What are shed dormers and why are they so popular around here?
The Twin Cities are filled with story-and-a-half homes that are perfect for a certain kind of addition, called a shed dormer. Learn more about this popular remodeling project.
Modern Addition, Traditional Minneapolis Home
A remodel is underway. Take a look inside.
Follow along as we build a contemporary 2-story Addition on their traditional American Foursquare style home.
Design
The interior and exterior finishes were chosen to create a modern color palette.
Behind The Design
Reconciling the Addition’s modern style with the home’s traditional character posed a design challenge. Instead of trying to blend the Addition in, we created a design that sets it apart. Material selections help to define the Addition as its own space. The new Addition’s cement-board panels, stained cedar siding, and steel roof contrast the home’s existing painted clapboard exterior siding and asphalt shingles.
The Sunroom interior design will feature contemporary finishes and fixtures like a concrete-look tile fireplace surround, sheetrock returns (no trim) on the windows, and a modern ceiling fan. However, the goal for the Bedroom Addition interior is to match the room’s original 111-year-old flooring and trim to create a single harmonious space. New French patio doors in the Bedroom will lead to a private screened porch with a grey composite deck and metal cable railing that aligns with the modern design of the exterior.
This drawing shows the home and Addition in profile.
The addition exterior will feature dark grey Hardie panel siding, stained cedar siding, aluminum windows with an Iron Ore finish, and a dark grey standing seam metal roof.
The addition includes a new screened porch off the Bedroom with a grey composite deck and black metal cable railing.
Challenges & Solutions
This project has a few challenges. There’s no access for HVAC ductwork to run to the new crawl space under the Addition. How will the new space be heated and cooled? Installing mini-split HVAC cassettes in the ceilings of the new spaces will address this issue. Specific joist sizes are required to accommodate the cassettes. The joists pose their own challenge which we will cover in a future HVAC post.
Another challenge revolves around the Dining Room built-in buffet. The built-in will need to be removed to open the Dining Room to the new Sunroom. The homeowners debated removing the built-in, as it’s such an iconic part of an old south Minneapolis house. They decided the trade-off was worth it to them, and the buffet was carefully removed and taken to an architectural antique dealer.
The Sunroom interior design will feature contemporary finishes and fixtures like a concrete-look tile fireplace surround, sheetrock returns (no trim) on the windows, and a modern ceiling fan.
Interior finishes in the Bedroom portion of the addition Addition will match the room's original 111-year-old flooring and trim.
Want to learn more about
this type of project?
We’re here to help! Check out our planning resources below, or reach out to us here.
Think you can’t afford that remodel? (There are more options than you think.)
So you’d love to upgrade your kitchen or add a shed dormer with a primary suite, but you’re not sure how to pay for it? Learn about three ways to finance your remodel.
Every White Crane Remodeling Project Starts With Design
Learn why having both designers and construction professionals on our team allows us to guide clients seamlessly through the entire remodeling process.
