The owners of this Hopkins two-story home were looking to transform a 3-season porch into a new great room, while adding a finished basement bedroom below and amazing deck above; and make it look like it was always there - part of the original house. The basement was designed and constructed for Minnesota winters. After the site was excavated, new walls were constructed beginning with R-10 Exterior Insulation and waterproofing on a newly poured concrete foundation. Then framing up walls and finally installing the drywall. Drain tile and a sump pump were installed around the perimeter to keep moisture out and the bedroom dry. A second HVAC system was also added to provide separate zoned heating in the basement and first floor. The new basement’s 480 sq. ft. space includes bedroom with large walk-in closet and additional storage accessible from the adjacent existing family room. Two side-by-side egress windows were installed to make this a legal bedroom. The bonus: The windows brighten the bedroom with lots of natural light from a southern exposure. In the exterior photo you can see a unique window well treatment, using larger rocks and boulders to create a natural look while meeting building codes. The first floor Great Room is just that: almost 500 sq. feet of open, bright space off the existing kitchen. Makes home entertaining easy. A sliding glass door and short flight of stairs invites guests into the back yard patio for a bonfire, barbeque, or some putting. The patio features a unique design using stone slabs of varying shapes to create a one-of-a-kind look. On the second floor we replaced a window and added a sliding glass door for easy access to the new deck. It’s made with the same materials and design used on the ground level patio. To keep water, snow, and ice outside the roof is made with a special membrane surrounded by an integral gutter with downspouts. The post-to-post tempered glass railings make this deck feel wide open to a surprisingly secluded back yard. Finally, we used grey cement board for the siding, matching the white trim around doors and windows. This project added almost 1,000 sq. ft. of interior living space and another 500 sq. ft. of second floor deck, constructed in a way to last a lifetime. And the addition really doesn’t look like an addition. It feels wide open to a surprisingly secluded back yard.