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Before photo
After photo - See more project photos
Exterior pre-renovation
Blueprint of historic 1940s home
Before photo
After photo
Affordable housing development site plan
Duplex sketch
Duplex under construction
We design projects of all sizes. Even if your goal is to do a total home makeover, the budget may not permit that. A good design program allows you to look at the project as a whole. You can then decide to tackle one piece at a time.
Kitchens and baths are two types of projects that add significant value to your home. Porches and decks can enhance the exterior appearance. Any of these projects can be done independently.
Renovations and additions require special attention. In our initial meeting we will talk about your existing home , its strengths and weaknesses. Does the house have “good bones”? We always try and maximize the house envelope and make your new program requirements work with the existing space before adding to it. This approach will help your budget.
Updated kitchen connecting to dinette space
Before
Tim and Marian wanted to convert their screen porch into a Three Season porch with a special window system that allowed large screen area but full closure to keep out weather and dust. We also changed door location to create better access and seating area.
The original porch, not that old, did not weather well and used an under deck gutter system that did not give a finished look to the screen porch
Replacing the under deck gutter system with a membrane roof deck and sleeper system along with special windows allowed the three season room to be sealed and accommodate new furnishings
“Brian Nowak created this impossible kitchen in our very vintage cabin remodel. As designers we were stuck on how to make a functional wheelchair accessible kitchen. Brian opened up the hall with with a half wall which created a spacious feel. The open shelves work perfect when you come and go. We have an opening for coolers and a lowered sink and workspace to accommodate a wheelchair. The galley kitchen has room for traffic without interrupting the chef! We are still amazed the way Brian’s mind works and could envision and transform a terrible space into a great space.”
This was the second project we asked Brian to design for us. His design maximized the space in the original rambler and allowed us to add new garage and guest accommodations. The design of the exterior transformed the house making it look like the house was always a Mahtomedi Cottage.
We had the prior experience of building a multi-generational home in Maple Plain where we lived with my father in law from as he aged into his nineties. This taught us many lessons about aging and the relationship of a home in later years. So when Ruthie and I took on our next adventure, the renovation of an 1880’s home in downtown Northfield we started the design looking through the lens of aging in place.
The design created a new private entry for the lower dwelling and a lift accessible entry from the garage for the upper home.
The design used the existing large roof overhang to provide a gallery stair and entry from the garage to the upper home
A mechanical lift chair in the gallery staircase provides an accessible home from the garage.
Edina Family Testimonial
“Brian Nowak brilliantly navigated the transition of our family home in Edina from a two level single family rambler to a duplex for my daughter and grand daughter in the lower level, leaving my home upstairs with a few modifications. For the lower level he converted the mother-in-law apartment with kitchen, laundry room, and storage area, working with our ideas to create an efficient two-bedroom home with walk-out to pond-side patio downstairs, leaving another two-bedroom home for me in the upper level. We have complete privacy in the separate homes, with stairway access between levels.
Mr. Nowak is creative and accommodating. He is efficient and competent and listens carefully to preferences and requirements.”
New open plan dwelling at ground level
Lakeside elevation with four season porch with roof deck off the master bedroom.
The design used a front porch of a courtyard to make the space to preserve the old oaks while creating a welcoming entry
The kitchen, dining and four season connected through a large 12’ sliding glass door , providing flexible use of the space and entertaining opportunities
Bryan & Lori’s testimonial
“When we did our first project with Brian we had hard time imagining how we could make our “odd lot” work. Brian met our need to save trees and maximize view while creating super place for our large family to get together. It was a great working relationship and we went on to work with Brian on 2 more projects”
Smart design can transform a house with good location and “good bones” into a beautiful home that meets the functional needs of today.
801 Union Street started to be renovated after Brian & Ruthie purchased a home with a great location and good bones that had gone through a bad “flip” by an investor.
The house was built in 1885 the first on the block, platted by John North. Since then it went through multiple additions and renovations and for many years was a duplex. On the exterior we kept the basic farmhouse form and added a welcoming front porch with columns that added some flair. The new addition for the future ADU on the rear worked with the same basic roof shapes. The goal is always to have the home look like it was built that way from its beginning.
The home was transformed into a more open plan on the interior, wall were removed and large openings were made to create an expanded feeling. The old super steep stair was replaced by one that is easier to navigate with open wrought iron railings .The first floor is all on one level with no steps making it aging friendly.
Bryan and Lori Roos had built a family retreat in Spirit Lake and as much as they loved the home as their children’s young families grew they needed a location closer to all that would allow ease of getting together. They found a 1950’s cabin that became the bones for the new retreat
A four season porch and a large window in the great room were added to the cabin.
Much of the original footprint, windows and fireplace were saved
Bryan & Lori’s Testimonial
“Our retreat is the third project that we asked for Brian’s help. As hard as it was to give up our beautiful home in Spirit Lake we trusted Brian’s skill to capture the best of the Iowa retreat and accommodate space for our 3 children and eight grandchildren. The final result is beautiful and functions well for our large family celebrations.”
We enlarged the family room by taking out a wall to an adjacent room to make a dining area. We popped up a shed dormer to make a taller and wider window with a spectacular view to the lake.
Two walls were taken down to open the kitchen to both the family room and the new entry
New contemporary home in Northfield.
Looking at the ordinary activities of daily living, the patterns of our life can become the inspiration for great architectural details.