Floor Plan of Seward Scoop by Keep
Floor Plan of Seward Scoop by Keep
Cedar on the porch’s deck, walls, and ceiling provides a natural counterpoint to the addition’s corrugated black metal cladding.
Cedar on the porch’s deck, walls, and ceiling provides a natural counterpoint to the addition’s corrugated black metal cladding.
The shed-roof clerestory pop-up mimics the pitch of the original home’s roofline.
The shed-roof clerestory pop-up mimics the pitch of the original home’s roofline.
The renovation updated a pair of staircases—one to the basement, one to the upper level—from their steep, unsafe angle to one that is now up to code. In the dining room, the pendant by Hans-Agne Jakobsson is from Karoline’s family cabin in Germany.
The renovation updated a pair of staircases—one to the basement, one to the upper level—from their steep, unsafe angle to one that is now up to code. In the dining room, the pendant by Hans-Agne Jakobsson is from Karoline’s family cabin in Germany.
Homeowner Isaac Hase installed custom cabinetry from Wisconsin cabinetmaker Woodcraft Specialties.
Homeowner Isaac Hase installed custom cabinetry from Wisconsin cabinetmaker Woodcraft Specialties.
Homeowner Karoline Lange’s family has been known to joke about the choice of cedar for cladding the porch. “My brother said, ‘Oh, that’s perfectly Karoline. It’s a giant sauna,” she says with a laugh. (She’s a member of the 612 Sauna Society, a mobile sauna co-op that moves around the Twin Cities.) “But that warm cedar feel and smell has such a homey, feel-good vibe.”
Homeowner Karoline Lange’s family has been known to joke about the choice of cedar for cladding the porch. “My brother said, ‘Oh, that’s perfectly Karoline. It’s a giant sauna,” she says with a laugh. (She’s a member of the 612 Sauna Society, a mobile sauna co-op that moves around the Twin Cities.) “But that warm cedar feel and smell has such a homey, feel-good vibe.”
One renovation request, homeowner Isaac Hase says, “was having a place to drop your shoes.” At the mudroom end of a run of kitchen cabinets, you’ll find another feature the couple asked for. “We wanted to have a dedicated, visible place for our little stash of cookbooks,” Karoline says.
One renovation request, homeowner Isaac Hase says, “was having a place to drop your shoes.” At the mudroom end of a run of kitchen cabinets, you’ll find another feature the couple asked for. “We wanted to have a dedicated, visible place for our little stash of cookbooks,” Karoline says.
Despite the space’s relatively small size, its galley layout, with countertops on each side, easily accommodates multiple cooks.
Despite the space’s relatively small size, its galley layout, with countertops on each side, easily accommodates multiple cooks.
Quartz countertops and two-by-eight-inch subway tile with tan grout (on the backsplash) complement the tone of the birch cabinetry and ash shelves in the kitchen.
Quartz countertops and two-by-eight-inch subway tile with tan grout (on the backsplash) complement the tone of the birch cabinetry and ash shelves in the kitchen.
Austin and Kotono Watanabe flew from vacation back to Minneapolis with the Noguchi lantern from Ozeki, a manufacturer in the Gifu Prefecture of Japan near Kotono’s hometown of Ibigawa, as a carry-on.
Austin and Kotono Watanabe flew from vacation back to Minneapolis with the Noguchi lantern from Ozeki, a manufacturer in the Gifu Prefecture of Japan near Kotono’s hometown of Ibigawa, as a carry-on.
The breakfast area sits directly beneath the clerestory window pop-up, or scoop.
The breakfast area sits directly beneath the clerestory window pop-up, or scoop.
Keep founders Austin and Kotono Watanabe revived a compact home in Minneapolis with a dazzling kitchen, an all-electric upgrade, and a clerestory “scoop.”
Keep founders Austin and Kotono Watanabe revived a compact home in Minneapolis with a dazzling kitchen, an all-electric upgrade, and a clerestory “scoop.”
Floor plan of Reynold's Road by Side Angle Side
Floor plan of Reynold's Road by Side Angle Side
In theory the renovated home is designed for entertaining, however at the moment the couple are so busy with their respective careers that the home hasn’t hosted many parties as of late: “We’re kicking ourselves all the time for not being more social,” says Steph. “That’s a goal of ours.”
In theory the renovated home is designed for entertaining, however at the moment the couple are so busy with their respective careers that the home hasn’t hosted many parties as of late: “We’re kicking ourselves all the time for not being more social,” says Steph. “That’s a goal of ours.”
“We designed this home so that we can be here forever,” says Steph. Accessibility features include a ramp leading to the front door and showers with small curbs. The materials selected for the deck and roof intentionally have 40-year lifespans, while gutter protectors eliminate the need for cleaning: “There will be a point where we don’t need to be on ladders cleaning out gutters,” adds Steph.
