ECO EXPERIENCE - Minnesota State Fair

Eco Experience  ... Minnesota State Fair

Educating the Public!

What do you think of when I say ....  Minnesota State Fair?
"The Official End to Summer"? "Food on a Stick"? "The Giant Slide"? "Machinery Hill"?


Now, there is the ECO EXPERIENCE too!
As a remodeling specialist, I was ECSTATIC to see the Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair!  

      

                 

The "Experience" educates & inspires.

Minnesota Green Star 

Minnesota Green Star was a feature on "Green Street" in the center of the building along with the Sustainability Stage which has an extensive line up of events throughout the fair. The non-profit organization not only certifies projects but also educates professionals and the public on green building.

Learning

The perimeter of the building was very interactive with areas themed in categories ...

Save Energy

Transportation

Wind Power

Solar

Healthy Local Food

Water

Reduce Reuse Recycle

Just for Kids

Recycle Mound

(: Kids Education Area :)

More Outside!

I highly recommend you take a few minutes to explore the Eco Experience!  Bring your family & friends. My 2 year old son loved it!  And, for the guys out there...there is an amazing sports car in there!

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: city dwellers eco-friendly kitchen

                                       

   PROJECT SPOTLIGHT ... city dwellers eco-friendly kitchen

         In addition to the desire for a more functional and family oriented kitchen, many of our clients have wishes for a eco-friendly features in their home.  Homeowners Amy & Mike were an exception, however.  They wished for as many features as possible to be non-toxic, locally produced & sustainable within their limited budget.  Amy was also very knowledgeable and enjoyed the research in finding products and checking out our suggestions.

Like any good kitchen designer, however, we started with the function of the space!  Amy is a stay-at-home mom of two young children and spends the majority of her time in the kitchen.  She often can be found baking homemade bread & preparing meals "from scratch".  She had a few specific needs that were important to address such as more space, sufficient clearance for appliance, counter space for her baking and a place for the kids to be in sight.  The original space was small and secluded from the family living area and the children's play area.

   

The plan to remove walls and open the space into a large area with one table for family meals, seating at the island and family entertaining area was underway.

  

The design also customized the space for the families needs.  A built in specialty buffet area functions for display of treasured pieces as well as storage for Amy's collection of small appliances.  

 

                       Before                                                                             After
  

A built-in message center in the hallway at the top of the stairs was customized to the clients needs with pocket doors, outlets to charge electronics & mail slots to keep them organized.

After the new expanded layout was confirmed & all of the cabinet accessory details reviewed, we moved onto material selections...

"formaldehyde-free", locally produced custom cabinets

locally produced,Greenguard certified Cambria quartz countertops

natural wood floors

Energy Star appliances

reuse of existing lighting, new fixtures are energy efficient

new energy rated, low E windows

no VOC, non-toxic paint

natural, organic fiber window treatments

      The result is gorgeous and a perfect fit for the family. "We really like the new layout, and we are enjoying the new space.  It is a big improvement!"

Thank you to the clients and Redstone Builders for a great experience & a beautiful kitchen!

SUMMER FEATURE: The Turman Revival - St. Louis Park, MN

Summer Feature: The Turman Revival

                                                                 Tuesday August 24, 2010

  "Sunny with a Chance of Dust"

Many of you who have built or remodeled a home know ALL about drywall and the mess that it makes.... EVERYWHERE!  This project is no exception...

 

Future Kitchen

I bet you are wondering where the "SUNNY" part comes in? 

Outside, of coarse! 

In addition to the inside, work has continued on the exterior.  Sunny yellow siding, white facia and soffit trim is transforming the house into a charming cottage home!

Maintenance free & durable seem to be the only way to go in todays market. 

IT'S ALL UP FROM HERE!

With the Minnesota State Fair and Holiday Weekend fast approaching, we have "put the pedal to the medal" to get this project ready for the family to move in by October.  What do you think?  Can we do it?

