A modern kitchen with a stainless steel oven and stove, taupe cabinets with black hardware, dark wood pantry doors, and a built-in niche for ceramic jars, wooden utensils, a cutting board, and landscape art.

From the Ground Up; Making Room For What’s Next

Bathroom Renovation, Cabinet Shop, Featured, Kitchen Renovation, Whole House Renovation

February 15, 2026

On Lakeview Drive in Edina, we didn’t just refresh a home; we reimagined how this family lives, moves, and enjoys every square foot. Every room got the full Jkath treatment; thoughtful design, precision craftsmanship, and an eye for details that feel both familiar and fresh.

We’re sharing what we did, why we did it, and how we elevated this home from top to bottom.

Bright, modern kitchen with a large window above a farmhouse sink, Bungalow Refined white and dark cabinets, a black countertop island, and stainless steel appliances.

Total Renovation, Inside and Out

We gutted and remodeled the entire two-story footprint. New flooring, wide plank white oak engineered that is continuous and intentionally selected to flow from room to room, uniting the home with existing warm wood passage doors throughout that we opted to leave in place. When working with existing doors, we take on the challenge of replacing the hinges and door hardware for a more modern take that feels relevant and cohesive to the whole home design.

A modern kitchen with a large island, dark wood cabinets, taupe cabinetry, and brass pendant lights. Sunlight streams through the window above the sink, with green plants and kitchen items decorating the counters.

Custom Cabinetry Everywhere

From the heart of the home in the kitchen to a tailored office and mudroom built-ins, every piece was designed and built with purpose. Blending storage and function with style that feels classic and not fleeting. Our clients were purposeful about these investments and wanted to optimize less storage in key areas while letting certain spaces be the workhorse (mudroom and office).

You will see in the kitchen we blended painted the cabinets in Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe with a dark stained rift white oak for main floor cohesion as well as contrast that layers finishes. And if you’re new to our blog, we own our own custom cabinetry shop and happy to book a consultation call with Jesse and Katie for an in depth custom cabinetry Q/A or design related decisions here. (we’ve been asked a lot of questions over the years ;).

The alcove range was a game changer for this space, something new, high craftsmanship, and a unique cooking zone that attracts a lot of attention. Alcoves require multiple trade coordination between the project manager, cabinet maker that will need to make several site trips for install, countertop fabrication (measuring and install), plumber if you have a wall mounted pot filler, and final coordination with the appliance team. It’s well worth the effort, and we hope you can see why.

A modern kitchen with off white cabinetry, dark wood cabinets, a quartzite backsplash, and open shelves holding jars and spices. A gold pendant light hangs above the counter, with a vase of green foliage in the foreground.

Modern kitchen with taupe custom cabinets, soapstone countertop island, stainless steel appliances, and brass/white pendant lights. A black dog with an orange collar strolls across the light wood floor.

We used two unique slabs of natural stone in this kitchen, Calacatta Lux Quartzite and Soapstone on the oversized island with storage on both side. Mixing brass fixtures with black hardware was intentional to pull the space together while adding a few moments of *sparkle*.

The mudroom cabinetry was painted in Benjamin Moore Gloucester Sage, truly timeless and vibey for the entrance right off the garage.

A mudroom with olive green built-in cabinets, featuring a white oak wood bench top, hooks with vgroove paneling.

Powder Bath With Personality

The bathroom stayed in its original footprint, and we even repurposed the wall paneling while adding fresh paint to pair with the wallpaper treatment we picked out. Every bit was intentional and no detail too small in this space. Wallpaper, Sandberg Olof in Sage green – a house favorite over here.

A small, light-filled bathroom with a white toilet beneath a round window exudes charm. Leafy-patterned wallpaper above light beige wainscoting. Natural white oak flooring.

Screen Porch and Living Room Reboot

Not just a surface refresh, we rebuilt the porch windows with new weather-proof vinyl and functional layout so it can be loved for three seasons. A key element was updating the view to the porch from the dining room, new wider doors with maximum visibility making the spaces feel more connected. Color drenching (softly) the porch was intentional to add color and interest while uniting the spaces.

