Love Wins at Mac-Groveland Remodel
This project was Refined Home’s answer to HGTV’s popular Love it or List it show. Spoiler alert – Love wins.
As Paul and Jenny’s family grew, they knew they would need to remodel their beloved 1915 St. Paul home or move. With Refined Homes’ help they were able to adapt the house to their lifestyles while maintaining its period character. After multiple projects, they say they could not find a better home in the St. Paul neighborhood they adore.
Refined Homes remodeling solutions included:
- Create a main-level parents retreat with a bedroom, private bath and walk-in closet.
- Convert the other main level bedroom into a powder room and much needed Minnesota mudroom
- Reconfigure the upstairs with three bedrooms for the children
- Finish the basement for family fun
- Update the kitchen without opening walls
Hidden challenges in century-old homes
Photos can do a wonderful job of illustrating a project’s beauty, but they don’t scratch the surface when it comes to revealing the hidden challenges that go into remodeling a century-old house like this. That’s where Ian’s experience, skill and uncompromised standards make the difference. His hand-crafted solutions created an amenities-rich environment that is structurally sound, comfortable, energy efficient and safe. Of course, fit and are top notch.
It’s tempting to focus on the perfectly matched door cornices and baseboards, seamlessly inter-laced hardwood flooring, and soapstone countertops. Although less glamorous, heating system and insulation upgrades were equally important. Refined Homes moved or removed many space-hogging radiators and installed hydronic in-floor and toe kick heat in the mudroom and bathroom to free up floor space. It also enhanced the efficiency of the existing boiler to make the upstairs more comfortable and installed spray foam insulation against the foundation walls and rim joists for a warm, dry basement.
Have it your way
“The customer is always right” is a common retail saying and nowhere more so than in home remodeling. For example, Jenny is a scientist who is partial to soapstone countertops. That’s what she chose for the kitchen. They also opted for an updated but recirculating , charcoal-filter range hood to avoid the cost of ducting because they are not big cooks.
“In the end, remodeling is all about creating the living environments that fit our clients’ lifestyles, personal tastes and budgets,” Refined Homes’ Tricia Wiitanen explained. But she is just as focused on how they get there.
“Remodeling is inherently disruptive and there are dozens of decisions,” she said. “Ian and I do our best to help our clients minimize stress while navigating the design and construction process. That starts with giving them complete confidence that the work will be done properly.
Ian and Tricia are active members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) whose slogan is “Remodeling done right.” Refined Homes makes it real.
