New Arts and Crafts Home

Beveled Glass and Beautiful Built-ins

Mary and Ray loved the beveled glass, built-ins, and architectural details of their 1912 American Foursquare, which Ben and his crew had artfully renovated and restored over the years. When they were ready to build a new arts and crafts home on an infill lot in St. Anthony Park, they knew just who to call. Ben recommended architect Jeremiah Battles for the project. Together, Mary, Ray, Ben & Jeremiah designed and built a new home full of old-fashioned warmth, charm, and character.

Upstairs, Downstairs, Elevator

Ray and Mary needed a place with an attached garage where they could avoid stairs and age in place. Although there are stairs leading to the front door, there’s a secondary entrance on the ground level next to the garage.

The design combines universal design features with architectural details of the early 20th century. In addition to a wood-paneled full-size elevator next to the stairs, there are wide hallways, low thresholds, grab bars, and wheelchair clearances throughout the entire house.

Preserving Pieces of the Past

Mary has been dreaming about this home for years and she relished the hunt for architectural antiques. Some of the most beautiful details were salvaged: a graceful Tudor fireplace surround, vintage lighting fixtures, the front door, and beveled glass for windows.

The beveled glass piano window is one of her many unique finds. The house is filled with antique glass shades Mary has collected over the years.

Hand-crafted Replicas

The quarter-sawn oak woodwork in the living room, dining room, and kitchen is a perfect match to their beloved 1912 Foursquare. The kitchen pendants and sconces were crafted by Lightworks to match the 1912 Sheffield light fixture, which was installed in the dining room.

Quality Not Quantity

The finishes in their new arts and crafts home were more important to Mary and Ray than square footage. Every detail was carefully planned. The U-shaped kitchen design is compact and efficient, with abundant storage. The peninsula doubles as a desk. The sink faces the dining room, so the kitchen crew can chat with guests while they prepare meals or clean up.

Mary purchased decorative tiles with a William-Morris-esque pattern on a trip to England and they were set in handmade field tile from Northern Prairie Tileworks in Minneapolis.

Move the slider to see both pictures.

Service Windows

To pass drinks to guests sitting on the grilling deck, just lift the kitchen window sashes, and swing the shutter-style screens open. The horizontal cedar siding and beadboard ceiling are typical of early 20th-century porches.

Breakfast Balcony

An arched soffit, lined with beadboard, shades the morning sun. The oak tree is in the neighbor’s yard. During excavation and construction, it was important to avoid damaging it.

A bright yellow door leads from the dining room to the deck and down the stairs to the yard. The low-maintenance landscape design by Dan Peterson of Habadapt features swales that direct runoff and make the yard mostly self-watering.

There’s easy access through an ADA-compliant threshold to a private dugout patio. And the small vegetable garden is easy to reach and maintain.

The pavers and terraces provide protection, retain heat, and extend the growing season. In the future the lower level might be converted to private living space for a caregiver.

ADA-Compliant Hex, Subway, and Marble

Hex tile on the floor, subway tile wainscoting, a vintage-style faucet with lever handles, and marble tops on the vanity and tub give the bathroom an authentic feeling. The traditional white woodwork helps unify the design of the upstairs.

All the bathrooms in the house are ADA-compliant. In the powder room, the chair rail isn’t just decorative. It also functions as a grab bar. To save space, the curved vanity and tiny sink were tucked into the wall.

Featured in

Universal Design in the Arts & Crafts Spirit
artsandcraftshomes. com

Team Credits

Architect: Jeremiah Battles
Project Manager: Ben Quie
Colorist: Susan Moore
Photos: Troy Thies

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TESTIMONIALS

Accessible Authenticity

We wanted the beautiful things about our old house transferred to an accessible house, so the new house was designed to feel like the old one. Jeremiah and Ben understood completely, and included the mouldings, cabinets, and details found a century ago.

~ Mary Griffin