To create the master suite this home owner dreamed of, we moved a few walls, and a lot of doors and windows. Essentially half the house went under construction. Within the same footprint we created a larger master bathroom, walk in closet, and guest room while retaining the same number of bedrooms. The second room became smaller but officially became a bedroom with a closet and more functional layout. What you don’t see in the finished pictures is a new utility room that had to be built downstairs in the garage to service the new plumbing and heating. All those black bathroom fixtures are Kohler and the tile is from Ann Sacks. The stunning grey tile is Andy Fleishman and the grout not only fills in the separations but defines the white design in the tile. This time-intensive process meant the tiles had to be sealed before install and twice after. All the black framed windows are by Anderson Woodright series and have a classic 3 light over 0 light sashes. The doors are true sealer panels with a classic trim, as well as thicker head casings and a top cap. We moved the master bathroom to the side of the house where it could take advantage of the windows. In the master bathroom in addition to the ann sacks tile on the floor, some of the tile was laid out in a way that made it feel like one sheet with almost no space in between. We found more storage in the master by putting it in the knee wall and bench seat. The master shower also has a rain head as well as a regular shower head that can be used separately or together. The second bathroom has a unique tub completely encased in grey quartz stone with a clever mitered edge to minimize grout lines. It also has a larger window to brighten up the bathroom and add some drama.

This home has a beautiful view of the Nashua River. They wanted to include the natural, earthy feeling of the riverbed while continuing with the modern and sleek style of their home. As you walk into this home you have a warm and cozy feel. At the same time you see the personality of the homeowners. The feeling is simple, natural with a splash of playful. The cabinetry and furniture is in a flat panel door which accents the beautiful natural cherry wood. The artwork is modern with a splash of color. The dining room has a love natural cherry table with a stone fireplace behind it. The dining room as a lovely cherry cabinet that looks like the dining room table that actually is hiding the pantry items of the kitchen. The artwork has a modern flair and the pumpkin paint brings a warm and inviting feel to the room. The dining room is open to the kitchen. The first thing that was done was to move the kitchen on the other side of the room so that the wall that has the view included a floor to ceiling window. This insured that no matter where you were- in the dining room or the kitchen, or the kitchen table you would get a truly wonderful view of the river. The kitchen has many exciting features. The hood is hidden to look like a row of cabinets. The granite is the main feature of this kitchen. The pebbled granite is mixed with leathered black granite in many interesting ways. The backsplash has the pebble granite mixed with black stripes. These black stripes hide the outlets and make for the backsplash have a wonderful design. The sides of the island have the pebble granite and the sink has the pebble granite. Lighting was essential to this design as the kitchen as wonderful wooded beams and it was essential to light up the kitchen without taking away from the effect of the wooded beams. The space has become that truly earthy, warm and playful space that they have dreamed.

Believed to be the oldest building in Excelsior Minnesota, this humble brick structure has transformed, been moved, and housed countless people over its 162 years. Affectionately known as ‘The Beehive’, it was built in 1857 and began as the original Excelsior schoolhouse. It was moved to its’ current location in the 1880’s and became a 23-room dormitory for Northwestern Christian College, followed by a boarding house, and finally apartments (in addition to the rumors of more sordid activities in the early 20th century!). After being in the same family for several decades, the owner wanted to transform the building one more time to make it her own home. Citydeskstudio worked closely with her and the Excelsior Historic Preservation Commission on the design. She now occupies the main floor, with additional units above and below for rental and for family. The design celebrates the stout and blocky character of the building with a new modern expansion off the back. There, the building steps and expands outwards in glassy boxes of charred cedar. Inside, the original structure was repaired and uncovered where possible, and previous poorly done modifications were corrected. The center piece of this more open and light-filled home is a rich modern kitchen in walnut, travertine, and steel. The old character remains ever present and is essential to the spirit of The Beehive’s latest transformation. This multigenerational home’s design honors the legacy of the property, marrying the original Excelsior schoolhouse with a beautiful, modern, contextually-sensitive remodel and addition. Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge Chris Bach Nate Dodge

