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Light & Lively
Classic Arts & Crafts gets a seamless makeover
For Peter Krembs and Rob Jeddeloh, the fourth remodel to their 100-year-old Arts & Crafts home in Minneapolis developed in a round about way. After living in this classic house near Lake of the Isles for nearly 25 years, they decided to sell in 2008—“right when the market tanked,” says Krembs. They didn’t get any offers, but they did get some useful feedback. Potential buyers complained about the kitchen’s lack of an eating area and the small sunroom. So when the couple decided to stay put, says Krembs, “We got to thinking. Well ... that would be nice. Why not do it now?’”
They called on Lars Peterssen , principal of Peterssen/Keller Architecture (then principal of Domain Architecture & Design) who had added a bedroom and bathroom above the garage in remodel number three. “This is a Harry Wild Jones house,” says Peterssen, referring to the prominent Minneapolis architect who designed some of the area’s most notable turn-of-the-nineteenth-century residences. “It has a great pedigree and good bones, so you can do things with it.”
Peterssen and project manager Joseph Max Johnson (now a design associate with Quartersawn Design/Build) tackled the project with relish. “I kept saying, ‘It would be really nice if we could do this, but I know we can’t,’” says Krembs. “They’d think about it for a while and then come back and say, ‘Yes, we can.’”
Stretching the Space
The first order of business was adding 200 square feet to the sunroom and kitchen to create an informal dining area. The tricky part was expanding the footprint at the rear of the house while preserving the sunken garden and the landscaping surrounding it. Peterssen and Johnson managed it by pushing back the old terrace, searching for bricks that very nearly match the originals, and even reusing the old capstone. “Instant patina!” says Krembs. They also reused the French doors that open onto the terrace, which had been custom made of solid wood to match the original doors in the house.
Making It Seamless
Peterssen and Johnson used the architecture of the old parts of the house to guide the new addition, from the bay window that echoes the half bay in the living room to the box shape of the crown molding. Heavy, solid beams, similar to those found in the rest of the house, mimic the Tudor Revival proportions, while the white-painted woodwork gives the new space a light, bright feel.
Doorways between the kitchen and sunroom were widened to improve flow and make the rooms feel more like one space. The open shelving and fireplace that divide the kitchen from the sunroom hold lovely Pueblo pottery and sculpture, as well as an ingenious solution to a structural challenge: The two posts camouflage a supporting post and a waste pipe from the upstairs bathroom.
Finishing Touches
The kitchen is designed for a cook—Krembs knew what he wanted, though he credits Peterssen with the gentle nudging that improved the outcome. The custom cherry cabinetry, made by G.S. Meichel’s Construction cabinetmakers, surrounds the work area, island, and built-in buffet at the far end of the room. Open shelves keep frequently used ingredients within arm’s reach, and storage drawers in lieu of wall-mounted upper cabinets contribute to the open feel of the space.
The granite countertop of the 10-foot-by-3.5 foot island, carefully selected for its combination of reds and grays, is patterned in subtle waves and exudes precisely the relaxing vibe Krembs desired. The higher-than-standard 38-inch countertops are just right for the 6-foot 2-inch Krembs and Jeddeloh, and for perching on one of the four stools to snack and schmooze with the cook.
Tired of maintaining hardwood floors, the couple chose porcelain tile (with cozy radiant heat below) for the floors and the backsplash. The monochromatic hues of the tiles and walls allow the cherry cabinets, granite, and art to stand out—“just as they were designed to,” says Krembs.
How do they like the new space? “I love eating in the new kitchen,” says Jeddeloh. Krembs, who characterizes himself as a complete perfectionist, offers more effusive praise. “There’s a feng shui in that room that’s immediately calming—the colors, the layout, the flow, the opening to the outdoors. After living and working in that kitchen for a year and a half, there’s not one thing I’d change. Not a drawer, nothing. That’s amazing.”
Chris Lee is editor of Midwest Home magazine.
For more information on featured products and suppliers, see our Buyer's Guide.
6 ISSUES (1 YEAR)
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Reader Comments:
I loved this makeover. I looked in the buyer's guide for product information but did not find any for this project. I'm interested in locating the porcelain tile that was used in the backsplash. Any help in locating the manufacturer would be appreciated. Thanks
It's a great look, isn't it? The subtly textured backsplash is Inex tile from Uson Design Solutions at International Market Square (usondesign.com).
This is a great kitchen. I looked in the buyer's guide for the product information, but could not find any. I am looking for the name of the granite used for the counters. Please let me know if you have this information. Thanks
DREAMER, we don't have the exact counter information, but you could connect with Lars Petersson at Petersson/Keller Architects if still interested, as he'd know: http://pkarch.com/contact