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EAGAN MAIN LEVEL

Our clients came to us with 2 primary goals for their main level.  The first and most important was to add gathering space for their growing family.  The second was to completely update the space, which was showing signs of wear after 30+ years of raising a family.

The main floor of the home is divided into two separate halves.  The front half features a formal piano room, entryway, and formal dining room.  The back half is where the family spends most of their time.  It included a sunken living room, kitchen, and informal dining area.  A powder bathroom and the stairway splits the home down the middle, and a rear entry/mudroom is tucked into the back corner.

After discussing a few ideas, creating a better marriage between the kitchen and informal living room seemed to be the most important aspect of adding family gathering space.  The existing setup had an eating peninsula split on both sides between the level and sunken areas, creating a weird traffic flow.  People sitting on the sunken side would block traffic from coming from the other direction.  Because the 2 sides of the peninsula were different heights, our clients needed different stools for each side.  This setup also shrunk the usable family space considerably.

Our team explored a few designs and solutions, including the removal of the wall between the sunken room and the piano room.  Investigation determined that the wall was load bearing, which isn’t a huge obstacle.  Unfortunately, numerous plumbing pipes and ductwork runs serving the 2nd floor ran through this wall, and our clients ultimately determined that it wasn’t worth the investment to relocate these items and take down this wall.

Ultimately, our clients decided to level out the sunken room with the rest of the floor and “push” the eating area toward the kitchen.  To accomplish this, our team removed a giant 9’ patio door from the sunken room and installed some brand new windows in place of the door.

KITCHEN

The blue cabinetry really makes a statement, especially compared to the dingy oak that it replaced.  The center island is a taupe shade for contrast.  The cabinets include soft close hardware and hidden storage solutions to maximize the spaces.  Quartz countertops are a breeze to maintain.  Some appliances were replaced while others were re-used from the previous kitchen.

LIGHTING

One of our clients recurring comments was how dark it gets in the house.  Our solutions included recessed lighting in most areas.  Where decorative fixtures were desired, high lumen bulbs were specified to maximize the available light.  The kitchen received undercabinet lighting, as well as above-cabinet lighting for an accent.  Dimmer switches were used in most areas to allow for full customization of the lighting.

BATHROOM

Our clients found a glass vessel sink that they fell in love with, and this became the focal point of the bathroom and all other elements were selected to coordinat with the sink.  A green palette for the cabinet and countertop really adds interest to the space, and updated lighting brightens it up nicely.

MUDROOM

The original mudroom was just an open space, with no storage whatsoever.  Our team designed a combination of wall hooks and cabinetry for storage.  The space now serves as a pantry as well as an entry point.  The back door to the yard had been leaking badly, which resulted in some minor structural repairs before replacing the door.

EXTERIOR UPDATES

This project included a few exterior updates as well.  This included new windows on the rear of the home, new overhead garage doors, new entry doors on the front and back of the home, new shutters on the front windows, and new light fixtures.

FINISHING TOUCHES

All of the popcorn ceiling was removed, and the ceilings were skimmed smooth.  The ceiling and walls were painted, including a couple of accent walls for a nice little pop.  All of the flooring was replaced with a waterproof laminate.  The entire level now has the same continuous floor throughout, with no tripping hazards between rooms.  New baseboards were installed throughout.  The windows on the kitchen/family room side of the home were replaced with new units from Marvin.

 

FROM OUR CLIENTS

“Eric Bader from Allrounder Remodeling did an excellent job for our recent remodel. We were looking for a fresh update to our kitchen and family room area. Allrounder helped give our space more function with beautiful updates.
Eric was so comfortable and easy to work with. He helped us hone into our design from several ideas we had. Eric and his team have a great eye for detail.
The crew we worked with were very professional. They were skilled, courteous and conscientious of our space and time.
I highly recommend Allrounders for any project.
We are very happy with the whole process and outcome.”

