Minnehaha Creek Renovation

This 1927 landmark home is situated on a creek in a historic neighborhood. Given the home’s pedigree and provenance, the homeowners faced numerous challenges when they embarked on a several-year, whole-house historic renovation project. Design goals included preserving the bones of the home and significant architectural features while rectifying the irregular shape of the house and increasing the livable space for their young, active family. In addition to strict city restrictions on exterior renovations, the irregular corner lot had restrictive setbacks, the historic façade had obtuse angles that created angular interior spaces, and the existing structural system had no insulation at the exterior walls and thin floor joists. The architects worked with the homeowners and the local heritage preservation commission for several years to plan and gain approval on a long list of complex design solutions. The architects added a new front porch to create a stronger connection to the neighborhood, removed wing walls at the narrow driveway, created an addition at the back of the house to rectify the existing shape to highlight views of the creek, increase livable space and expand the garage. They utilized the sloping site to create a dramatic walkout basement with natural flow from the lower level living spaces to the backyard pool environment. Among the many thoughtful design moves, they opened up the interiors to create views of the water from the front door and easy flow between the spaces. They transformed the existing sunken formal living room into an inviting library that looks and feels appropriate to the home. They made the existing fireplace the centerpiece of the new library and added a new limestone mantel and a custom white oak surround, and a wall of period-appropriate bookshelves lined with tongue-and-groove paneling and accented with library lights and a rolling ladder. They also vaulted and finished the existing attic space with a guest suite, a game room, roof windows and a charming Juliet balcony overlooking the creek that enhances the home’s distinctive spirit of place.