Multiple room makeover & addition in Edina

The list was long. Very long. And the level of remodeling they needed was a far too demanding for these very capable DIYers to handle on their own. That’s not surprising since they wanted to remodel their kitchen, living room, entryway, and add a garage/office/bedroom addition off the side of their home.

“I think what was really driving this remodel was the shared desire to liberate this home from its 60’s style (dark paneling) and confined layout,” recalls Murphy Bros. designer Courtney Cartee. “They needed more space everywhere, from the kitchen to the adjoining entryway and living room. In short, they really needed a whole new look and layout.”

So we suggested a three-part solution. Part one involved a completely new kitchen, which required the removal of a giant stone fireplace that was causing all kinds of space issues in the living room, entry, and kitchen.

The second part of the design involved an addition to the side of the property, which added another garage stall and an office/bedroom above.

“I can remember going in front of the city hall officials to get approval for the variance to add on the garage addition,” remembers Cartee. “They were very impressed with how our design integrated the addition with the existing exterior of the home. They remarked that so many remodels in their city now are just tear downs instead of taking the time and imagination to work with what’s already there.”

The third part of the design had to do with the entry and upgrading the exterior of the home. The entry is now wider and the whole house was painted to achieve much better curb appeal, which can have a big impact on first impressions for resale and simple pride.

“Before they had just enough room for barely two people in their kitchen. I mean it was really tight. Once we got that fireplace out, that opened up everything. Now they can have the whole family in that space and still be able to move around and entertain,” says Cartee.