One Fabulous Home Renovation

Two Happy Homeowners

The Grand Entrance

In case you missed the Spring Remodelers Showcase, we thought we’d bring you up to date on our Edina, Minnesota family that experienced a whole-house remodel on a home site in a neighborhood they loved. The home was showcased this spring with 796 people visiting during one weekend only.

Elegant Comfort

The results are spectacular — with features that include:

• Gourmet kitchen
• Rear foyer with a drop zone
• Inspiration room for working from home
• Master suite with separate lounge area, walk-in closet and spa-like bath
• Upper level laundry room
• Geothermal heating and cooling

“The experience was really quite fun,” says Mike, our homeowner. “I was a carpenter for 13 years, so it was fascinating to watch my house come together. And it was very satisfying to be involved in making some of the strategic changes.”

The homeowners rented a home in the neighborhood while their new home was rising from the old foundation, so Mike spent a good deal of time overseeing the project. “Brunn was a great remodeling partner,” he says. “They always kept us involved in the process—working with us rather than talking around us, which was such a great sign of respect for me and my wife.”

The Entertaining Space

When asked whether he encountered any surprises during the remodeling project, Mike laughed. “You really have to be open to change during a construction project like this. Everything may be drawn out for you, but you can’t expect it all to go according to plan. As long as you keep an open mind, it can be a truly remarkable experience.”

He’s right. Just take a look at the results.

If you’d like to talk about a remodeling project—from a one-room makeover to a whole-house renovation, give Brunn Remodeling a call at 763.780.0323. To preview our work, check out our remodeling services at Brunnremodeling.com.

A Striking Exterior

When last we visited Brunn’s remodeling project in Edina, the home was all studs and joists and beams and trusses and we had to use our imaginations to figure out what was going in where.

Check out the latest photos and update from Andy Brunn…

Gourmet Kitchen in the Making

“We are currently installing the cabinets, enameling the millwork, installing the siding, painting and staining and preparing for the floor to be installed,” says Andy.  “Since the last update, we’ve installed the stone, finished the drywall, installed all the trim, applied the basecoat of paint on all the walls and installed the siding on the rear and sides of the home.”

Bathroom Vanity

With the Remodelers Showcase a little more than three weeks away, it’s looking like we’re right on schedule to open our doors to the public.  Mark your calendars for March 26^th–28^th. Visit the Remodelers Showcase Website for home details and directions>>

Check out the crown molding above each doorway

Do you love your home and neighborhood but need an update, more space or a finished lower level? Visit our website to preview some of our work>> Or give us a call at 763-780-0323 and we’d be happy to come out and take a look.

As we near the end of January, it’s time for an update on our whole-house remodeling project in Edina. Not to be deterred by Minnesota snow and occasional frigid temperatures, we are still on track to complete the home in time for the Parade of Homes Remodelers’ Showcase^SM at the end of March.

Curb-side view

We caught up with Mike, the homeowner, not long ago to discuss how he and his wife made the decision to remodel from the ground up, rather than move to an existing home or new construction. Here’s a little background:

Mike and his wife bought the rambler in Edina five years ago with the intention of remodeling it some day. It wasn’t long before they fell in love with the neighborhood, their neighbors and the entire community — but there was only one problem. “We really wanted to remodel it as a rambler,” says Mike. “But the plans we had in mind just didn’t seem to fit that configuration.”

Great room to kitchen

Needing more space and believing they had hit a remodeling wall, they decided to put their house on the market and began looking for an existing home in and around their neighborhood that would accommodate their family. “We had a lot of interest on our house,” says Mike. “But we couldn’t find a home we liked as much as the one we owned.” That realization led them to Plan B … Brunn Remodeling.

Mike has known Brunn Designer and Project Planner, Andy Brunn, personally for a long time, but that wasn’t the reason they decided to partner with him. “I didn’t choose Brunn because I was acquainted with Andy,” says Mike. “It wouldn’t have been right to go with them based on that point alone.” Mike and his wife visited some homes in the Remodelers’ Showcase and they were drawn to Brunn’s designs, workmanship and they liked the way they were treated. “They made my wife feel comfortable, too,” says Mike. “So I finally said to Andy, ‘all right, let’s look at some two-story plans.’”

From the great room to the stairway

Mike had some ideas that he ran by Andy, some of which worked beautifully and some that needed adjusting. In the end, the homeowners had a plan they really loved, and they moved out temporarily at the beginning of October to let Brunn get started.