–Mike and Heidi, Eagan MN

 

Designer

Tracy Morris

 

Project Manager

Eric Bader

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LAUNDRY & MUDROOM

This space serves multiple purposes for our clients.  It’s the primary family entrance to the home, serving as a place to remove shoes and jackets, as well as a “drop zone” for groceries and such.  In addition, it also connects the home to the patio out back for relaxing and grilling.  A large closet serves as both a coat closet and pantry for the nearby kitchen.  As if that isn’t enough, our team also added a main-floor laundry in this space, making it a very busy area of the home.  The room has an odd shape with strange angles, adding to the complexity of the design.

Our team custom designed and built a bench/storage system.  This gives our clients a place to put on and remove shoes.  Hooks keep often used jackets close by.  Drawers below store gloves and hats, while the upper storage keeps general items behind closed doors.

The laundry area includes a stackable washer/dryer.  A sink provides a place to hand-wash items or cleaning paint brushes.  Our clients report that it has also come in handy for an additional dishwashing sink during parties.  The custom cabinets include upper storage for laundry supplies and a lower pullout that holds laundry baskets perfectly.  Cambria quartz countertops are beautiful and easy to maintain.  The pattern served as the color inspiration for the rest of the room.

The spacious closet is divided into two areas: one contains rods and cubbies for shoes, jackets, and hats.  The other side contains simple open shelving and serves as a pantry.  Bypass closet doors keep everything contained.

A beautiful rustic alder barn door separates this busy space from the rest of the home, and a Marvin patio door provides access to the patio.

 

DESIGNER

Ruth & Eric Bader

 

PROJECT MANAGER

Eric Bader

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WOODBURY MAIN LEVEL

GOALS & OVERVIEW

Our clients came to us with a few goals for their home.  They wished to update the outdated 1990s look and modernize things a bit.  In addition, they hoped to make their home brighter and improve the dim lighting.  All new finishes must be easy to clean and maintain, and if they could appeal to future buyers, all the better.

The project entailed a full remodel of the main floor, as well as work on the stairway and upper hallway.  The kitchen was completely redesigned, and the powder room received new fixtures.  In addition, lighting was added, and new doors, trim, and flooring were replaced throughout.

 

DESIGN & PLANNING

One of our client’s pain points was the closed off feeling of the kitchen.  A bank of cabinets hanging over the peninsula, soffits at the ceiling level, and a “bumped out” section of wall near the fridge really enclosed the space.  Some investigation determined that the bump out housed a vent pipe for the water heater, as well a laundry chute that was no longer used.  A new power-vent water heater was installed to allow the vent to go out the side of the house instead of vertically through the kitchen to the roof, allowing us to reclaim this space for the kitchen.

Our team also explored adding-on to the home to create more space in the kitchen, but ultimately our clients decided that the space gained wouldn’t be worth the additional cost and that enough space would be created through the removal of soffits and re-working the layout within the existing space.

 

KITCHEN

This kitchen really blends beautiful and practical components.  The birch cabinets blend timeless and modern looks together, and feature a ton of drawers for storage.  The pantry includes rollout trays so nothing is lost in the back.  Cambria quartz countertops are not only stunning, but easy to maintain.  The backsplash tile is “mesmerizing” according to our client.   New stainless appliances include all of the bells and whistles.  Finally, a glass-cabinet area was included in order for our clients to show off some treasures.

 

LIGHTING

Our lighting plan included general overhead lighting, as well as task-specific lighting and some accent lighting to highlight a couple of areas.  For overhead lighting, recessed lighting was added to every room.  The kitchen received undercabinet lighting to light up the countertop work areas, as well as some dedicated lighting over the sink work area and the cooktop work area.  Accent lighting was added to a glass cabinet to show off treasures.  In addition, a frosted glass door was installed at the top of the basement stairs to allow some natural light to filter to the basement.

 

FLOORING

Our clients existing wood floors had been severely worn down due to some rambunctious puppies.  Our original plan was to extend these wood floors throughout the main floor and refinish them all.  This plan was foiled when we discovered that the wood was not solid, but merely a veneer, meaning that they could not be refinished.  After reviewing several options, our clients landed on a wood-look laminate that they loved the look of.  In addition, this laminate has the most durable wear-layer available, making it perfect for resisting those dog scratches.  Beautiful new carpet was selected for the stairs and upper hallway.  Under the carpet, a spill-guard pad is in place just in case of a puppy accident.