Here, our clients hoped to introduce a mix of modern elements to their traditional country home. The space was remodelled from top to bottom as we accommodated the varying objectives of the homeowners. Structurally, this included installing coffer ceilings and elongating select windows to reach the floor. These windows, as well as heightened ceilings, make the most out of the light for this East-facing home, which is finally a fitting welcome for the glorious morning sun. Moving through the home, modern touches can be found throughout, especially in the kitchen and main living areas. A stylish wood-front fireplace provides the perfect place to gather and relax, while a newly optimized kitchen with an array of strategically positioned storage spaces, modern accoutrements, and traditional mouldings makes entertaining a breeze. Accessibility and the ability to age in place was another priority for this couple. To achieve both, we ensured our clients’ essentials were designed for the main floor. The installation of a roll-in and barrier-free steam shower, and small accommodative features like the sliding ladder in the roomy walk-in closet ensure this space will stand the test of time. Now a beautiful, functional, and elegant space, this couple no longer need to consider moving from the place they've so lovingly called home.

Believed to be the oldest building in Excelsior Minnesota, this humble brick structure has transformed, been moved, and housed countless people over its 162 years. Affectionately known as ‘The Beehive’, it was built in 1857 and began as the original Excelsior schoolhouse. It was moved to its’ current location in the 1880’s and became a 23-room dormitory for Northwestern Christian College, followed by a boarding house, and finally apartments (in addition to the rumors of more sordid activities in the early 20th century!). After being in the same family for several decades, the owner wanted to transform the building one more time to make it her own home. Citydeskstudio worked closely with her and the Excelsior Historic Preservation Commission on the design. She now occupies the main floor, with additional units above and below for rental and for family. The design celebrates the stout and blocky character of the building with a new modern expansion off the back. There, the building steps and expands outwards in glassy boxes of charred cedar. Inside, the original structure was repaired and uncovered where possible, and previous poorly done modifications were corrected. The center piece of this more open and light-filled home is a rich modern kitchen in walnut, travertine, and steel. The old character remains ever present and is essential to the spirit of The Beehive’s latest transformation. This multigenerational home’s design honors the legacy of the property, marrying the original Excelsior schoolhouse with a beautiful, modern, contextually-sensitive remodel and addition. Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge Chris Bach Nate Dodge

Our customer desired to upgrade their builder grade cabinetry with beautiful cherry cabinets and they wanted a portable island that could easily be moved to create more space. The cabinetry installed is Medallion Cherry Mission Door, Pecan/Flat Panel in Cherry with Amaretto Stain and Ebony Glaze/Highlight. The countertop is Wilsonart Quartz in Santiago color. The backsplash is Basket Weave Bianco Wood with Atena Dot tile. Armstrong 3” Rustic Restoration in Essential Brown flooring.

Opening up the family room to the kitchen and dining area creates connection between these well-loved spaces. Openness provides the necessary room to move around and where there is space, people naturally congregate. This kitchen is infinitely more open with functional counter space where it matters most and room to move freely whether cooking or hosting. An island felt essential for a modern kitchen and home focused on function but the size and scale of the space required a unique solution. Rather than cramming in a conventional rectangular island, this custom, circular island creates the perfect connection point.

Here, our clients hoped to introduce a mix of modern elements to their traditional country home. The space was remodelled from top to bottom as we accommodated the varying objectives of the homeowners. Structurally, this included installing coffer ceilings and elongating select windows to reach the floor. These windows, as well as heightened ceilings, make the most out of the light for this East-facing home, which is finally a fitting welcome for the glorious morning sun. Moving through the home, modern touches can be found throughout, especially in the kitchen and main living areas. A stylish wood-front fireplace provides the perfect place to gather and relax, while a newly optimized kitchen with an array of strategically positioned storage spaces, modern accoutrements, and traditional mouldings makes entertaining a breeze. Accessibility and the ability to age in place was another priority for this couple. To achieve both, we ensured our clients’ essentials were designed for the main floor. The installation of a roll-in and barrier-free steam shower, and small accommodative features like the sliding ladder in the roomy walk-in closet ensure this space will stand the test of time. Now a beautiful, functional, and elegant space, this couple no longer need to consider moving from the place they've so lovingly called home.

