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

This townhome was built in 1986 and still had most of it’s original parts.  Our clients wishes were pretty straightforward:  Bring the home into this timeframe, and improve the look and function of the spaces.  He wished for a clean simple look that would require minimal maintenance.

KITCHEN

The galley kitchen was surrounded by load-bearing and exterior walls.  Our client actually enjoyed the layout of the existing kitchen, so we kept the layout similar.  The upper cabinets go full height to the ceiling, eliminating the dust collection space that was above the original cabinets.  The white cabinets are a shaker style to keep the look simple.  Quartz countertops will be easy to maintain and add a little sparkle.  The floor looks like carrera marble but is actually a luxury vinyl tile.  Black stainless appliances really pop against the lighter finishes.  A counter-depth fridge was specified so as not to intrude on the rest of the room.  The backsplash is subtle and pulls a touch of the veining color out of the floor.

BATHROOM

This bathroom is tiny and cramped.  We briefly considered expanding into other spaces, but our clients budget and desire to maintain the adjacent walk in closet and kids bathroom meant that we needed to get creative within the existing space.  In place of a tub, a large shower was created.  The shower walls are Corian solid surface panels, with a stripe of black accent tile.  The new toilet has a small footprint.  The new vanity cabinets are slightly shallower than normal to add a little more space.  Finally, the door was replaced and hung to swing into the adjacent bedroom instead of into the bathroom, further adding some precious space.

OTHER TOUCHES

The luxury vinyl tile floor was carried through the entry and hallway areas of the home, which helped tie these spaces to the kitchen and make things easier for our clients during wet weather.  Light fixtures were replaced throughout the home.  The laundry washer and dryer were replaced with commercial grade appliances.

DESIGNER

Lindsey Maddas

PROJECT MANAGER

Eric Bader

TESTIMONIAL

I am very happy with my kitchen and bathroom remodels. Allrounder met me at four different businesses to help me select new lighting fixtures, appliances, plumbing fixtures, and flooring. Allrounder took care of hiring the subcontractors, which made the remodeling process so much easier. The quality of the work completed was excellent. I’m already planning on hiring Allrounder in a few years to finish my basement.

— Steve, Eagan MN

This tiny kitchen in south Minneapolis is only 9’x9′, so it was critical to maximize every inch of it.  Our clients goals were to modernize the space, add storage and counter space, and improve the ventilation to exhaust cooking odors to the outdoors.  As a busy growing family with 2 working parents, easy cleaning and minimal maintenance were important as well.

DESIGN & PLANNING

Naturally our client wished for all of today’s modern appliances and conveniences, so our design team was challenged to cram everything into this tiny space.  Great collaboration between our designer and appliance company led to some great space-saving choices.  Fully custom cabinets were specified in order to make use of every inch of space.  Numerous special storage features were incorporated into the cabinets.  In addition, European-style frameless cabinets were specified to allow every inch of cabinet to be used for storage.  Careful collaboration between the plumber, cabinet company, and project manager allowed for some custom drawers to be built under the kitchen sink.

HIGHLIGHTS & FEATURES

The white-finished cabinets have a premium finish on them to keep them easy to clean.  Our client wished for concrete countertops because she loved the look of them.  However, when she found out about sealing and maintaining them, she was a bit dejected.  Corian quartz countertops in Dove Gray Leathered provided the look she craved with minimal maintenance.  A pull out trash drawer keeps the rubbish bin out of sight.  The dishwasher includes a cabinet panel to keep the room from looking too chopped up.  Under-sink drawers were custom built to fit around the plumbing but provide much-needed storage.  Our client opted for a smaller-than-usual sink in order to maximize the counter space.  Our mechanical contractor ran  ducting for the exhaust fan, so the fan will actually pull odors out of the room instead of just recirculating them.  Due to site conditions, some of this ductwork needed to be run through the cabinet above the microwave, so our carpenters crafted a little chase to conceal the ductwork.  Luxury vinyl sheet flooring provided the old-school look that our client wished for, along with a lower cost and easier maintenance than tile.

OOPS

As mentioned above, our client wished for countertops that looked like concrete, and Corian Quartz in Dove Gray Leathered looked perfect.  Unfortunately Eric put Storm Gray on the order form instead of Dove, and the counters were already installed before the mistake was realized.  So naturally, we replaced the countertops with what we had promised originally.  An expensive mistake to be sure, but it was the right thing to do.  Both colors look great in this kitchen. Which do you like better?

MAIN LEVEL UPDATES

A few months after the kitchen was completed, we were privileged to be invited back to finish off the main floor.  Updates included a new bathroom floor that matched what we did in the kitchen.  At some point in time, the tray ceilings were covered with knockdown texture.  After thorough testing to make sure that the texture wasn’t hazardous, it was scraped off.  The ceilings were then sealed, skim coated, sanded, primed, and painted back to what they would have looked like originally.  The old oak doors and trim were painstakingly cleaned, prepped, primed, and painted white.  80 years of age were sanded from the hardwood floors, which were then refinished with a natural polyurethane finish.  The old door hinges and heat registers were stripped of a million layers of old paint and re-painted.  After we were finished, the clients put a fresh coat of paint on the walls.

