The Highs and Lows of Remodeling a Historic Home in Downtown Excelsior
Date: November 26, 2024Remodeling a historic home is always a fun challenge, and this home in downtown Excelsior, Minnesota is no exception. For this project, we want to preserve the beautiful, historic nature of the home while adding the modern touches our homeowner is looking for making it a fun blend of old and new. The property itself is a rare gem—a historic storefront facing the street, with a house attached at the back. Our goal is to turn this residence into two Airbnb spaces, blending contemporary conveniences with its original charm.
Remodeling a Historic Home Into Modern Airbnb Spaces
Our client’s vision is to create two distinct, rentable spaces with all the needed modern amenities while maintaining the integrity of the building’s historic architectural details. The project involves a full renovation, including major updates such as:
- Asbestos removal
- Foundation repairs
- New carpentry and roofing
- Modern Systems like State-of-the-art HVAC
Sustainability is really important to the property owner (and to us!) so we’re paying special attention to keeping things green throughout the historic home remodel. We’re committed to using suitable materials and energy-efficient solutions to ensure that the property not only meets modern standards but also contributes to a healthier living environment.
A Local Collaboration
Our clients chose us for this project because of our deep connection to the Excelsior community and our partnership with architect Ryan Smolik. Ryan’s design vision, paired with our expertise in remodeling historic properties, made us the ideal team for the job. Together, we’re excited to bring this historic home into the modern era while respecting its storied past.
Preserving History While Embracing Modern Design
One of the biggest challenges—and most exciting aspects—of this remodel is opening up the interior space while maintaining the home’s historical features on the exterior. To achieve this, we’re installing steel beams throughout the home, which will allow us to remove certain interior walls without compromising structural integrity.
The goal is to create an open, airy interior that fits modern comforts while preserving the home’s historic balloon framing. This delicate balance between past and present will ensure the property retains its charm while offering the functionality guests will need. We’re also adding custom cabinetry and upgrading the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems to reflect the highest standards of quality.
Historic home renovations are never without their challenges. In this case, working within the confines of historic regulations has slowed the process at times, requiring extra care and additional time. However, these regulations are vital for preserving the property’s historic value, so we’re not complaining! We’re committed to navigating these hurdles to ensure the home retains its architectural significance and serves our client and their future guests’ needs.
Making Progress Remodeling a Historic Home
We’ve just completed the installation of the steel beams and are now framing the new walls. Additionally, we’ve installed new efficient windows, bringing more light into the space and enhancing energy efficiency. As we move forward, we’re focused on refining the interior layout and prepping for the next phases of construction.
One of our favorite, distinctive features for this historic house remodel is the incredible rooftop deck we’re adding. This space, accessible via an exterior stairwell, will offer guests a unique view and an additional outdoor living area and entertaining space. To further differentiate the two rental units, we’re removing the interior stairs and creating separate entrances for each space, ensuring privacy and independence for future guests. Keep an eye out for the finished project!
Stay tuned for the finished project, but in the meantime check out this remodel!
What’s Next?
As the renovation process progresses, we’ll continue to provide updates and look forward to sharing the final results. Stay tuned for a future blog where we’ll showcase before-and-after photos of this historic Excelsior remodel. For now, we’re excited to continue bringing this vision to life, balancing historical preservation with modern functionality, and can’t wait to reveal the completed transformation!