Photos by Taylor Hall O’Brien
When a local couple first moved into their new St. Paul home in 2016, they knew a future remodel would be in store for them. Although the charming 1920 American Foursquare had great bones and plenty of character, thanks to beautiful craftsman details and a blend of art deco and prairie influences, the heavily used areas seemed to lack function and design. The too-small kitchen was a particular pain point, as a series of previous remodels from the ’90s not only dated it with darker shades and more traditional wood types popular at the time, but had also introduced a counter peninsula between the kitchen and dining room—resulting in an unfortunate bottle-neck at a critical circulation point.
“Things just didn’t flow well in the original house,” explains Curt Irmiger, owner of Full Circle Construction Inc., who oversaw the renovation process. “You had to navigate through a lot of doorways and around a lot of countertops in the kitchen.”
After living in the house for several years, the owners were more than ready to tackle the project. Their must-haves? A kitchen island they could gather around during get-togethers, more room for food prep and storage, and a dedicated space for coats and shoes in the mudroom. Better flow throughout the main level and a bit more style were additional project goals.
To start, the kitchen’s footprint needed to expand. When it came to stealing the space necessary for the new additions, architect Sarah Nymo of Nymo Architecture got creative: An under-utilized closet beneath the main stair landing was removed so cabinetry and the refrigerator could be tucked there instead, while the sink wall was bumped out about a foot—carving out just enough added inches to accommodate the new central island and an additional 2-foot bank of cabinetry. A mix of colors and textures adds personality to the new space, from the custom black wax stain on the island that complements the black soapstone countertops to the soft-green tile backsplash (crafted by Kristen Falkirk Tileworks and a favorite detail of the owners and designers alike), which features organic curves designed to echo the natural contours of Minnesota lakes.
Existing hardwood floors were sanded and restained a warm golden brown to complement the new cabinetry, which was handmade by Northfield-based craftsman Johnny Blundred and designed to match the antique age of the home. A perfect example is the inset coffee cabinet nestled between the refrigerator and pantry. Featuring an almost-golden oak stain and semi-overlay doors, the piece was a passion project of interior designer Victoria Sass of Prospect Refuge Studio. “At the time, I was researching Hoosier cabinets—a historical and very Midwestern sort of all-in-one baking cabinet that could be found during the Sears and Roebuck days,” she says. “I also wanted to build in a piece of cabinetry-slash-furniture that looked like it might have been salvaged from another place in the home, which I see examples of all over the city in these 1920s homes.”
The eclectic collection of artisanal cabinetry continues into the expanded mudroom, where a dyed maple wardrobe helps contain the family’s coats, and painted and white oak cabinets provide additional storage. A hardworking, yet tasteful addition is the recessed oak drop zone, complete with removable drawers (perfect for concealing papers!) and a magnetic panel with an aesthetic wood veneer to hang calendars and reminders. Light blue paneling topped with whimsical bee-themed wallpaper creates a cheerful, sunny vibe, while blue-and-white checkerboard floor tiles add a fun touch underfoot. Peek into the adjoining powder room and you’ll find petal-patterned wallpaper and playful floor tile, along with a vintage-inspired powder blue sink and matching toilet.
“We love the use of color and the functional storage in the mudroom—it suits life with two small children much better!” the homeowners say. “There’s a lot more room for coats and shoes, but it’s also a beautiful space to walk into after work and school pickups.”
Doorways were widened throughout, and a large archway installed between the dining and living rooms creates an effortless flow and greater visual connection between the main living spaces. The design team built out and refurbished the dining room cabinetry to create a dedicated alcove with new paneling and paint, while a pair of sconces and a trio of brass pendants add a touch of quiet luxury above the table. In the living room, the fireplace surround was updated to give it a stronger presence and provide a counterbalance to the lively cabinetry in the kitchen and dining spaces. An inlay wood bracket element, found on the exterior corbels of the home, was also introduced into the fireplace paneling—
a thoughtful touch by Nymo in an ode to the home’s original details.
“The transition between old and new spaces in the home is seamless,” she says. “While the renovated spaces have a unique rigor, they feel as if they were always a part of the home.”
Resources
Dining Room
- Brass pendants, Atelier de Troupe
- Cabinetry paint, Brandon Beige 977, Benjamin Moore
- Candle holders, J.Atelier
- Ceiling lighting, Compass
- Dining chairs, CH23 Chair, Carl Hansen & Søn
- Dining table, homeowner’s own
- Drapery, Cartagena, Clarence House
- Hardware, oval plate knob, Lee Valley
- Sconces, Picket, Evolve Lighting Co.
- Wall paint, White Dove OC-17, Benjamin Moore
Kitchen
- Backsplash, custom tiles based on shapes of Minnesota lakes, Kristen Falkirk Tileworks
- Bar stools, Inez Upholstered Stool, Crump & Kwash
- Cabinet curtains, Cupid in Faded Yellow, Chelsea Textiles
- Ceiling lighting, No. 501M, MacLaren Fixture Co.
- East wall pantry and fridge cabinetry paint, Feather Down OC-6, Benjamin Moore
- Hardware, antique brass pull, Willow & Stone; appliance and pantry pulls, Sun Valley Bronze; dishwasher pull, handmade Mexican riveted pull, Nickey Kehoe
- Island paint, black “waxed” custom stain application created by Prospect Refuge Studio and provided by Johnny Blundred of Tiny Red Inc.
- Island pendants, Campbell Pattern Pendant, Lyngard
- Sink, House of Rohl
- Stove, Fisher & Paykel
- Towel bar, House of Lolo
- Wall paint, White Dove OC-17, Benjamin Moore
- West perimeter cabinetry paint, Townsend Harbor Brown HC-64, Benjamin Moore
Living Room
- Artwork, homeowner’s own
- Sconce shades, No. 31, Sarah Blomfield
- Sconces, Brass Swing Arm Library Sconces, 1stDibs
- Side table, Parks End Tables, Room & Board
- Sofa, Papa Bear Sofa
- Sofa pillow fabric, Malindi, Pierre Frey
- Sofa pillows, Tulips of Belgravia, Ottoline; Park Circus Pillow, Kufri
- Vintage coffee table, sourced locally and painted Light Green 408, Benjamin Moore
- Wall paint, White Dove OC-17, Benjamin Moore
Mudroom
- Cabinetry, curly tiger maple
- Ceiling lighting, Octavia Flushmount, Sazerac Stitches
- Floor tile, Fireclay Tile
- Wall paint, Copen Blue SW 0068, Sherwin-Williams
- Wallpaper, Golden Bees, Jennifer Shorto
Powder Bath
- Drapery, Moiré Stripe, Helene Blanche
- Floor tile, custom design by Prospect Refuge Studio and crafted by Clay Squared to Infinity
- Hand towel, Hale Mercantile Co.
- Hardware, recycled brass antique towel ring, Mi&Gei
- Mirror, Belvedere Mirror, Vaughan Designs
- Pendant, Duvall, Illuminate Vintage
- Sink and toilet, The Water Monopoly
- Wall tile, Sonoma Tilemakers
- Wallpaper, Petal Push, Astek Home