 

FINISHES

All areas received new modern doors and trim.  The ceilings were skim coated smooth for a truly modern clean look.  The doors, trim, and windows received a beautiful enamel finish, and the walls and ceilings were painted as well.  The stairway also received a makeover with a modern railing and baluster system, which was tied in beautifully by our carpenters.  Our carpenters also installed a beautiful solid fir mantle on the fireplace.

 

FROM OUR CLIENTS

“We recently completed a main floor and upstairs remodel, words cannot begin to detail the quality of work and professionalism we received from Allrounder Remodeling. Eric and his team were extremely professional and always courteous. From the top notch craftsmanship and attention to details from start to finish, Allrounder Remodeling will not disappoint. After our initial meeting and walk through, Eric came up with a plan that exceeded our expectations and we felt like he really understood what we wanted. We love our remodel and look forward to years of enjoyment.

Thank you Allrounder,”

— Chuck and Roberta
Woodbury, MN

 

DESIGNER

Tracy Morris

 

PROJECT MANAGER

Eric Bader

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4-Season Porch Update

A few simple updates turned this porch from a space that our clients dreaded into a space that they can’t get enough of.  The damaged popcorn ceiling was skim coated and painted to create a nice flat surface.  A random piece of exposed ductwork was found to not be serving any purpose and was removed.  The exterior doors and storm doors were replaced with new energy efficient models.  In addition, the existing wall paneling was carefully prepared and painted in a nice fresh color.  Luxury vinyl tile flooring will hold up great with traffic and dogs.

 

TESTIMONIAL

“Allrounder spruced up our four-season porch. Skim coated the ceiling, replaced the light fixtures, painted the paneling (our budget didn’t allow replacing with drywall), put in new flooring, replaced the door to the backyard and fire door into the garage, all new moulding around doors and windows, plus baseboard and crown moulding. Liked the crown moulding so much we had them put it in the kitchen too. Eric & team were very responsible, came when they said they would come or called in advance if their schedule changed. Very careful about keeping dust&debris out of the rest of the house and cleaning up. No surprises with the budget. This is the second project Allrounder has done for us, and will be our first choice for any future projects.”

-Brad, Bloomington MN

 

DESIGN

Tracy Morris

 

PROJECT MANAGER

Eric Bader

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Townhome Improvements

Sometimes a full remodel isn’t needed to accomplish our clients goals.  In this case, our client liked the layout and cabinets in her kitchen.  She wanted to update it a bit and finish it with materials that were easy to maintain.  Our team replaced the countertops, sinks, and faucets in not only the kitchen but also all of the bathrooms.  Cambria quartz countertops were used for maximum beauty and durability.  In addition, the flooring throughout the home was replaced with luxury vinyl tile and solid wood.  The kitchen appliances were replaced with new stainless models.  Most of the interior was painted, and the kitchen received new cabinet hardware and a tile backsplash.  A nice change without the expense of a full remodel!

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MAIN LEVEL REMODEL

GOALS & OVERVIEW

Our clients had recently moved into this home.  They knew it needed some updates and felt that it had great potential to be their “forever home” but weren’t sure what was needed to make it perfect.  Our clietns are a busy family, so our plan needed to address the needs of all ages and abilities, as well as enough flexibility to change with them as the kids grow older.

DESIGN & PLANNING

A wall ran down the center of the home, dividing the kitchen and living areas.  Our team quickly identified the removal of this wall as a priority, as removing it would all for many more design options.  A structural engineer was brought in to investigate, and much to our surprise, we discovered that the wall was not load-bearing and could be removed without any additional support needed.  Next, the kitchen area was planned and designed.

KITCHEN

Various workstations were incorporated into the design, allowing multiple users to work on different tasks without getting in each-others way.  These stations included the microwave, sink/dishwasher, range, and a unique cabinet that incorporates the highly-used coffee maker and toaster.  Ample space was given between the stations and center island to keep users from bumping into each other.  Finally, a solid walnut integrated breakfast counter was designed to allow the kids to work on homework while mom and dad cook dinner.  Rustic alder cabinets in a dark stain look great and contain all of the modern bells and whistles.  Cambria quartz countertops look great and are easy to clean and maintain.  Our clients loved the huge front window and didn’t want to replace it, so our designer integrated a flip-top bench beneath it for additional storage and seating.  The kitchen lighting includes undercabinet, overhead, and task-specific lighting.  All lighting is LED and controlled by dimmers for efficiency.