This home has a beautiful view of the Nashua River. They wanted to include the natural, earthy feeling of the riverbed while continuing with the modern and sleek style of their home. As you walk into this home you have a warm and cozy feel. At the same time you see the personality of the homeowners. The feeling is simple, natural with a splash of playful. The cabinetry and furniture is in a flat panel door which accents the beautiful natural cherry wood. The artwork is modern with a splash of color. The dining room has a love natural cherry table with a stone fireplace behind it. The dining room as a lovely cherry cabinet that looks like the dining room table that actually is hiding the pantry items of the kitchen. The artwork has a modern flair and the pumpkin paint brings a warm and inviting feel to the room. The dining room is open to the kitchen. The first thing that was done was to move the kitchen on the other side of the room so that the wall that has the view included a floor to ceiling window. This insured that no matter where you were- in the dining room or the kitchen, or the kitchen table you would get a truly wonderful view of the river. The kitchen has many exciting features. The hood is hidden to look like a row of cabinets. The granite is the main feature of this kitchen. The pebbled granite is mixed with leathered black granite in many interesting ways. The backsplash has the pebble granite mixed with black stripes. These black stripes hide the outlets and make for the backsplash have a wonderful design. The sides of the island have the pebble granite and the sink has the pebble granite. Lighting was essential to this design as the kitchen as wonderful wooded beams and it was essential to light up the kitchen without taking away from the effect of the wooded beams. The space has become that truly earthy, warm and playful space that they have dreamed.

After building a home in North Carolina and using their smaller St. Louis Home when they were in town our clients decided to move to St. Louis permanently and contacted us to completely gut their existing non-functional kitchen into something that works for their storage and cooking needs. Functionality was top of mind as both homeowners are exquisite chefs. They needed room to store all their cooking essentials in easy to access locations, they wanted to open the kitchen up by removing a peninsula that shrunk the room and left space for only one cook at a time. They also wanted to brighten and lighten the finishes. The kitchen felt heavy with black countertops, dark floors and lighting that was subpar. We completely gutted the kitchen by moving the location of the sink and dishwasher from the peninsula, putting cabinetry along the two main walls in the kitchen. Cabinets were replaced with thoughtfully planned out drawers for easy access and convenient pantry cabinets with pull out shelves. The cabinets were taken to the ceiling to take advantage of extra space for storage as well as making the room feel taller. White countertops and well-placed lighting throughout the kitchen and under the cabinets brighten the room while the green handmade tiles bring dimension and interest that compliment the earth tones of the cabinetry.

To create the master suite this home owner dreamed of, we moved a few walls, and a lot of doors and windows. Essentially half the house went under construction. Within the same footprint we created a larger master bathroom, walk in closet, and guest room while retaining the same number of bedrooms. The second room became smaller but officially became a bedroom with a closet and more functional layout. What you don’t see in the finished pictures is a new utility room that had to be built downstairs in the garage to service the new plumbing and heating. All those black bathroom fixtures are Kohler and the tile is from Ann Sacks. The stunning grey tile is Andy Fleishman and the grout not only fills in the separations but defines the white design in the tile. This time-intensive process meant the tiles had to be sealed before install and twice after. All the black framed windows are by Anderson Woodright series and have a classic 3 light over 0 light sashes. The doors are true sealer panels with a classic trim, as well as thicker head casings and a top cap. We moved the master bathroom to the side of the house where it could take advantage of the windows. In the master bathroom in addition to the ann sacks tile on the floor, some of the tile was laid out in a way that made it feel like one sheet with almost no space in between. We found more storage in the master by putting it in the knee wall and bench seat. The master shower also has a rain head as well as a regular shower head that can be used separately or together. The second bathroom has a unique tub completely encased in grey quartz stone with a clever mitered edge to minimize grout lines. It also has a larger window to brighten up the bathroom and add some drama.