“We designed this home so that we can be here forever,” says Steph. Accessibility features include a ramp leading to the front door and showers with small curbs. The materials selected for the deck and roof intentionally have 40-year lifespans, while gutter protectors eliminate the need for cleaning: “There will be a point where we don’t need to be on ladders cleaning out gutters,” adds Steph.
“I believe in simplicity and natural materials,” says Steph. “In our home, what really pops is our things: our furniture, art, and books. And in my [Tiny Grocer] store in the same way what really pops is our products.
“I believe in simplicity and natural materials,” says Steph. “In our home, what really pops is our things: our furniture, art, and books. And in my [Tiny Grocer] store in the same way what really pops is our products.
“One of the early inspirations was Donald Judd,” says Arthur. “That’s not where we ended up, but there was a time when every choice was ‘What would Donald Judd do?’ and usually the answer was the most minimal thing possible.”
“One of the early inspirations was Donald Judd,” says Arthur. “That’s not where we ended up, but there was a time when every choice was ‘What would Donald Judd do?’ and usually the answer was the most minimal thing possible.”
The steel windows were crafted by a local fabricator rather than a brand-name manufacturer to help cut down on costs.
The steel windows were crafted by a local fabricator rather than a brand-name manufacturer to help cut down on costs.
Steph and Margaret passed on buying new furniture for the home, save for one coffee table. Consulted by their friend and interior designer Mark Ashby, that decision allowed them to spend slightly more on high-end finishes like soapstone counters, brass cabinet pulls, faucets, and tile. Overall they spent $103K on finishes, which includes drywall and painting.
Steph and Margaret passed on buying new furniture for the home, save for one coffee table. Consulted by their friend and interior designer Mark Ashby, that decision allowed them to spend slightly more on high-end finishes like soapstone counters, brass cabinet pulls, faucets, and tile. Overall they spent $103K on finishes, which includes drywall and painting.
The couple splurged on appliances, spending <b>$TK</b> on items like a Sub-Zero fridge, a Wolfe stove, and a Bosch dishwasher: “I have the oven of my dreams,” says Steph.
$TK
One of the couple’s favorite new details is the built-in, L-shaped bookcase in the den.
One of the couple’s favorite new details is the built-in, L-shaped bookcase in the den.
The architects at Side Angle Side added five pairs of skylights during the renovation: two pairs in the kitchen and three in the living room.
The architects at Side Angle Side added five pairs of skylights during the renovation: two pairs in the kitchen and three in the living room.
Steph, Margaret, and their two dogs spent 2.5 years living in a 525-square-foot yurt on their 1.77 acre property in Austin’s <b>TK</b> neighborhood while their home was being designed and remodeled.
Steph, Margaret, and their two dogs spent 2.5 years living in a 525-square-foot yurt on their 1.77 TK
A walking path connects the guesthouse with the rest of property.
A walking path connects the guesthouse with the rest of property.
The two interlocking volumes with shed roofs create an unexpected form.
The two interlocking volumes with shed roofs create an unexpected form.
A timber-framed screened porch gives guests a place to sit outside without being swarmed by mosquitos.
A timber-framed screened porch gives guests a place to sit outside without being swarmed by mosquitos.
A locally sourced vintage barn door is mounted with hardware from Rustica.
A locally sourced vintage barn door is mounted with hardware from Rustica.
A project splurge, twin commercial-grade windows paired with crisp white walls make the small space feel exceptionally roomy. The pendant above the dining nook is from Hay.
A project splurge, twin commercial-grade windows paired with crisp white walls make the small space feel exceptionally roomy. The pendant above the dining nook is from Hay.
In the main living space, green - gray cabinets from Lowes,
In the main living space, green - gray cabinets from Lowes,
Site restrictions limited the structure’s footprint, so Benson found additional space by creating a loft.
Site restrictions limited the structure’s footprint, so Benson found additional space by creating a loft.
The main living space has a couch from Room &amp; Board and rugs from Dash and Albert, all in colors that reflect the rural parcel. The wood sculpture hanging on the wall is by Don Best.
The main living space has a couch from Room &amp; Board and rugs from Dash and Albert, all in colors that reflect the rural parcel. The wood sculpture hanging on the wall is by Don Best.
The entryway leads to a common area of a kitchen, dining, and living space.
The entryway leads to a common area of a kitchen, dining, and living space.
The entryway's stairs are surrounded by a screen that helps diffuse sunlight.
The entryway's stairs are surrounded by a screen that helps diffuse sunlight.

344 more saves