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Tom & Michelle’s St. Paul, MN Kitchen Renovation

Conducting interior renovations on a historic home can come with its own set of challenges. Going overly modern with the design features can cause the home’s interior and exterior to conflict with each other. However, that doesn’t mean that the home’s current layout and finishes cannot be modified. It was a summer day when Tom and Michelle welcomed us into their home. The Cape Cod was built in 1914 and is located in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul, MN.

before kitchen
The walls in this kitchen needed attention and the the amount of storage space needed to be upgraded.

In one word, space is the biggest issue with this kitchen. While Tom and Michelle have done their best to optimize every inch, there simply isn’t enough. The kitchen, much like others built in the early 1900’s had minimal cabinets and counter space.   In fact, the only water source in the kitchen is a shallow, compact sink, with a countertop so small that only a tiny dish rack can fit. It was also located right next to a doorway, which feels unnatural. The lighting within the kitchen was not evenly distributed. These factors all present obstacles for Michelle who is an avid baker. In addition, the flooring, cabinets, and walls all showed significant signs of age. There was also an area in the ceiling that had caved in because of a water leak in the upstairs bathroom.

After having identifying the features that could be improved upon, Tom and Michelle agree that putting a 7’x7’ addition onto the home would give them the feeling of spaciousness they wish to achieve. Doing this required adding new back steps, a landing, and LP® SmartSide® painted to match the existing siding.

kitchen
Here’s how the kitchen looked after renovations were completed.

These days, Tom and Michelle’s kitchen has been completely transformed. The tiny sink has been moved and replaced with a Kohler undermount cast iron sink. Instead of overlooking an adjoining room, the sink now has a window behind it. With the new dishwasher that was installed, there’s no need to wash every dish by hand! What minimal counter space existed before has now been replaced with a plethora of Silestone countertops. Michelle’s been getting plenty of use out of the kitchen island we installed slightly lower, but at a perfect height for her to roll out her cookies and concoct her rum soaked chocolate covered cherries.

baking cookies
With a more spacious kitchen, Michelle has been able to more fully enjoy her cookie baking hobby!

Having enough cabinet space is no longer an issue now that the semi-custom maple cabinets have been installed. Did we mention they are the perfect complement to the kitchen’s laminate vinyl tile? Another issue that the renovation remedied was the sparse lighting. This was addressed with the introduction of under cabinet ribbon lighting, recessed lighting, and pendant lighting. What these photos don’t show you is the spray foam insulation we added to the walls and ceiling which make the more energy efficient and comfortable. Issues with the plumbing were also addressed to prevent any future issues.

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Lindus Construction Reviews from St. Paul, MN Homeowners

"The team that installed the window listened to the concerns and observations that were made to them and worked to resolve them to our satisfaction. We felt like we were part of the team and that our input mattered."

Burt F.
St. Paul, MN
April 11, 2025

"We had a free inspection of our attic insulation by Logan. He said our insulation was just fine and would not recommend any work be done on it. So great to have an honest contractor who does not want to push product. Thank you for your honesty!"

Grant H.
St. Paul, MN
April 3, 2025

"We purchased a new back door and storm door that were installed in late December. The storm door had not been shutting properly, and Wayne from Lindus arrived to fix it. Not only did Wayne correct that problem, he thoroughly went through each function of the door, hinges, handle, and shutting device. In some cases, he replaced the 3-month-old parts because they weren’t working properly. By the end of his service call, we felt like we got a completely improved door from the manufacturer. In today’s service world, it is very rewarding as a customer to see an employee of a company care so much about making it right for the customer."

Brent O.
St. Paul, MN
March 24, 2025

"Wyatt and Eric were top-notch! Very considerate and I was very happy to have them install the gutters and downspouts."

Mary L.
St Paul, MN
January 8, 2025

"Tyler with Lindus did an amazing job of looking over my home and identifying some critical areas of need regarding insulation. I’ve spent my whole career in the trades and always enjoy learning new things and I definitely learned from Tyler. If you’re looking for honest and insightful help with insulation issues with your home, I would highly recommend Tyler at Lindus."

Andrew L.
St. Paul, MN
January 8, 2025

"Let me begin by thanking you and all who were involved in replacing the roof on my mother's house. Nelson and his crew were fantastic and did a great job from start to finish. The roof looks great, too!"

Bruce P.
St. Paul, MN
October 8, 2024
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