Tudor Revival

Minneapolis, MN

Completed 2023

The clients wanted a low maintenance, side yard entertainment and dining space that would flow from their newly remodeled kitchen and look intentional rather than as an afterthought. Horrible soil conditions, an unfortunate electrical service location and the elevations of the driveway and doors presented many challenges.

The team combined smart material selections, innovative construction techniques and a stepped design to create a traditional outdoor living environment with a modern touch that is as functional as it is beautiful. Colors and shapes are so well integrated it truly looks like an extension of the house itself.

The landings and stairs flow organically from the patio doors to the lawn below. The mix of materials, angles and shapes blend with strategically placed plantings for privacy and visual balance.

Behind the Design

Design Notes

Before

A Minneapolis side yard with horrible soil, an unfortunate electrical service location, and awkward elevations between driveway and doors — next to a freshly remodeled kitchen that deserved better.

The Idea

Smart material selections, innovative construction techniques, and a stepped design: landings and stairs that flow organically from the patio doors down to the lawn, reading as intentional architecture rather than an afterthought.

After

A traditional outdoor living environment with a modern touch — colors and shapes so well integrated it looks like an extension of the house itself, with plantings placed for privacy and balance.

The Brief

—A low-maintenance side-yard dining and entertaining space
—Flow directly from the newly remodeled kitchen
—Intentional — not an afterthought

The stepped descent

Landings and stairs flow organically from the patio doors to the lawn, solving the elevation problem as the design’s signature.

An extension of the house

Colors, angles, and shapes are integrated with the architecture so completely the yard reads as part of the building.

Privacy, planted

Strategic plantings screen the space and balance the geometry.

The hard part

Horrible soil conditions, a badly placed electrical service, and the elevations of the driveway and doors — answered with material choices and construction technique rather than compromise.