Dining area with a round table, four chairs, and a view to the attached screen porch with soft green painted wall paneling and vinyl black windows for contrast.

The living room is unrecognizable from the previous state, we removed the oak built ins and dropped the fireplace to the floor while adding all new materials. The custom stone surround, granite cast fireplace surround, new fireplace and custom cabinetry built ins to add function while not overtaking the space. our team was able to partner with our clients on all new furnishings for this room. A departure from the previous oversized sectional to a more impactful room layout that feels casual yet formal, all at the same time.

A cozy living room corner featuring a stone fireplace, built-in white shelves with decor items, gray check armchairs with patterned pillows, and a window letting in natural light above the shelves.

A bright living room with a light sofa, checkered pillow, and a wooden coffee table holding a vase of purple flowers, books, and two lit candles. Built-in shelves and large windows enhance the modern traditional style with natural light.

Where the Magic Happens

Naturally, a tailored home office allows for creative flow and where the magic of making a living happens. This space was transformed from pieces of furniture, chords running across the floor, and dual work zones that felt cramped and underused. A new custom piece of furniture finished in Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter allows for maximum storage while prioritizing views and natural light to the outdoors. A cozy chaise lounge area rug and lighting brings this space together.

A home office with revere pewter painted custom cabinetry, white oak flooring, green velvet office chair and a cozy chaise chair in the corner.

Primary Suite, Done Right

Upstairs became a serene primary retreat, preserving the carefully laid out floor plan, light, and everyday ease, with high-end finishes crafted to last. The hardwoods were repeated upstairs and extended into the primary (previously carpeting). While all baths and bedrooms were refreshed, we focused on reveal on the primary only. All new furnishings and soon, custom window treatments, to finish the look.

A cozy bedroom with a neatly made bed featuring beige and patterned pillows, a textured blanket, and a wooden nightstand with a lamp, glass, and carafe. Soft natural light streams in through two windows.

Once inside the primary bathroom, neutral, yet elegant tiles were chosen with a basket weave shower pattern to break up the nuance of all white tiles, adding a playful pattern and texture. Mixed metals, and a spacious floor plan that now hosts bench seating with the oversized (and unused) bathtub gone. Our signature custom vanity stained in ‘coffee’ with reeded detailing grounds this space, using oversized Armak Martin hardware knobs in polished nickel.

Basket weave shower pattern to break up the nuance of all white tiles, adding a playful pattern and texture. Mixed metals, and a spacious floor plan that now hosts bench seating with the oversized (and unused) bathtub gone. Our signature custom vanity stained in 'coffee' with reeded detailing grounds this space, using oversized Armak Martin hardware knobs in polished nickel.

Dark stained rift white oak and reeded bathroom vanity, mixed brass and polished nickel metals, scalloped scone shades and decorative wall mirror.

Why We Did It

Old homes deserve new life, and families deserve spaces that work as hard as they look good. Instead of patchwork updates, we took a holistic view:

Improve flow and light. The original circulation felt segmented. With strategic tweaks, movement through the home feels intuitive and connected.

Honor timeless craft, not trends. Every finish and material was chosen for longevity – design that feels like home year after year.

Blend form and function. Whether it’s custom cabinetry tailored to the family’s needs or durable porch updates that extend outdoor enjoyment, each choice had both beauty and purpose in mind.

Blueprints and renderings matter, but so do craftsmanship and coordination. This project was a dance between design intent and building precision, with early planning to refine the layout, defined selections that respect both style and performance, and a build team committed to quality at every turn. Our cabinet shop crafted storage solutions; lighting, paint, and finishes were layered thoughtfully; and strategic planning ensured a seamless demo-to-finish process.

If you’re eager to explore even more possibilities for enhancing your home, consider contacting our team to learn more about our design-and-build services.

Sharing a few recent projects we think you might like: