Small house opens up

Two decades ago, architect Scott Wende bought a tiny "back-of-the-lot" house with one bedroom and a broom-closet-size bathroom, but a fantastic location two lots from Minnehaha Creek in south Minneapolis.

Despite its modest 600 square feet and lack of charm, he was committed to keeping it intact.

"I wanted to reuse the structure instead of tearing it down," said Wende, co-owner of the St. Paul architecture firm Lunning Wende Associates. "It was solid."

During the past decade or so, Wende embarked on an eco-friendly, cost-conscious transformation of that former 1923 cabin into an eclectic 750-square-foot house with vaulted pine ceilings, a modern kitchen and a "front room" addition that flows onto a spacious deck that expands the size of the house during agreeable weather.

Throughout it all, Wende was guided by a desire to keep the home easy to maintain, energy-efficient and most of all, simple.

"We realized we didn't need a home much bigger or with excessive amenities," said Wende's partner, JoAnn Manthey.

But the biggest challenge was "how to build high-quality living spaces without spending a lot of money," said Wende.

During an early series of improvements, Wende focused on enhancing the existing structure rather than a costly addition. Previous owners had added 200 square feet to the original 400-square-foot house by expanding the living room and bedroom.

In 1996, Wende went the next step and opened up the attic above the living room, creating a vaulted ceiling using some of the original Douglas fir beams. That transformation, most of which he did himself to save money, made the compact living room feel more spacious and bright.

Cosmetic, easy and affordable improvements included removing plaster from the original brick chimney and tearing out carpet and refinishing the honey-colored birch floors underneath.

But even with taller ceilings, the home felt "confining and closed in," Manthey said. And the couple longed for a small "away" room with a wood-burning stove. But it had to be built on the front of the house -- the sloped city lot had no extra space on the side or back-- and there was a massive maple tree just steps from the front door.

But in 1998, a windstorm brought destruction -- and opportunity -- by damaging the maple, which eventually died. In 2003, the couple added a 150-square-foot front room with a large picture window, birch wood floors and vaulted pine ceilings like those in the rest of the home.

That cozy space "is dynamite in a snowstorm," said Wende. "You can see the gorgeous white pines covered in snow."

Their apartment-size kitchen was remodeled to make it more efficient, including granite countertops, modern metal shelves and a two-burner cooktop. Additional storage is accessed through a trap door leading to a basement space.

Next, Wende expanded their living space by adding a 430-square-foot, L-shaped cedar deck on the front of the house that was more economical than a four-season porch. It acts as two outdoor rooms -- one for dining and one for relaxing. In the summer, a lush honeysuckle bush creates a "wall" that blocks views of the deck from the sidewalk.

During warm months, green canvas awnings over the roof gables provide shade and shelter for those outdoor spaces. In the winter, the awnings can be rolled up and stored in the garage.

The couple's environmentally conscious approach extends to the yard, which features low-maintenance native plants that can withstand dry summer conditions and a front walkway and wall built from reclaimed quarried limestone they got free from an excavation site.

Wende said the home reflects his beliefs in a green and sustainable approach to building.

"It shows what can be done with some of these small houses," he said, "if you really think about the opportunities and change your perspective on what a house can be."

Lynn Underwood • 612-673-7619