Janet Kiley of Coon Rapids never really wanted to be known as the "church lady," but as the new owner of Faith Lutheran Church in Staples, Minn., it's hard to avoid. Kiley bought the church as a second home in 2006 after the congregation built a new one.

Initially, she tried to keep a low profile. When any of the town's 3,000-plus residents asked the newcomer where she lived, Kiley answered vaguely.

"I wanted to take the renovation slowly, with the right plan in place, before I let too many people know what was up," she said.

Kiley didn't deliberately search for a church as a second home. The religious element was never a factor. "I wanted a great space -- a barn, a fire station or a warehouse loft -- something of architectural interest," she said. When she saw the church listed on Edina Realty's website, it wasn't the space she envisioned, but the price and the square footage made it too good to pass up.

The living space is cavernous. Just the sanctuary, er, great room is 3,300 square feet. Kiley wasn't intimidated by decorating such a large space, although she did take a year off from her job to organize the remodeling. After the pews were removed, the carpet was taken up to expose the original oak floors in the 1937 structure. The flooring in the choir loft was fir, which posed a problem because of the risers, but Kiley flattened it out, saved what existing fir she could and supplemented it with reclaimed fir from the ReUse Center in Minneapolis.

All of the religious artifacts, including the altar, baptismal font and stained glass windows, were removed, but the architectural integrity was left intact. "It's built like a tank," said Kiley, mindful of Christian soldiers. The great room has been left as is, soaring 30-foot ceilings and all, but thanks to the addition of classrooms and offices in 1952, Kiley has five large bedrooms and one bathroom in what she calls "the West Wing."

She adopted an Arts and Crafts decorating style, replacing the all-white interior with deep golds, rusty ambers and mossy greens. She easily played off the existing Mission-style accents including the great room beams and an old library table left in the music room.

The basement kitchen has two stoves, one being a 10-burner, and the wing comfortably sleeps 12. With such expansive accomodations, Kiley opens her home, which she calls the Landmark Inn, to small groups in need of a retreat. She has hosted scrapbookers, quilters, hunters, families and wellness groups.

As for Staples residents and congregants who wonder what she's done to the former church that occupies more than half a city block, Kiley will have an open house soon. The inn will be on the Historical Society's parade of homes in late summer.

Kiley recommends that visitors to Staples check out the wonderful community choirs, theater, golf courses, farmers' market, Dower Lake recreational area and the Crow Wing River for tubing and canoeing. Staples is approximately 30 minutes from Nisswa and Gull Lake.

The inn can be seen at www.landmark-inn.net or call 1-763-754-1800.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com.