MAIN LEVEL

In addition to the kitchen, the newly-opened up main level contains room for a large dining table and a seating/conversation space.  The lighting was designed to illuminate each space separately or together, and dimmers allow our clients to set the perfect lighting for whatever activity or mood they are in.  All of the main level flooring was replacing with luxury vinyl plank.  Walls and ceilings were painted, and the exterior doors and patio door were replaced.  Some interior doors were replaced, along with moulding and trim.  A new guardrail system was installed around the open stairway.  A custom storage nook was placed near the family entrance to create a “drop zone” when entering the home.

BATHROOMS

The bathroom layouts remained the same, but the spaces were completely updated.  Numerous plumbing and electrical issues were addressed prior to the beautiful new finishes being installed.  The hall bathroom will serve 2 children and guests.  It received beautiful herringbone tile on the floor and a lovely glass inlay in the tub area.  Speaking of the tub, the huge soaker tub will be borrowed by mom on a regular basis.  The dark blue vanity adds some fun to this space.  The 2nd bathroom received nice hex tile on the floor, and a clean white palette for the rest of the room.

DESIGNER

Melissa Buchanan

PROJECT MANAGER

Eric Bader

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Riverfront Retreat

Our clients have a lovely home on the Mississippi River in Newport.  Their wish was to increase the size of the master bedroom, create a large walk in closet, and improve the ventilation and lighting in these spaces.  Maximizing the view and breezes from the river was of utmost importance.  In addition, the bathroom was in dire need of a renovation.  The project involved taking 3 upstairs bedrooms and converting them into a large master suite.

DESIGN AND PLANNING PROCESS

During our initial meetings with the clients, we discussed their needs and lifestyle in more detail.  Discussions were had regarding number of bedrooms and resale value, as well as any potential for future family expansion or children.  Some general ideas were sketched out for the bedroom areas and bathroom.  These sketches were turned over to our design team, who drew some computerized ideas and plans.  5 initial floor plans were presented.  After reviewing these with the client, a hybrid idea was developed, which our architect ran with and drew up.  A structural engineer was brought in to verify that the walls we wished to remove were not load bearing.  Our cabinet designer drew up some great ideas for the bathroom.  Once the plans were approved by the client, our design team worked with the clients to pick out the cabinets, tile, fixtures, etc. that would go into the space.  Finally, our trade partners were brought in to walk through the project and alleviate any construction concerns or plan tweaks that may have been needed.

BEDROOM & CLOSET HIGHLIGHTS

3 bedrooms and 2 small closets were converted into a large master suite with huge walk-in closet.  Additional walls were framed to create new separations between the hallway and this new space.  The existing plaster was carefully blended with new drywall to ensure that the spaces looked like they had always been this way.  Special high-build ceiling paint was used to ensure an even finish in this brightly lit space.   Our trim carpenters installed new pocket doors and trim.  The painters did a beautiful job with the rich color palette.  In these areas, the hardwood floors were patched and the entire area refinished.  Our electricians installed new lighting, ceiling fans, and additional outlets for our clients convenience.

BATHROOM HIGHLIGHTS

Our clients had a strong wish for a black and white space.  These can be some of the most difficult finishes to work with, as every imperfection sticks out like a sore thumb.  The tub was removed to create a large walk-in shower and linen closet.  The porcelain tile floor sits on top of an in-floor heat system.  A combination of fixtures from different brands were used in order to provide the custom look that our clients were seeking.  A custom clear glass door and panel allows light to pass into the shower area and combines with a huge mirror to make the room feel larger.  Black cabinets were designed to maximize storage, and the Cambria quartz countertop looks amazing and will be a breeze to keep clean.

