1980's Two-Story Kitchen & Main Level Transformation in Minnetonka, MN

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Amy's Story

Living in the home for nearly three decades, Haugen had ample time to figure out her pain points and the aesthetic she wanted to achieve. Born in Hong Kong, she appreciates the clean lines and smooth surfaces common in Asian interior design, and after meeting with New Spaces’ Björn Freudenthal—who hails from Helsinki, Finland, known for similar design tendencies—she felt he was the person to bring her modern home dreams to life. “I love the contemporary style, but over the years, my tastes have changed,” says Haugen. “I wanted to bring this home into the 21st century with the colors and the open floor plan.” The first order of business was raising a sunken living room to create a uniform floor height. “It was a real ankle-breaker,” says Freudenthal, which could cause problems later on for aging in place, which Haugen intends to do.

The space also becomes much more versatile and flexible when there’s a continuous, even floor height.

From the kitchen, there are now clear sight-lines to the dining room and front living room, where natural light floods in through windows that replaced walls during the remodel. “As I go through a design, I try to think about how individuals are going to move through the space,” says New Spaces’ lead designer, Sharon Barczak. “I knew my client would naturally be walking past that window frequently based on the geometry of the home and the space flow. It’s about locating those windows, so we maximize the human nature of being drawn toward what’s beyond.”

The dramatic floor-to-ceiling fireplace wall is another focal point. Meant to mimic a concrete column, the surround houses a slim, linear electric fireplace with color-changing embers. Above, a metal railing and beam system provides a framework for a decorative light fixture that illuminates both stories of the home. “At night, when all the accent lights are on, it’s out of this world,” says Freudenthal.