A Minnesota Mid Century Time Capsule

A custom-built 1957 Minnesota mid century home is updated for today’s modern lifestyle.

This Minnesota mid century home’s story begins in the 1950s, in Wayzata, a small town on the Northern shore of Lake Minnetonka about 10 miles from Minneapolis. Gordon and Kaye Jones hired architect Loren B. Abbett to design their home, although Gordon, with his engineering background, was involved in all aspects of the design. The redwood-clad, 2,390-square-foot home situated on almost two acres was completed in 1957.

living room with a view and fireplace in renovated mid century home — A wall that blocked the view from the front door through the living room was removed, opening up the kitchen to the living and dining rooms.

renovated kitchen with terrazzo floors and large island in mid century home — Perhaps the biggest challenge for the homeowners and contractor was the extensive upgrade to the home’s electrical system. “Every single circuit needed to be replaced,” says contractor Dorian Thompson. “The house had low-voltage wiring, which was state-of-the-art for the 1950s, but most of the switches were no longer working and wall receptacles and light fixtures were non-existent.” They ran new underground power and installed a 200-amp panel.

Gordon and Kaye didn’t have children, so when Kaye passed away in 2019, six years after Gordon, it fell to their niece, Sherry Holtmeyer, to sell their home. “The house had been a real labor of love for Gordon and Kaye,” Sherry says. “It was their mark on the world. I felt like if it was torn down, they would have been erased. I wanted to meet all interested buyers to give the house a fighting chance.”

triangular floating staircase and terrazzo floor in renovated Minnesota home — The home features an original inverted floating triangular staircase located just inside the main entry. The stairs were restored and carpeted. Note the protective triangle of tempered glass that was added to close off the space leading to the garden level and basement.

In the hope of finding a buyer who would appreciate the mid-century design of the home and not tear it down, Sherry listed the home for sale by owner instead of relying on a real estate agent.

The Plot Thickens

In 2020, the Minnesota mid century home’s listing in a local Facebook group dedicated to mid-century design caught the eye of Ashley Bull. Ashley and her husband, Jeff, had been looking diligently for almost two years for a Mid Century Modern home to call their own.

original wood burning stove in renovated mid century Minnesota home basement — The homeowners had a wall removed in the basement to create a large family room. The wood-burning stove is original to the home.

“We had moved from a downtown loft in Minneapolis to a home in the suburbs when our first child began walking. We learned a lot during the renovation process of that home,” Ashley says. “In 2018, we took advantage of a good real estate market and sold the home. Then the search was on for a Mid Century Modern home.” The couple and their now two children didn’t realize how long the process would take—and it was further hindered by the worldwide pandemic.

custom birch cabinets in renovated mid century kitchen — The homeowners originally thought they would restore the existing kitchen cabinets, but the cabinets were odd sizes and the veneers were peeling off. They opted to increase the size and functionality of the kitchen, but in a nod to the original kitchen they had custom birch cabinets made to match the original cabinets. Another period touch is the custom flooring. The homeowners installed custom Terrazzo concrete tiles, which were also popular in the 1950s.

home office in mid century Minnesota home — The open office is located at the top of a short flight of stairs and situated near the primary bedroom. The homeowners originally thought they might close in the office to give them a quiet working space but quickly realized adding a wall didn’t work with the airy feeling of the home.

“We didn’t sit back and wait for the right house to hit the market; we identified the mid-century neighborhoods and got to work. We walked the neighborhoods, talked to residents, wrote letters, toured lots of houses and set Google alerts for listings that fit our wish list,” Ashley explains.

Ashley and Jeff showed up to the open house in Wayzata with Dorian Thompson, the contractor who had renovated their first home.

A New Chapter Begins

“I knew as soon as I saw the house that it was the one,” Ashley recalls. “The home was an absolute time capsule. I spent most of my time during the showing speaking with Sherry about our passion for mid-century design as well as our experience and knowledge with renovations. We assured her we wouldn’t tear the house down.”

teal and white wallpaper with custom built-in shelf — A short set of stairs leads to the primary bedroom with custom built-ins, including the vanity area and storage headboard. This room required minimal updating. The homeowners installed new carpet and a wallpaper accent wall as well as new lighting.

It was time well spent. Despite receiving numerous competitive offers, Sherry accepted Ashley and Jeff’s offer in July 2020. Construction began in August. The homeowners were fortunate that Sherry still had the original blueprints for the home and they were used as a reference throughout the renovation.

pink tile and terrazzo curb in renovated mid century bathroom — This pink and black bathroom required extensive renovation due to the large amount of rot around the shower. The homeowners restored the original built-in cabinets and added a second sink. They installed a Terrazzo countertop echoing the Terrazzo floor on the main level. The same Terrazzo pattern was also used in the shower for shelves and the shower threshold. They weren’t able to save the original black floor tile so replaced it with a similar style.

The family moved into the not-quite-finished home in December 2020. “At that point, we had been searching for two years and had moved three times in six months, including a stay in an Airbnb. We were ready to move in despite the home not being completely finished,” Ashley says.

exterior front view of renovated mid century home in Minnesota — Typical of Mid Century Modern homes, the front of the home is unassuming and features few windows. The home has a flat roof, post-and-beam construction and an attached garage with a lower-level workshop. The homeowners cleaned up a decade of neglected landscaping. Jeff painstakingly restored the 1987 Porsche 911 Targa.

exterior rear view of renovated mid century home in Minnesota — A signature of MCM design is blurring the boundary between the indoors and outdoors. Here, the vertical redwood siding, brick fireplace and tongue-and-groove cedar ceilings extend beyond the interior of the home. The teal trim colors are custom matches to the original trim colors.

The Minnesota mid century home, which was originally a one bedroom, is now a three-bedroom, two-bath home. As satisfied as the homeowners are with their updated home, there are some big-budget improvements that still need to be made. “Next on our list is to replace the boiler and the roof, and install new landscaping,” Ashley says. “A more exciting project we are considering is restoring the Par Three golf course Gordon installed in the backyard.”

Sherry is pleased with the renovations as well. “They maintained the integrity of the home, but it now fits today’s lifestyle,” she says.

Ashley is beginning a new chapter in her career as well. She has started an interior design business, Novella Design House. “I chose the name Novella Design House because I think each house has a story to tell,” she explains. “I want to take what I have learned and help other people find the perfect home for them and make it their own.”

To see inside another Minnesota mid century home, check out A Minnesota Kitchen Renovation. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube for more Atomic Ranch articles, house tours, and ideas!