The Mpls. St Paul Magazine Idea Home
The Idea Home - a fully constructed and decorated 1,400-square-foot first floor of a two-story design - showcases how today's homeowners live through four major themes: flexibility, timeless living, economy, and sustainability.
The Idea Home was constructed by McDonald Construction, and designed by St. Amant Design, LLC.
The home was constructed in panels and was transported from a warehouse to the Minneapolis Convention Center. Crews worked around-the-clock for 96 hours to reassemble the house, installed large items such as the granite countertops and appliances, painted, decorated, and cleaned.
Some of the Many Features
The siding on the home is LP Smart Siding with a 50-year warranty!
Total Home Automation Systems provided by Sure Lock Homes
All energy efficient appliances by Bosch
Recycled glass tile backsplash in kitchen designed by Lyn Hunter
Design Highlights
This is a home designed for both today and tomorrow's everyday lifestyle. The concept behind this design is to create a home that will be flexible, economical and futuristic for timeless living. The economy of this home is not only in the physical design but also in the flexibility by its multipurpose spaces. The flexibility also lends itself to the futuristic aspect of this home allowing for life changes.
Exterior Features
- Cottage exterior is timeless; this architectural style was popular 75 years ago and is still a timeless trend today.
- Large front porch is both welcoming and functional allowing enough space for an outdoor sitting area. A great location to monitor small children at play or converse with neighbors.
- The Activity court is an outdoor space for all generations. This court can be used as a play court for tricycles or bikes, a court for sports such as basketball and even an outdoor entertainment area for special events like a graduation open house.
- Personal access to the home from the Activity Court allows easy entry for school children and personal guests.
- The rear of the home is ideal for outdoor entertaining with the accessibility to home off the main living area.
Garage and Exterior Storage Features
- Double garage with additional single garage allows for 3 car garage.
- Separate single car garage allows for storage while double car garage can be designated solely for automobiles allowing for fewer obstacles in the homeowners way.
Family Center Features
- This room not only is a large family entry area but doubles has a family activity area.
- Plenty of room for bench/hooks or lockers along with a large walk-in closets allows plenty of space a seasonal clothes and storage.
- This room along with its mud room space is large enough for a craft/study table allowing for an area for projects and homework.
- With its own built-in sink area, this room can keep the mess in this space whether it's clean up from messy outdoor activities or indoor projects.
- With enough room for a second stackable washer/dryer and refrigerator this room becomes the perfect preparation and storage space between the Activity Court and Kitchen, leaving the public area of the home free from the everyday clutter.
Main Floor Bath Features
- The first floor bath is not just your typical Powder room, but instead with the addition of a shower serves many different functions.
- This bath has easy access off the Activity Court and Family center allowing for easy clean up without dragging the mess throughout the home.
- This ¾ bath also allows for first floor living when necessary, whether its aging parents or a member of the immediate family, stairs can be difficult and this along with the main floor study accommodates for all types of living.
- The ¾ bath location is not only ideal for the family but for guest, allowing the guest to stay in the public area of the home with a private entrance to this bath.
Kitchen
- The Kitchen in today's homes is not only meant to be functional but also an entertainment area, the kitchen has become the new Living Room. This Kitchen serves both of those criteria's. Open to both the Dining and Great Room it allows for an easy access to the entire first floor while still being tucked back away from immediate viewing when entering the home.
- The large island has an attached eat-in table to bring back the country kitchen feel of yesterday with the conveniences of today's kitchen. This island not only allows for everyday dining but also gives plenty of work space, additional buffet space when entertaining or even additional game area for family fun night.
- The kitchen flows very well, with direct relationship between the ovens, sink, cook top and refrigerator with plenty of workspace between each, the kitchen becomes very functional for any cook.
- A walk-in pantry a must in the kitchen today not only allowing for additional storage but giving the spaces needed to stock up. With family's busy lifestyles and often both parents working, trips to the grocery store become less frequent; a pantry allows space for bulk items.
- Easy access to the Activity Court and Family Center from the Kitchen allows these spaces to be used as entertainment spaces for friends and family.
Great Room, Dining and Kitchen
- The Great room and Dining along with the Kitchen becomes the hub of the family home. These rooms are not only key in how they relate to each other but in how they relate the rest of the home. In design the Kitchen triangle is often desired, but this is much more important in the relationship of these three rooms because this is how everyday life revolves. In this home you will see how key the Living triangle in the function on this home.
- The Great Room, the warmth of the home, is designed to not only be welcoming to all but to allow easy viewing of both the fireplace and media from all 3 area's, making this room and space very flexible.
- The Dining Room can serve both as an informal and formal area with its corner location and it's openness.
- With all 3 spaces off the foyer, family center and stairs, they become very functional as the hub of the home.
Foyer and Stairs
- The Foyer is the first impression of the home to all guests and therefore needs to serve in two ways. It needs to be welcoming but also allow some privacy to the hub of the home. This foyer does both, when you enter it opens you up the warmth of the home, the Great Room yet leaving the Kitchen tucked behind along with the usual messes of the space. The high glass door allows for family members to view out but guest not to see in keeping the home private. Its built-in and closets allow an area for guest to remove the outdoor attire with ease.
- The staircase is the entrance to the private are of the home but still is a focal point we often like to showcase. With this staircase we again accomplish privacy while still making a statement. The center location is not only convenient to the entire home but also allows this it to be viewed from the hub of the home. The "U" shape of the stair case still allows for it to be open while still giving privacy the second floor hiding any direct view.
Study
- The study has become an important and recent feature in the last decade with the advancement of technology. With more people working at home and computers becoming another home appliance, the home office has replaced the living room.
- In this home, what makes this room special is that it is private yet still very accessible to the hub of the home. This room becomes more functional but can still be attractive and showpiece if desired.
- This room can also serve another purpose, it can dual as a guest space with the addition of a Murphy bed or even become a full time bedroom if need be. The ¾ bath lends itself to this function in a great way.
Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.