom with oversized shower and claw-foot soaking tub. Subtly sloping ceilings in the owner’s suite and other upstairs bedrooms give the spaces a cozy air. Crown molding throughout and beams on the first floor ceilings lend distinction.
A lovely, wraparound staircase provides central access to the home’s three levels. Five bedrooms and five baths, plus modern kitchen, office, and two large living spaces, provide ample room for a family and guests. Laundry is on the second floor, near the bedrooms. Three heated garage stalls are tucked in on the south side of the property, out of sight from the street.

Out back, a majestic enclosed porch—complete with large windows, vaulted ceiling, and a wood-burning fireplace—provides an additional 150 square feet of three-season living space.

Expansive windows, and all the resulting sunlight, abound in this property. Some rooms are cozy, with built-ins and little nooks and crannies; other parts of the home are open and airy. There are two gas fireplaces, one in the great room off the kitchen, the other downstairs in a large entertainment space. Natural tones, including abundant stone and wood finishes, create an earthy color scheme for the house, inside and out. Stone and wood dominate outside, including stonework masonry, paver sidewalks and patio, and cedar-shake siding and shingling.

“We were going for a timeless design,” says Narr.

From the front door, looking across the winding driveway and through the thick leaves of mature trees, you can see a green carpet of fairway grass. The ping of a nine-iron might just break the silence if you listen hard. One golf course abuts the yard, and the neighborhood is bordered by a second course.

The home’s location, adjacent to Edina and just moments from major roads, is “convenient to everything,” says Narr. The character and charm of the neighborhood is another great feature—it’s quiet, safe, and friendly, he says. “We call it the neighborhood back in time.”

BUILDER
Narr Construction, Inc.

HOME LOCATION
Hopkins

SUPPLIERS
The Brass Handle
Cartier Lighting
Guyer’s Builder Supply
Harmony Melamine Creations
by Scherer Bros. Lumber Co.
Hedberg Masonry &
Landscape Supplies
Marvin Windows and Doors
Minneapolis Glass Company
Orion Home Systems
Peters Billiards
RBC Tile & Stone
Roth Distributing Company

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