Designer:  Chris Albrecht

Project Manager:  Eric Bader

This complete home remodel includes a full kitchen & bathroom remodel.  In addition, the entire home received hardwood floors and a fresh coat of paint.

KITCHEN REMODEL

Our clients’ primary goal was to update the kitchen.  Several appliances didn’t even work anymore, and lack of good storage space meant that they had to keep pots and pans hanging from a rack on the ceiling.  In addition, our clients had set up numerous racks and carts for additional storage.

The new kitchen features plenty of storage in the custom maple cabinetry.  The durable Cambria quartz countertops are flanked by a natural butcher block peninsula for a variety of textures to keep things visually interesting.  After multiple plumbing and electrical updates, the space was drywalled and painted.  New stainless appliances and luxury vinyl flooring finish the space.  Fully custom overhead, under-cabinet, and task lighting ensures that all work areas are illuminated.

BATHROOM

In the bathroom, our clients wished for a luxurious and classic feel for the space.  A unique custom cabinet package is topped with Cambria quartz countertops.  Luxury vinyl flooring mimics the look of reclaimed barnwood.  The white subway tile and chrome fixtures offer a timeless and classic elegance.

OTHER CUSTOM TOUCHES

In addition, the carpeting was removed from the entire home, which revealed some beautiful original hardwood flooring.  The wood flooring was painstakingly refinished to its original beauty.  While we had the home emptied out, all walls and ceilings were patched and painted.  Our carpenters created a new mantle above the fireplace, and new pillars along the staircase.

TESTIMONIAL

“I started out just remodeling a little bit and ended up doing my whole upstairs. That includes my entire kitchen, new cabinets, new floor, tile, new refrigerator, stove, the whole ball of wax. Fully new floors, the entire thing painted. And then I had hardwood floors. I had carpeting and that got ripped out and there were hardwood floors underneath and they ended up just processing that, grinding it down and then staining it. Stain and poly. Replacing boards and they had to do everything to code. I got a new fan in my family room, a fan with a light. Plug-in and new lights all over the place because everything has to be to code now.

Everything was fantastic. Well, basically, what I want I got. It wasn’t like some of these other people that came because we were looking to remodel our house and they were giving their ideas not our ideas. These guys went hand in hand what I want I got, period. It wasn’t where, we had this other guy where he says no, you should do this and move that and blah, blah, blah. That’s not what we wanted to do.
I would use them again.”

— Joe & Christine, Apple Valley MN

This project touched every room of this 2-level townhome in Inver Grove Heights.  A full kitchen remodel highlights the changes.  In addition, the bathrooms were remodeled along with other custom touches.

KITCHEN

Our kitchen designer did a great job with very limited space in this tiny kitchen.  Full-height upper cabinets provide extra storage and eliminate dust collection space above the upper cabinets.  The refrigerator was moved from next to the range to an adjacent corner, which eliminated an unused desk and added much-needed countertop space.  The awful florescent lighting was replaced with dimmable LED recessed lights.   White cabinets, granite countertops, and a glass tile backsplash work perfectly with stainless appliances.  Kitchen Design by Chris Albrecht.

MASTER BATH

A full remodel of the master bath wasn’t in the budget, but we were able to make some nice changes.  The builder grade cabinets were replaced with beautiful maple cabinets with a marble countertop.  A custom matching mirror was built, and a new shower door makes the original shower feel bigger than it really is.

POWDER ROOM

Our client has declared the powder room to be her favorite room in the house.  The beachy feel is accomplished by a gray furniture style cabinet, sea green walls, and vinyl plank flooring that mimics the look of reclaimed wood.  A quartz countertop with integrated sink is a breeze to clean.

LAUNDRY ROOM

This room was clearly an afterthought by the original builder.   In addition to housing the furnace, water heater, and softener, this is also where the washer and dryer are located.  All of this in a space the size of a small walk-in closet!  To make the most of this little space, our team re-purposed an old kitchen cabinet and some wire shelving from another closet.  New appliances, paint, and vinyl plank flooring make this room more functional and less dreary than before.

OTHER TOUCHES

All of the interior doors were replaced with 3-panel solid oak doors.  In addition, a closet in the loft area received a dramatic rolling barn door of reclaimed wood.  The antiquated gas fireplace was replaced with a safe modern model.  The kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, and entryway received luxury vinyl plank flooring.  Other rooms received new carpet and the entire home was painted.  The entry door and storm door were replaced with new, energy efficient models that meet the townhome association requirements.

TESTIMONIAL

“Thank you so much for the beautiful job you did on our kitchen and baths remodel.  We appreciated your timeline (finishing before deadline) and your cleanliness.

Thank you also for accommodating our little tweaks here and there to give us our fantastic updated kitchen. (Love the recessed lights!).”

🙂 Kari & Kevin, Inver Grove Heights MN

This townhome in Inver Grove Heights had been a rental and was horribly worn out.  Our client tasked us with cleaning it up so that it could be put on the market.  Our project manager coordinated numerous trades to get the home ready for sale.  Our updates included a thorough cleanup, lighting, paint, new carpet, and even junk removal.

