Meet Our Feature Family
The Rebuilt Appeal
Nestled between Minneapolis’ chain of lakes and the bustling shopping hub of Excelsior & Grand, St. Louis Park touts an excitement of urban living with the sweetness of suburban charm. The homes are mostly small ramblers from the 1940s, but teardowns and rebuilds have been on the rise.
Sommer and Thibault, homeowners in the Minikahda Vista neighborhood, never thought that they would even consider building a new home. Like many other young families, “we thought that all we could afford was to remodel,” she explained. So when they began to expand their family, they planned to relocate or renovate their two bedroom, one bath, single level home.
The couple was expecting baby number two when they got in touch with Rob Eldridge from Ridge Creek Custom Homes. They loved their community and convenient commute to their jobs at Target Corporate, so they originally made plans to stay in their existing home and complete an addition and to build up a second story. “After Rob came in with our initial bid he suggested that we start from scratch instead.”
Now a spacious two-story, four bedroom with a tuck-under garage and lower level in-law suite, this home is exactly what they wanted. Thibault, who is from Paris, contributed to the home’s European style – think clean, simple, fresh and minimalistic, with lots of white.
Sommer took to Pinterest for her inspiration to envision a stunning open concept living space with a bright white kitchen complete with open shelving, butcher-block countertops and a play area for the kids just around the corner.
The real blessing, however, was the couple’s ability to rebuild on their existing lot, in a neighborhood that they love. “Let’s be clear,” Sommer reminded, “We had never done this before!” Trusting Ridge Creek Custom Homes to help their home evolve to meet their growing family really paid off. The couple now enjoys living in a brand new, custom home without breaking their budget.
With almost six more teardowns in the neighborhood, the rebuild appeal continues to grow and shed light on the evolving landscape. Close to the lakes and shopping, not far from downtown and minutes from uptown, this sweet suburb has an urban flare that draws people in. Neighborhoods like Minikahda Vista make it possible to live in close proximity to the things people do everyday, creating a close knit community that so many love.
While this particular home won’t be on the 2015 Spring Tour, you can see other homes by Ridge Creek Custom Homes, that are nearby, including:
#268: A beautiful DREAM HOME in Minneapolis featuring 10′ ceilings, wet bar, covered deck with gas fireplace, three bedrooms, steam shower, floating wood stairwell along a brick wall, and views of Lake Calhoun.
#270: A classic two-story urban retreat in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis, featuring walk-in-pantry, second floor laundry, walkout lower level, sleek fireplace with glass rocks, and more!
Photos by JIM KRUGER & TOM DEBRUYN, LANDMARK PHOTOGRAPHY Styling by JON HUELSKAMP, LANDMARK PHOTOGRAPHY