AN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - 5 YEARS!

A Celebration  ... growing with you

Celebrating 5 Years!

August 2010 marks 5 years of Spacial Adaptation!  Thank you to our clients, past & present, for your continued support through the years! 

Both in California & Minnesota, my clients have continued to be amazing people & have gorgeous projects!  I am truly grateful to have such fantastic people to work with!  

I also want to extend my appreciation to the contractors, vendors and workman who have contributed their resources to my projects and services.  You are all ROCK STARS! 

Special “Shout Outs” to some of my most amazing partners yet!  Thank you for coming to the plate when you were most needed!  I don’t say thank you enough.... THANK YOU!

  Josh Shonkweiler - Platinum Remodeling

Bob Appert - Redstone Builders

Penelope Purdum - Water Design Group

Gary Knight - Knight Construction Design

         Jean Nead - Intersource

The next 5 years promises to bring many challenges and opportunities to grow as well as new partnerships, clients and vendors.  I am excited to share them with you!       

                 

                                                                                                                           ~Michelle Drenckhahn

A SNEAK PEAK: city dwellers eco-friendly kitchen remodel

A SNEAK PEAK: city dwellers eco-friendly kitchen remodel

SUMMER FEATURE: The Turman Revival - St. Louis Park, MN

Summer Feature: The Turman Revival

                                                                 Sunday August 16, 2010

                

  "A Look Back"

The next few weeks promises to be quite uninteresting....drywall. 

So, let's take this time for a little look back, shall we?

  

Where we started...

Demolition...

New Home Coming ...

2nd Floor ...

Roof is on ...

Windows & Doors ...

The Porch....

Sussel Builders has been fantastic to work with!   

Thank you to Mike, Lori, Bob & their team for being apart of the project.  

SUMMER FEATURE: The Turman Revival - St. Louis Park, MN

Summer Feature: The Turman Revival

                                                                 Friday August 13, 2010 

Cedar Decked Porch

         "A Porch Story"

If you have been following this project you know that we are inspired by the Bungalow style of home so often found in the client's neighborhood and others within the Twin Cities.  And, you may have guessed that it surely would not be a quaint Bungalow with out an amazing PORCH!  

The Turmans always knew that they wanted a porch.  

However, it was Sara's idea to extend it to the side entry....WHAT A GREAT TOUCH!  

This week we have watched the porch come to life.  The multiple steps are time consuming and details but the result is worth it!  

          

supportive concrete piers went in earlier in the project

framing the deck of the porch

cedar decking makes it safe to walk on

cedar post up to support the roof

not pretty but you won't get wet anymore at the front door!

roof is shingled

A porch is an additional costs that many homeowners may overlook and should not. The charm and character of a porch can not be matched.

In addition, a porch provides additional protection from the elements & it is a cozy place to spend a sunny afternoon reading a book.

The addition of the stairs to the walk way, spindles, 

railing and final touches will take this home to the next level of CURB APPEAL!

SUMMER FEATURE: The Turman Revival - St. Louis Park, MN

Summer Feature: The Turman Revival

                                                                Sunday August 8, 2010 

An inspiration photo for the exterior color and porch feature.

         "INSPRATION"

Like every client, the Turmans had several ideas of the style of home they wanted to build.  The interesting thing was that it was a cottage bungalow and retro style combined.  As a designer, I appreciate both styles and have completed several projects in each. However, mixing the two was going to be an interesting challenge.  One I could not wait to get my hands on!  

We wanted to share a few photos which have inspired our design and product selections with the client.... ENJOY!

Retro and Colorful ... A great inspiration photo for our kitchen!

          

White Cabinets with a Wood Floor is always a classic!

     

Fireplace Wall Inspiration

Handmade Tile with Deco for the Fireplace

Master Bathroom Color Scheme

All of the elements are now in place.  All we have to do is order and wait...  

I may be as excited as the homeowner to see it all come together!