Franklin Ellerbe Tudor
St. Paul, Minnesota
The 1907 house was designed by noted architect Franklin Ellerbe, founder of Ellerbe & Co. (later Ellerbe Becket). The original drawings had been passed from owner to owner and presented an interesting dynamic: how far would we take restoration? The project entailed both renovation and restoration, including an in-character but modern kitchen to replace the 1970s one the clients had inherited. An early decision here was to use red birch, which we knew was the original back-of-house wood species. We developed a finish using amber and garnet shellac with a modern overcoat for durability.
Interiors Architecture
Before
After
The kitchen needed to accommodate the growth of the family. We designed an eat-in peninsula and, adjacent to the kitchen, a family space that can become a separate breakfast room in the future.
A built-in coffee station serves these avid coffee drinkers. The quantity of appliances was a factor in the design. We created a framed alcove for the stainless-steel appliances, not hiding them but rather marrying them to the historical cabinetry.
- Builder: Dovetail Renovation Inc.
- Cabinetwork: Frost Cabinets
- Photographers: Susan Gilmore, Rich Michell (ext.)