FINISHING TOUCHES

An upgraded electrical panel will provide plenty of power to the home, and some dated plumbing piping was replaces.  A sliding rustic alder barn door separates the hallway from the master suite.  A new craftsman-style fiberglass front door puts the exclamation point on this beautiful project.

TIMELINE

This project took about 3 months to design and plan.  Construction was completed in about 3-1/2 months.

DESIGN CREDITS

Leah Johnson & Carly Hand

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Full Home in St. Paul

This project touched nearly every room on all 3 floors of the home.

KITCHEN

The crown jewel of this project is the kitchen.  Careful planning and a full gut job allowed this space to really open up and become a useful space for our clients.  Old wonky framing was repaired.  The plumbing, electrical, and ventilation were all brought up to date.  Spray foam insulation made an instant difference in the comfort level of the room before the drywall went up.  Custom trim was curated to perfectly match what was in the other rooms of the home, and then the painters did a great job in making it all pop.

Next, the custom cabinets were installed.  The cabinets include soft close doors and drawers, along with hidden rollout trays and a trash/recycling drawer.  Cambria quartz countertops look great and will be easy to maintain.  The wavy tile backsplash is super fun.  Tons of lighting was included ,both overhead and undercabinet.  Stainless appliances finish things off.

BASEMENT

A foundation leak led to much of the existing finishes being removed.  A drain tile system with sump pump was installed to deter future water infiltration.  Our team discussed some different ideas and options with the clients.  Ultimately it was decided to maintain the existing wood wall coverings on the existing interior walls, and rebuild the exterior walls with a drywall covering.  Painting all of these surfaces the same color really ties things together.  Since the ceiling height was so low, we left it open instead of covering it with drywall.  Painting the existing floor framing above makes the space feel much taller than it really is.  Our team added tons of lighting and updated the electrical system.  Updated heating supplies and returns, along with spray foam insulation really makes this basement feel cozy, even during winter months.

LIVING ROOM/HALLWAY/BEDROOMS

These areas received a nice cosmetic update.  Walls, ceilings, and trim were painted.  The wood floors were sanded and refinished.  Fun note on the wood floors:  2 other wood floor companies turned the job down because they didn’t feel the floors could be saved.  Kudos to our team for their efforts and beautiful results.  The finished attic received new vinyl plank flooring, along with new carpet on the stairs.

OTHER TOUCHES

Both exterior storm doors were replaced and a new electrical subpanel was installed.

DESIGN TEAM

Kitchen – Carly Hand

Flooring and colors – Tracy Morris

PROJECT MANAGER

Eric Bader

 

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Townhome Updates

This single level townhome received some cosmetic updates.

KITCHEN

The existing cabinets remained in place.  New Cambria quartz countertops were installed, along with a gorgeous tile backsplash.  New vinyl plank flooring and paint look great.  Fresh paint and lighting completes the look.  Rollout trays were added to the existing lower cabinets.  This looks like a brand new kitchen, even though the cabinets and appliances didn’t change!

MASTER BATH/CLOSET

This floor plan includes a small walk-in-closet inside of the bathroom.  The old wire shelving was ditched and a new custom closet system was installed to maximize every inch of this small space.  In addition, a new custom oak vanity was built to give our client a few drawers which she didn’t have previously.  A coat of paint, new countertop and faucet, and mirror finishes off the room.

GUEST BATH

A simple update was done in the guest bath.  A new custom oak vanity was built in our shop, and installed along with a new countertop and faucet.  Fresh paint, mirror, and accessories finish it off.

 

DESIGNER

Jennifer Leslie

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Luxury Kitchen

Our clients wished for a professionally-detailed kitchen that would be worthy of a gourmet chef.  As the design developed, more items were added to really improve the luxury and function of this home.  This intensive project touched on nearly every room in the house.

DESIGN

As the design evolved, 3 primary focus points were decided on.  Each adds something unique without working against each other.

First is the giant island with seating for six.  Our clients really wanted to be able to comfortably host a small gathering without having to spread out.  The unique shape of the island allows traffic flow while still comfortably seating six people.  After deciding on the perfect island layout, our design team determined that the refrigerator would stick out too far into the room to achieve good traffic flow.  Our solution was to open up the wall behind the fridge to create an alcove for it to recess into.  This involved removing a load-bearing wall and installing a header, as well as moving ductwork and drain piping that was in the way.

