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Marc and Carly love their North Tyrol neighborhood in Golden Valley. Their home is surrounded by nature and the sounds of croaking frogs.
However, the couple knew they needed a change inside their home.
“It was really dark in here,” said Carly.
The kitchen had a tiny window for light. The green trees outside were barely noticeable.
**We’ve got a lot of green trees,” said Carly. “I wanted to bring more of that inside the house and have that feel.”
The couple also wanted a solution for a cleaner look caused by an issue many families face.
“We are actually prone to lots of clutter,” laughed Carly. “I really wanted something that had minimal visual distraction.”
Marc and Carly sought out a contractor for their vision. They chose Rogers-based Minnesota Fine Homes, led by co-owners Rob Robertson and Amber Ellison.
“I think the biggest part is building that relationship first,” said Ellison. “I think the relationship part is finding that right fit for your partner that you’re going to build with.”
The company helped deliver the couple’s vision, bringing light and increased functionality to the home.
Carly pointed out the main kitchen window that swings open like a garage door, allowing interaction between the outside and inside.
The remodeled kitchen also added personal touches that the couple embraced.
“I really love Asian culture. I love the fact that we were able to do the cabinets in bamboo,” said Carly.
Amber Ellison opens the kitchen window that leads to an outdoor seating area.
Beatrice Owen, executive director of NARI of Minnesota, said the Golden Valley home is part of a trend seen in remodeling
“People are looking at their homes and saying ‘how can we make it so it fits our needs,” said Owen. “If it’s aging in place, if it’s a home office, etc., really thinking about options within the home.”
The Golden Valley home is one of 22 stops on the MSP Home Tour, which takes place this Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The tour is a way to learn about the remodeling process and setting expectations.
“Personally, I think there’s always not enough time to plan ahead,” said Robertson. “You can always plan ahead.”
Robertson said many projects can take over a year when you factor in months of design work and selecting materials and products.
Marc and Carly admitted they took longer with the design and selection process, but were felt their contractor worked with them.
“The experience of the remodeling process is extraordinarily dependent on the builder,” said Carly. “We’re very happy with the way it turned out.”
SOURCE: CCX MEDIA