This main-level remodel included a full kitchen and bath remodel, as well as new flooring, doors, and other touches throughout the home.

KITCHEN

The hickory cabinets are the highlight of this kitchen.  They provide a rustic beauty that a modern painted cabinet just can’t match.  Naturally we included soft close doors and drawers, along with plenty of storage.  Corian solid surface countertops have a very subtle pattern that doesn’t compete with the hickory.  The ceramic tile backsplash is a unique style that our client really liked.  After removing the overhead soffits and gutting the room to the studs, our team completely updated the plumbing, wiring, and insulation before putting things back together again.  Our team also removed an old railing system that cramped the space.

BATHROOM

A giant soaking tub with Corian solid surface shower walls provides a comfortable place to relax.  Hickory cabinets and porcelain tile floor look great.  The wall between the bathroom and an adjacent bedroom was sound-proofed to allow one family member to sleep in while the other gets ready in the morning.

OTHER TOUCHES

The main level received a beautiful porcelain tile floor, which really ties the space together.  The old hollow core doors were replaced with solid-oak 4-panel doors.  Walls were painted with a beautiful matte finish from Hirshfields.  An additional bathroom received new fixtures.

DESIGNER

Chris Albrecht

PROJECT MANAGER

Eric Bader

This home remodeling project in Woodbury MN includes the full remodel of the master bathroom, a second bathroom, and some facelift work in the kitchen.

Most of this project takes place in the master bathroom.  A large, unused corner bathtub and tiny shower were removed to make space for a spacious master shower.  The new shower features “his and her” ends with features for each of our clients.  “Her” end includes a handshower and a bench seat.  “His” end is simpler with a nice shower head and room for storing shampoo bottles.  The shower also features an accent stripe of the floor tile and a custom glass enclosure.

The master bath also includes a new wood-plank look tiled floor, furniture style vanity, marble countertop.  New mirrors, lighting, paint and accessories finish the space.

The second bathroom is primarily used by the children.  It includes a new tile floor and vanity, as well as paint, lighting, and accessories.

In the kitchen, the existing cabinets were painstakingly painted with a custom distressed finish.  Silestone quartz countertops and a new sink and faucet complete the kitchen remodel.

Our clients vision was simple:  They wanted a home that looked like time stood still in the 1950’s.  Our design challenge was to find modern materials and methods that looked like they belonged in the ’50s.

To improve traffic flow, the load-bearing wall between the dining room and living room was opened up to create a custom arched passthrough.  In addition, an oddly placed dining room door was blocked off.

The bedrooms, hallway, and dining room had beautiful wood floors, which were refinished.  Our wood floor team did an amazing job in utilizing a durable modern finish that mimics the old shellac-and-wax floors of yesteryear.

The living room received cork flooring that is a very close match to some of the original flooring, which was discovered under some old carpet in a closet.  In addition, the wood fireplace was cleaned and restored.  A new mosaic tile hearth transitions to the cork.

Most of the work on this project took place in the kitchen.  Custom cabinets were built to perfect pair with some of the existing cabinetry.  Laminate countertops with metal edge banding look like they came straight from an old diner.  Our client found an old photo of a half-moon shaped flip up counter, which we were able to duplicate.  The kitchen floor is genuine linoleum and features several hand-inlaid patterns.  The design of the floor was from a photo that our clients took in an architecture museum in New York.

New Marvin windows and a complete paint job finished off this project.  Our clients did a great job in finding furnishings that complete the retro look.

This project touched every single room of this 4-level split in Little Canada MN.

Highlights include:

Full remodels of two bathrooms

Partial remodel of a third bathroom

Painting of all walls and ceilings in the entire home

New floorcovering in every room of the home, including carpet, vinyl, and tile

Updated lighting

Since our clients were living in the home throughout the project, we decided to perform the transformation in two phases:  First the lower two levels, and then the upper two levels.  A furniture moving company was hired to relocate our clients belongings prior to each phase, and again at the completion of all of the work. At the conclusion of the project, our professional cleaning team removed all traces of dust and remodeling residue.

Our designer worked tirelessly with the clients to perfect all of the numerous choices in flooring, tile patterns, and paint colors.  She even helped our client hang her pictures and artwork.  Since each room of the home was touched by the project, careful consideration was given to how the different colors and textures work together.

Among the challenges that were faced and overcome:  A hidden mouse infestation that required much disinfectant and odor-blocking primer, An alarm system installation that had wires snaked where our hardwood floors needed to go, and a sensitive fire alarm that was set off during a wood cutting operation (You’ll be glad to know that the Little Canada Fire Chief is a nice fellow).

TESTIMONIAL

“Eric and Ruth Bader presented a personal, professional and competent response to the project that I proposed to them.  Never did I sense reluctance or unwillingness to adjust or modify what I wanted done.  Their suggestions were also made with an understanding of my needs and the outcomes that I wanted.

They have assembled a quality team of trades-people who were friendly, professional, and competent.

Over the 2-1/2 months of work, I felt my home and the project were in good hands.  I appreciated that all the work was supervised, double checked for perfection, and generally completed on schedule.  Thanks for a job well done!”

Alice, Little Canada MN