The clients were faced with a decision many young families encounter after starting a family in a house they could afford earlier in their careers: Find a newly built house in a recently developed area of town that lacks trees and neighborhood character or pursue a remodel of their existing house in an established neighborhood they love and consider home.  The house had solid bones and a unique style – something they were not in love with but wanted to explore its potential.  The house sits on a prominent corner lot and the clients wanted to take advantage of the south-facing lawn – something they admitted had untapped potential given the sun exposure and posture to the street.  Among others, the main goal was to develop a design concept that utilizes the space that is given in order to make the space feel larger and more accommodating than it actually is, without needing to expand on the existing footprint.

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The proposal created more space at both the main and rear entrances, as well as a dedicated mudroom off the rear that could handle the everyday task of getting kids in and out of the door, without shoes, coats and gear spilling out into the entertaining space.  The idea was to create an open, airy interior that maximized daylight and could be ready for a party at a moment’s notice, and a single-color exterior nuanced by material transitions and subtle textures.  Both the interior and exterior of the home were meant to be a reflection of their own personal design tastes - for the exterior, it was about making a bold statement with a limited palette and the interior was about creating a daylit environment that was so comfortable, it only needed a few key pieces of furniture and great art to complete the transformation. 

TYPOLOGY

Remodel \ Single-Family

LOCATION

Fargo, North Dakota

COMPLETION

2022