Eden Prairie Home Renovation

An Eden Prairie couple transforms their ‘90s style home into a contemporary work of art.

From the issue: June 2012

Photo: Ehlen Creative Communications LLC

A redesigned staircase creates a stunning focal point and provides an updated look in the Quirk home in Eden Prairie.

When Heidi and Pat Quirk moved into their new Eden Prairie home 15 years ago, they loved its bones, the location within the community and the fact that it sat nestled at the top of a tree-filled cul-de-sac. “It was perfect for us because we had three kids under 5,” Heidi says. “It was peaceful and very quiet.”

But just as their daughters grew and changed into the young ladies they are now (19-year-old Reilly, 17-year-old Megan, and 15-year-old Caitlin), so, too, did the Quirk’s feeling for the 2,600 square-foot space that was filled with maple flooring and cabinetry, dark rooms, underused spaces, limited kitchen counters and a staircase that blocked off the views from every room. “We wanted something that was more open, contemporary, and with an Asian feel,” says Heidi, “And we knew that we didn’t want to leave here, so we decided on an update.”

With an idea of the kind of space they wanted in mind, the couple reached out to Michelle Byers and Ron Zach, owners of Structural Dimensions, Inc. (SDI), for help in bringing that vision to fruition. “They were looking for something that was more of a representation of who they were,” Byers says. “And we knew we could give them what they were looking for.”

And what they delivered is breathtaking.

What was once “the worst feature of the house,” according to Pat—the massive, view-stealing staircase—was transformed into an open dual staircase with chunky, cherry butcher-block treads, and black metal railings and posts; a cold air return and wires were cleverly hidden inside metal posts. “It immediately opened up the space,” Heidi says.

Using that contemporary detail as a jumping off point, SDI incorporated a floor-to-ceiling cherry fireplace surround in the family room (they used different applications of cherry wood throughout the project: book matched, plain-sliced, quarter-sawn, and burled), with a streamlined, stainless steel insert. “We went with clean lines and interesting elements,” Heidi says. “We’re not into knick-knack-y things, so the details and finishes actually became the artwork, the personality of the space.”

The kitchen, which once had only a small window over the sink, was shown the light with the addition of three immense windows. And, with the removal of an office near the back of the home, the kitchen was expanded, and now boasts extra tall cherry cabinetry, a large island with granite, high-end appliances, built-in television, spacious eating area, and a “breakfast center” that cleverly hides a coffeepot, toaster, coffee, and coffee mugs; additionally, a lit cherry wood “valance” adds architectural interest and plays nicely into the contemporary feel.

A flex space in the rear of the home offers office space for Heidi, a laundry area, complete with numerous windows and granite folding station, and a bank of cupboards for storage.

Other elements of the four-month project, include radiant floor heating from Uponor, main floor bath revamp, and smart house functionality, whereby nearly every light and several features of the thermostat in the home can be controlled anywhere through Pat’s iPad.

As the project wrapped up, the couple began to reevaluate the deck that, now, was completely visible with the addition of the large windows; not to mention that their eldest was graduating from high school and they wanted to have a perfect spot for the graduation party. “We decided to have Phase 2,” says Pat, with a laugh.

So, to mimic the feel of the newly renovated space inside, black metal railings were added to the deck, as was a fire table, retractable hot tub (literally, can be hidden away with the use of hydraulics), clean-lined deck furniture and stairs that double as storage nooks.

Overall, the remodel was a resounding success to everyone involved; the project has also garnered numerous Contractor of the Year (COTY) awards for SDI. “We couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out,” says Pat, who admits he loved the whole process and is considering Phase III. “It really exceeded our expectations, and we are so glad we did it.”

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