This was the second phase of an extensive remodel for this Ham Lake family, so from the outset the design team knew they needed to compliment what had been done in the lower level, bringing some of those elements to the main floor above while achieving other goals. In the lower level we had all but eliminated the influence of the honey oak, which was overwhelming the space devoted to entertainment, replacing it with an ebonized treatment of the trim and cabinetry. “The homeowner had two concerns in this second phase, explains McKenzie Pederson, the Murphy Bros. Design Build Consultant assigned to the project. “The honey oak had to go as it did in the lower level, and a rather large wall that stopped you as you entered the home had to go too. That opened up the whole space,” explained McKenzie. In this second phase, we created a very large custom island, refurbished the fireplace, which had failed, in a new lighter stone, added a hand-scrapped flooring throughout the entire level, updated the pantry and laundry and the powder room. The staircase was recreated in block rod iron and red oak to carry forward the scheme from the lower level. “The homeowners were driven by a strong need to make this home their own and that meant some very specific surface selections and colors,” recalls McKenzie. She really liked earth tones and patterns with lots of movement. You can see that in the granite she chooses. It is huge (122”) was about as large a single piece as you can have and featured a custom hand-hewn 60-degree bevel. Most are 45 degrees. “I think this remodel is a perfect example of the new “forever home” trend,” says McKenzie. People realize they can remodel to please themselves and not just for resale value. That whole return on enjoyment idea is what’s at play here.”