“We’re in a rental home right here in the neighborhood,” says Mike. “I can watch the progress up close and visit the site regularly.” From Brunn’s perspective, the home is progressing nicely. As of today, the roofing is complete and the electrical, mechanical and pluming rough-ins are underway. The windows have also been installed so the home is now weather-tight — a major milestone, according to Andy Brunn, “we are no longer at the mercy of this Minnesota winter.”

If you’ve been thinking about doing some remodeling, don’t let winter stop you, give Brunn Remodeling a call at 763.780.0323. To preview our work, check out our remodeling services at Brunnremodeling.com.

Before

After

Mounds View homeowners, Cheryl and Larry, were planning to wait until spring to make their 33-year-old home more energy efficient. But when they toured the Remodeler’s Showcase last fall, they learned about Project ReEnergize — a government program that provides rebates for making energy efficient upgrades to their home. That prompted them to start talking to contractors immediately.

Cheryl knew of Brunn Remodeling through her church and eventually sat down with Wayne Brunn to talk through their renovation plans and learn more about Project ReEnergize.

“Wayne was extremely knowledgeable about the program and quickly helped us get started with estimates,” says Cheryl. “We understood the rebate fund would run out eventually, and we didn’t want to miss this opportunity.”

With lower interest rates on home equity loans right now, Cheryl and Larry decided to check off everything they had on their list. They replaced several windows, garage doors, service doors and the exterior siding of their home. They also decided it was a good time to seal the attic and replace an ancient water heater. The result? Between Project ReEnergize and the Federal Tax Credit for home improvements, they will ultimately save $6,000!

“We are thrilled with the savings, and I can only imagine how these improvements will affect our energy bills,” continues Cheryl. “We’re very excited about that, too.”

Brunn started the work on November 30^th, and the siding was finished just before the holiday snowstorm.

“The exterior siding has made the biggest difference of all,” says Cheryl. “Our neighbors were the first to comment about how beautiful it looks. And when you get compliments from the neighbors, you know you did the right thing.”

Although the monies available through Project Re-Energize are gone now, a new MHFA Rebate Program, called the Fix-up Fund, began on December 1^st and is worth looking into.

Fix-up Fund borrowers, who complete eligible energy saving home improvements with their loan proceeds, may qualify for a rebate equal to 35% of the cost of the improvements financed with a Fix-up Fund loan — up to a maximum of $10,000.

Eligible improvements include:

• Replacement furnaces, boilers, and central air conditioners that are eligible for Federal Energy Tax Credit
• Replacement exterior doors that are eligible for Federal Energy Tax Credit
• Energy Star replacement windows
• Energy Star light fixtures
• Attic air sealing
• Wall and attic insulation in conjunction with attic air sealing
• Water heaters if “orphaned” due to furnace replacement

The MHFA cautions homeowners that this money won’t last long either, so if you’re thinking about remodeling, you should do it now. Visit www.mnhousing.gov for more information. Or, better yet, call Wayne Brunn at the office: 763.780.0323. Or on his cell: 612.366.5818. And check out our new Brunn Remodeling website at www.brunnremodeling.com

Edina Rambler "Before"

For nearly three years, Andy Brunn had been in touch with an Edina family that was feeling growing pains in their existing rambler. They began looking to buy a larger home, but just couldn’t seem to find the right location with the right amount of space.  In truth, they were very attached to their neighborhood and didn’t like the thought of living someplace else.

That’s when Andy started talking about remodeling.

The design plans involved a whole house remodel that included an all new kitchen, rear foyer, half bath, great room, main foyer, bedroom with a handicap-accessible bathroom and flex space that, for now, is going to be an inspiration room. And that’s just the main floor. We’re adding a completely new second floor, which will include the master suite, two additional bedrooms, bathroom and laundry room.

Phase I

What’s happening now? The excavation and block work is completed, and the framing has begun. The completion date is set for the middle of March, which will be just in time for the Spring Remodelers’ Showcase.

Check back on the progress by visiting our blog each month.

What about you? Is your home ready for an update or a remodeling project? We’d be happy to come out and meet with you to see what you have in mind. To schedule a visit, give us a call at 763-780-0323. To check out our work, please visit our website>>

Hear how Brunn Remodeling in Blaine, MN helped Dwayne and Claudia solve their kitchen problems in this short video…

To see more kitchen transformation stories click here>>

Contact Andy Brunn to see how Brunn Remodeling can completely transform your kitchen too…

Andy@BrunnRemodeling.com or 763-780-0323 Ext. 5

The MN Consortium of Woman-Centric Home Builders Would Like to Welcome Brunn Remodeling!