Location: Excelsior, MN
Renovations: Complete Home Remodel
Iron River’s Remodeling Services Breathes New Life Into a Home with History
Iron River Construction’s most recent client had a problem. They loved the 1960’s-style rambler home with its stunning lakeside views, purchased just two years ago, with plans from the very beginning to remodel the and make it their own. The home had great bones, but the out-of-date mechanicals and finishes, along with boxy-style rooms left them wanting more. And the long, narrow hallway? The homeowners described it as a “bowling alley” that seemingly went on forever. Plus, even though the home was surrounded by a beautiful lake, but it wasn’t easy to enjoy the views. It all needed to be updated to finally achieve the dream house they always wanted.
But this was not your typical, suburban home. The house has a lot of history. The current residents have photos of the original owners standing in the kitchen and also posed in front of the original brick fireplace. What’s more, this home is where the original Nordic Track was invented all the way back in 1975. There are even pictures of the inventor with his creation in the basement, a beloved testament to cross-country skiing. With this piece of history in mind, the owners wanted to bring a huge piece of the great outdoors inside. They hoped to give their home an earthy feel; one that evoked the look of a rustic cabin and brought in the lake views. Most importantly, they wanted to find a home remodeling contractor they could trust to care for their home and deliver their ideal design.
The family did extensive research, interviewing several different remodeling contractors. They were impressed with the Iron River Construction team—and the incredibly detailed, itemized proposal they provided that included a full project schedule. That sealed the deal; they brought on Iron River as their contractor of choice.
A Rustic Rambler Is Completely Transformed Into a Lake House
For two years, the clients had time to imagine what they wanted; now it was time to make it happen. After signing, the Iron River team helped them bring these ideas to life with a professional design and a full plan that included rustic product finishes. Iron River collaborated with key trades and suppliers, always working towards delivering that cabin feel the client was after.
The Iron River contractors kept these thoughts in mind throughout. After all, the clients weren’t looking for that perfect piece of trim or a pristine, polished aesthetic. In fact, they specifically wanted trim pieces with knots and character; pieces that evoked the outdoors to give a lake house cabin feel.
This project became a full-out remodel of much of the family’s home. This meant removing some walls and moving others, adding all new plumbing, a new HVAC and electrical wiring, new flooring throughout, replacing a door and a window, and adding a new door.
The entire project centered around the family room and kitchen—and a brand-new gas fireplace and full-height chimney chase made from real stone with a barn wood mantle, and limestone hearth, all flanked by bookcase cabinets finished with a deep, rich stain.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Old flooring and a poor subfloor meant installing a new subfloor to hold the new luxury vinyl plank flooring. Removing the old brick fireplace required more effort than anticipated. And changing the floor plan for the bowling alley hallway meant relocating and rewiring all the electrical lines housed in that wall. But through it all, the Iron River Construction team persevered.
Stunning Home Remodeling Results—And Big Plans for the Future
To help bring the beautiful lake views in, the team added a full-view side door and a larger window at the kitchen sink, using Andersen 400 series materials, known for their durability and longevity.
Today, the kitchen is a marvel, with stunning, knotty hickory cabinets complete with hand-forged handles, coffee-brown leather granite countertops, and reclaimed shiplap wood backsplash. This is all complemented by an expansive center island topped by a black granite countertop that feels rustic thanks to its hand-chiseled rock face edge.
The new look continues throughout, accentuating the stairwell with oversized barn wood newel posts and wrought-iron balusters. Today, the family room includes the eye-catching fireplace wall plus a cedar tongue-and-groove ceiling, and a stunning ceiling fan.
Most importantly, the clients were brimming with joy at the result, sharing that it turned out exactly as they had hoped. They love the finishes and the completed look and gorgeous views. And now? The clients are already talking about remodeling their bathroom and adding a screen porch off their new side door. They are happy to share that Iron River Construction will now and always be their home remodeling contractor of choice!
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