Our 2021 Fall Remodelers Showcase Entry has also won the 2021 Silver CotY Award.
Project Summary
The whole main floor was like a museum of 90’s oak with a kitchen layout that resembled a game of Twister. We redesigned their entire main level to make it far more aesthetically enjoyable and functional.
Out went all the kitchen cabinetry, the flooring, bathroom vanity, and in went new custom cabinets, dual fuel oven, updated lighting, gorgeous Du Chateau hardwood flooring, Moroccan inspired ceramic tile in the bathroom, Adura luxury vinyl tile in the laundry/mudroom space and Cambria for the vanity countertops.
The transformation isn’t just stunning, it’s liberating!
Design/Build Consultant — Courtney Cartee
Project Manager — Noah Martin
Lead Carpenter — John Yoder
Paint & Fine Finishes — Rick Dame, Jim LaPointe, Brian Green
Photography — Alyssa Lee
Proposed layout of entire main floor remodel.
Great room: Du Chateau hardwood flooring, fireplace surround and mantel, and grand chandelier.
BEFORE: Great room showing oak cabinets and fireplace. And yes, this is an active, multi-generational family with small children.
AFTER: Wheaton Country Ledgestone surround and mantel with matching tiered shelving above TV and custom cabinets.
BEFORE: Oak spindle staircase and jail bar spindles. If the furnace ever failed you could always use the staircase for firewood.
“I think the family felt like they were in some kind of oak jail,” recalls Murphy Bros. design/build consultant Courtney Cartee, who led the way on this main floor remodel in Eagan Minnesota. The stairs were literally encased in oak spindles.
AFTER: Stairs have been completely reimagined horizontally with a combination of metal finished black, complimented by darker shaded oak steps and railing—all done by our paint division team.
COMPARISON: On the left (before) notice how the oak spindles reach up to the second level. We replaced them with darker shaded oak railings with tubular metal spacers to meet code requirements and keep the open air feeling desired by the client.
AFTER: By removing the wall separating the breakfast area from the grand room we were able to connect the two spaces visually and add new seating and storage for shared entertainment events.
Afternoon light plays everywhere in this new space.
BEFORE: Kitchen island (encased in more honey oak) with view to wall separating great room.
AFTER: View, same angle as above, showing wall removed, stone columns and open view seating to great room.
We relocated the cooktop from the island to an outer wall, which increased the countertop space. We also moved the sink, removed a wall, and reset that transition between kitchen and living room with stone columns.
AFTER: Quartz Vicostone island and perimeter countertops, new pendant lighting.
BEFORE: Kitchen with oak everywhere. We are surprised it wasn't on the ceiling too!
AFTER: Storage is everywhere. Note duel fuel oven.
AFTER: Note TV cabinet. It was a "must have" for homeowner.
AFTER: Afternoon light fills this kitchen with warmth, highlight and shadow. Just makes you want to pour yourself that second cup of tea.
BEFORE: Breakfast area with more dated cabinets, lighting and insufficient storage.
AFTER: New design called for removing uppers and replacing with open shelving. Lighter shaded cabinets with more countertop space to create a true coffee bar experience.
AFTER: Opposite wall now features beverage station for adult beverages. Note new light fixture, large, double-wide refrigerator to the left of the new cabinets.
BEFORE: Existing pantry with traditional swing door entrance and plain open shelving.
AFTER: New walk-in pantry features pocket door for best use of space, custom uppers and lower cabinets, and open shelving, all of which is significantly more aesthetically pleasing and functional than previous "peak-in" pantry.
BEFORE: This sunroom was used as a secondary kitchen.
AFTER: Now it is used as a kids play & school room.
AFTER: Access to sun/kids room is through another pocket door with rippled glass door.
Laundry Room Before Remodeling
AFTER: Laundry/mudroom was a big deal to this active family. Durable, water resistant Adura flooring was the perfect choice for looks and functionality.
BEFORE & AFTER: We updated the powder room, giving it a fresh look with Cambria on the custom vanity, hexagon accent wall tile and Moroccan inspired floor tile.
Featured Materials
- Countertops: Quartz Vicostone & Cambria
- Backsplash tile: Hexigon ceramic tile
- All cabinets: Custom paint grade
- Laundry floor: Audura LVT
- Fireplace: Wheaton Country Ledgestone
- Flooring: Du Chateau hardwood flooring
- Stairs: Powder-coated steel rods & oak railing
