Nearby Getaway
This revamped weekend retreat is just right for watching the world float by
The moment Ron and Sheila walked into this townhouse on the St. Croix River in Hudson, the couple from suburban St. Paul knew they’d found the perfect weekend retreat. As two people who grew up on the water—Ron on Lake of the Woods in Baudette, Sheila on the Atlantic Ocean in Boston—they had an immediate and visceral reaction to the stunning views of the river and the bluffs visible through an entire wall of windows: It had to be theirs. They snapped up the place before it was even officially on the market, thrilled to find a retreat so close to the Twin Cities. ¶ Situated in a complex of 22 townhouses built by Stillwater architect Michael McGuire, the home fronts a sandy beach along the St. Croix. Owners share an ambling lawn, brick walkways to the river, and a common dock, yet each unit has an individual boat slip.
The tranquil charm of the river vista notwithstanding, the 23-year-old home was showing its age. Though the townhouse was to be only a weekend getaway—until the couple downsizes and makes it their full-time home—the kitchen needed help immediately. Sheila decided to replace the appliances, but the new ones she wanted wouldn’t fit in the small space. That dilemma eventually led to a remodel that gave the entire three-bedroom, three-floor space an updated, contemporary personality.
Previously, visitors coming up the stairs from the front door landing confronted a long white wall with a narrow doorway into the kitchen. The modest, galley-style kitchen was blocked off from the grand view of the St. Croix that was showcased in the living and dining rooms. It was difficult to maneuver in the tight space, not to mention impossible to mingle with guests while cooking.
Teaming with designer Mumtaz Anwar, owner of Montage Dezign in Minneapolis, Ron and Sheila decided to gut the kitchen and start over. They tore down the wall that enclosed the room, replaced the old cabinets, and installed a 10-foot marble-topped island with a cook top. “My intention was to make it a more open space, so they can interact with the people in the living room and have a visual connection to the river,” Anwar says.
Photo by Susan Gilmore
The main floor of the townhouse now boasts the openness of a loft with a sleek contemporary vibe. The kitchen’s espresso-stained alder cabinetry contrasts with frosted-glass cabinets and light maple flooring. The white quartz countertops and lightly textured white and gray porcelain tiles on the walls give the space a spare, elegant look.
Sheila was initially uncertain about gutting the kitchen, fearing it would ruin the home’s easy charm. “But now,” she says, “it’s the kitchen of my dreams.” It integrates well with the dining room, where the couple and their large family enjoy holiday meals and casual get-togethers. And the space overlooks a comfortable living room and cozy couches that are ideal for relaxing in front of the fireplace or taking in views of the St. Croix.
Anwar’s redesign also improved the home’s two bathrooms. He opened up the main-floor bath by moving the shower and enclosing it in clear glass. The wall-hung toilet, sinks, and a storage cabinet float above the floor and visually enlarge the space. Taupe Italian tile lines the shower and bathroom walls, giving the room a luxurious, contemporary aesthetic. The lower-level bathroom got a similar glass-enclosed shower and mosaic-tiled walls, while a new sauna took over an adjacent storage room.
The renovations took a year, but the wait was well worth it, say Ron and Sheila. The couple and their four children and three grandchildren love unwinding there on weekends throughout the year, but especially in the summer. The family enjoys kayaking and boating right outside the door, and just relaxing on the deck, watching the world float by. “It really feels like getting away,” says Sheila. “When we’re here, we feel like we can open up and breathe.”
Suzy Frisch is an Apple Valley-based freelance writer.
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6 ISSUES (1 YEAR)
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