The next focal point is the copper exhaust hood.  Our client found this and fell in love with it.  It’s a beautiful piece of art that happens to serve a ventilation purpose.  The hood required careful coordination between the design team, HVAC installer, carpenter, and electrician to make sure that it fit just right and functioned perfectly.  Due to some overhead structural beams, the exhaust ductwork needed to remain below the ceiling level of the kitchen.  Our cabinet company did an amazing job of creating a chase within the upper cabinets to hide the ductwork.

Our clients live along a lake, so a giant window was specified in order to maximize the view.  Our only concern was losing all of that upper cabinet storage space.  As usual, our design team came up with some wonderful alternative storage, including huge drawers in the island with organizers for plates and bowls that would normally be stored in an upper cabinet.  The view from the window is absolutely stunning and we are so glad that we went for the large window.

CABINETS

The cabinetry is custom made, and every single inch of it is made to be useful as well as beautiful.  Features include soft close inset doors and drawers, toe-kick drawers, rollout trays, giant drawers in the island, as well as glass-front cabinets.  The primary kitchen cabinets are finished in white, while the island is a custom slate-blue.  The dining room cabinets are maple with a custom stained finish.

COUNTERTOPS

The giant size of the island posed 2 challenges.  First, a piece of stone that large would cause strain on the floor support system due to the enormous amount of weight.  Second, there was not a single piece of stone large enough, and seaming 2 pieces together would not guarantee that the movement in the stone would continue uninterrupted.  One of our talented trade partners was able to duplicate the look our clients craved in an epoxy overlay.  This is truly a piece of art that happens to be a countertop.  The epoxy is far less weight than stone and provided the giant seamless look that we were looking for.

LIGHTING

Our team specified a variety of lighting for different purposes.  General overhead lighting is accomplished with LED recessed lights.  Task lighting is achieved with undercabinet lighting, as well as pendants over the island.  Accent lighting is included in the glass cabinets to highlight treasured pieces.  All lighting is LED for energy savings and long life.  Dimmers are included for each element as well, allowing our clients to fully customize the lighting to suit their needs and mood.  Our clients found blue glass pendants while on a trip to Italy that are the perfect touch over the island.

APPLIANCES

These professional chef-grade appliances could be found in a commercial kitchen.  The dishwasher is whisper quiet.  The cooktop has safety features to prevent accidental use and burns.  The fridge is not only huge, but includes features to keep food from spoiling.

OTHER FEATURES

The kitchen backsplash is simple but really ties the other elements together without distraction.  The home’s interior was painted with a lush matte finish from Hirshfields.  The wood floors on the main level were refinished.  Minor upgrades were made to plumbing fixtures throughout the home.

DESIGN TEAM

Julie & Brian Widiker – Layout and Cabinets

Jennifer Leslie – Finishes and Colors

Eric Bader – Lighting

PROJECT MANAGER

Eric Bader

 

TESTIMONIAL

We started our kitchen remodel journey without a contractor and did not know if we needed one. Allrounder came highly recommended by a couple of vendors we visited. Best decision ever!

Eric and Ruth are extremely organized, detail oriented, knowledgeable, ethical, and professional. Allrounder overcame challenges that came up—which were quite a few. Including finding a vendor to create a nine-foot island countertop in one piece, moving ductwork to recess our Sub Zero refrigerator, configuring a large picture window in the kitchen, and venting for a custom copper hood.

Allrounder protected our existing hardwood floors, doorways, staircase, and wall edges. Barriers were put up to keep dust contained yet allowed access to most of the house.

Allrounder has excellent craftsmen they work with. They showed up every time scheduled, on time, and cleaned up before leaving.

We had many meetings to plan our remodel prior to beginning. Allrounder provided a detailed calendar of the project plan as well as a contract. The project was finished on time.

We love how our kitchen turned out. It is STUNNING!
We will be using Allrounder for our next home project. We hope you will too.

–Bob & Pat, Inver Grove Heights MN

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