To create the master suite this home owner dreamed of, we moved a few walls, and a lot of doors and windows. Essentially half the house went under construction. Within the same footprint we created a larger master bathroom, walk in closet, and guest room while retaining the same number of bedrooms. The second room became smaller but officially became a bedroom with a closet and more functional layout. What you don’t see in the finished pictures is a new utility room that had to be built downstairs in the garage to service the new plumbing and heating. All those black bathroom fixtures are Kohler and the tile is from Ann Sacks. The stunning grey tile is Andy Fleishman and the grout not only fills in the separations but defines the white design in the tile. This time-intensive process meant the tiles had to be sealed before install and twice after. All the black framed windows are by Anderson Woodright series and have a classic 3 light over 0 light sashes. The doors are true sealer panels with a classic trim, as well as thicker head casings and a top cap. We moved the master bathroom to the side of the house where it could take advantage of the windows. In the master bathroom in addition to the ann sacks tile on the floor, some of the tile was laid out in a way that made it feel like one sheet with almost no space in between. We found more storage in the master by putting it in the knee wall and bench seat. The master shower also has a rain head as well as a regular shower head that can be used separately or together. The second bathroom has a unique tub completely encased in grey quartz stone with a clever mitered edge to minimize grout lines. It also has a larger window to brighten up the bathroom and add some drama.

Believed to be the oldest building in Excelsior Minnesota, this humble brick structure has transformed, been moved, and housed countless people over its 162 years. Affectionately known as ‘The Beehive’, it was built in 1857 and began as the original Excelsior schoolhouse. It was moved to its’ current location in the 1880’s and became a 23-room dormitory for Northwestern Christian College, followed by a boarding house, and finally apartments (in addition to the rumors of more sordid activities in the early 20th century!). After being in the same family for several decades, the owner wanted to transform the building one more time to make it her own home. Citydeskstudio worked closely with her and the Excelsior Historic Preservation Commission on the design. She now occupies the main floor, with additional units above and below for rental and for family. The design celebrates the stout and blocky character of the building with a new modern expansion off the back. There, the building steps and expands outwards in glassy boxes of charred cedar. Inside, the original structure was repaired and uncovered where possible, and previous poorly done modifications were corrected. The center piece of this more open and light-filled home is a rich modern kitchen in walnut, travertine, and steel. The old character remains ever present and is essential to the spirit of The Beehive’s latest transformation. This multigenerational home’s design honors the legacy of the property, marrying the original Excelsior schoolhouse with a beautiful, modern, contextually-sensitive remodel and addition. Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge Chris Bach Nate Dodge

Our customer desired to upgrade their builder grade cabinetry with beautiful cherry cabinets and they wanted a portable island that could easily be moved to create more space. The cabinetry installed is Medallion Cherry Mission Door, Pecan/Flat Panel in Cherry with Amaretto Stain and Ebony Glaze/Highlight. The countertop is Wilsonart Quartz in Santiago color. The backsplash is Basket Weave Bianco Wood with Atena Dot tile. Armstrong 3” Rustic Restoration in Essential Brown flooring.

Our customer desired to upgrade their builder grade cabinetry with beautiful cherry cabinets and they wanted a portable island that could easily be moved to create more space. The cabinetry installed is Medallion Cherry Mission Door, Pecan/Flat Panel in Cherry with Amaretto Stain and Ebony Glaze/Highlight. The countertop is Wilsonart Quartz in Santiago color. The backsplash is Basket Weave Bianco Wood with Atena Dot tile. Armstrong 3” Rustic Restoration in Essential Brown flooring.

