The clients were attached to their Wayzata, Minnesota home but needed more space and a retreat for recreation and entertaining. An existing detached two-car garage offered the ideal base for expansion, and the remodel also provided the opportunity to physically and visually unite the garage and main house. The stucco-clad, European-inspired cottage and shingle-covered Craftsman-style garage did not have much in common prior to the remodel. The end result is a unified whole, and the homeowners’ goals were achieved with minimal yet effective visual impact.
The lot’s road frontage showcases the house at an oblique angle and the garage head-on, making the garage a prominent first-impression. The biggest challenge was to minimalize the visual impact of the additional space above the garage while still adding ample space for the homeowners. The perfect solution presented itself as a gable-ended addition to the garage and a half-story above, allowing for a sport court and entertaining space that have a right-sized street presence.
To visually tie the two structures together, the team pulled the gable forward and added gable-roofed dormers and a bridge between the garage and main house. This created a better visual harmony with the existing peaks of the home’s roofline. In addition, board-and-batten siding was added to the upper level of the stucco home and roof shingles were replaced to match the new roof on the addition.
The amount of space added – more than 1,100 sq. ft. – is more evident in the view from the back, where it is less conspicuous.
A favorite feature of the remodel is a tiny loft that hovers above a pair of windows overlooking the sport court. Adding visual interest to the space, it serves as a retreat-within-a-retreat. The half-story living area is flooded with light from both sides, and small windows overlook the 20′ x 30′ sport court.
This project earned Gold at the 2017 Best in American Living Awards ceremony held during the 2018 International Builders’ Show.
This design also won a 2017 American Residential Design Award (ARDA) from the American Institute of Building Design.
Architect/Designer | Royal Oaks Design
Builder | Pillar Homes Partner, Inc.
Interior Designer and Interior Merchandiser | The Sitting Room
Land Planner | Gronberg & Associates
Photography | Landmark Photography
