Mantis Design + Build, LLC

Home Improvement Professionals , General Contractors , Accessory Dwelling Units , Home Remodeling , Home Additions , Basement Remodeling
12 Reviews
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Mantis Design + Build, LLC
12 Reviews

The CraftsZen Home

Eager to bring new life to their 1924 Craftsman home, a Minneapolis family of five wanted to update their exterior to:

-Modernize the look while preserving the original Craftsman feel;
-Create the feel of a beautiful zen sanctuary, incorporating stylistic elements that had inspired them during their travels in Asia;
-Include as many natural elements as possible, such as wood, water, stone, and light.
Project Year: 2019
Project Cost: $100,001 - $150,000
Country: United States
The CraftsZen Home
The family wanted to expand the portico to feel more like a temple entrance--something elegant, beautiful, and welcoming that makes people feel like they’re entering a sacred space.
The CraftsZen Home
Before
Before
Before
Before
Before
Before
Inspired by Asian architecture, their new timber-framed entrance features graceful cuts of cedar wood. The steps are formed from Indiana limestone and concrete stamped with a slate imprint, and the copper entry light is custom-made by a Balinese artisan.
Timber-Framed Portico
The rainwater catchment system was an exciting design challenge. In search of both form and function, we found the perfect combination in a Japanese design of rain chains and stone, which are traditionally used as decorative downspouts for temples and homes. Two copper rain chains hang from the...
Copper Rain Chains
The home’s new siding mimics the striations of the earth, with wood features, layered stone, and organically patterned lap siding.
Organically Patterned Lap Siding
The owners wanted to incorporate wood into the design, but they also wanted to reduce the maintenance of real wood as much as possible. We used all-natural cedar wood on the two locations that are most visible to the eye: the timber-framed entrance in front and the bump-out in back. We also added...
Cedar Trim
We found three more locations to incorporate the feel of wood: the trim boards were custom-finished to mimic real wood; the steel garage door was given a color-matched wood grain look; and the fireplace chimney was refinished with an exterior layer of board-formed concrete, providing a durable...
Cedar Trim and Accents
The family had a stone flower pot they loved that was used for inspiration. Hand-cut slate stone was individually stacked piece by piece along the perimeter of the house foundation.
Hand Cut Slate Stone Details
The stone has a soft, organic feel to it, creating a foundation that’s a balance of durable and beautiful.
Contrast of Stone and Stem
Challenge: Laying up the stone, due to the small dimensions of each individual piece.
Stone by Stone
Taking a naturally hard surface such as stone and making it feel elegant, soft and flowing was well worth all the hard work that went into this detail.
Masonry Magic
Most lap siding is installed in even rows, but we felt that would be too harsh for this home. The aesthetic of Craftsman architecture was a response to the Industrial Revolution, emphasizing traditional, handmade craftsmanship. We felt we could preserve the Craftsman spirit by installing the...
Lap Siding
The original house had an old, unused porch in back, with four stationary windows around the lower perimeter. The family wanted to make the lower level feel brighter and more spacious, and they were eager to jettison the porch in favor of an elegant patio space to host family gatherings.
Patio Gathering