Believed to be the oldest building in Excelsior Minnesota, this humble brick structure has transformed, been moved, and housed countless people over its 162 years. Affectionately known as ‘The Beehive’, it was built in 1857 and began as the original Excelsior schoolhouse. It was moved to its’ current location in the 1880’s and became a 23-room dormitory for Northwestern Christian College, followed by a boarding house, and finally apartments (in addition to the rumors of more sordid activities in the early 20th century!). After being in the same family for several decades, the owner wanted to transform the building one more time to make it her own home. Citydeskstudio worked closely with her and the Excelsior Historic Preservation Commission on the design. She now occupies the main floor, with additional units above and below for rental and for family. The design celebrates the stout and blocky character of the building with a new modern expansion off the back. There, the building steps and expands outwards in glassy boxes of charred cedar. Inside, the original structure was repaired and uncovered where possible, and previous poorly done modifications were corrected. The center piece of this more open and light-filled home is a rich modern kitchen in walnut, travertine, and steel. The old character remains ever present and is essential to the spirit of The Beehive’s latest transformation. This multigenerational home’s design honors the legacy of the property, marrying the original Excelsior schoolhouse with a beautiful, modern, contextually-sensitive remodel and addition. Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge Chris Bach Nate Dodge

Believed to be the oldest building in Excelsior Minnesota, this humble brick structure has transformed, been moved, and housed countless people over its 162 years. Affectionately known as ‘The Beehive’, it was built in 1857 and began as the original Excelsior schoolhouse. It was moved to its’ current location in the 1880’s and became a 23-room dormitory for Northwestern Christian College, followed by a boarding house, and finally apartments (in addition to the rumors of more sordid activities in the early 20th century!). After being in the same family for several decades, the owner wanted to transform the building one more time to make it her own home. Citydeskstudio worked closely with her and the Excelsior Historic Preservation Commission on the design. She now occupies the main floor, with additional units above and below for rental and for family. The design celebrates the stout and blocky character of the building with a new modern expansion off the back. There, the building steps and expands outwards in glassy boxes of charred cedar. Inside, the original structure was repaired and uncovered where possible, and previous poorly done modifications were corrected. The center piece of this more open and light-filled home is a rich modern kitchen in walnut, travertine, and steel. The old character remains ever present and is essential to the spirit of The Beehive’s latest transformation. This multigenerational home’s design honors the legacy of the property, marrying the original Excelsior schoolhouse with a beautiful, modern, contextually-sensitive remodel and addition. Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge Chris Bach Nate Dodge

To create the master suite this home owner dreamed of, we moved a few walls, and a lot of doors and windows. Essentially half the house went under construction. Within the same footprint we created a larger master bathroom, walk in closet, and guest room while retaining the same number of bedrooms. The second room became smaller but officially became a bedroom with a closet and more functional layout. What you don’t see in the finished pictures is a new utility room that had to be built downstairs in the garage to service the new plumbing and heating. All those black bathroom fixtures are Kohler and the tile is from Ann Sacks. The stunning grey tile is Andy Fleishman and the grout not only fills in the separations but defines the white design in the tile. This time-intensive process meant the tiles had to be sealed before install and twice after. All the black framed windows are by Anderson Woodright series and have a classic 3 light over 0 light sashes. The doors are true sealer panels with a classic trim, as well as thicker head casings and a top cap. We moved the master bathroom to the side of the house where it could take advantage of the windows. In the master bathroom in addition to the ann sacks tile on the floor, some of the tile was laid out in a way that made it feel like one sheet with almost no space in between. We found more storage in the master by putting it in the knee wall and bench seat. The master shower also has a rain head as well as a regular shower head that can be used separately or together. The second bathroom has a unique tub completely encased in grey quartz stone with a clever mitered edge to minimize grout lines. It also has a larger window to brighten up the bathroom and add some drama.