Remodeling Planbooks

Split Visions: A Planbook of Remodeling Ideas For Split-Level and Split- Entry Houses

No one knows for sure who invented the split-level house, but it appeared in Chicago in the 1930s, peaked in popularity during the 1950s, and has continued since to be a common house-type throughout the United States.

Split Visions: A Planbook of Remodeling Ideas for Split-Level and Split-Entry Houses features ideas for both split-level and split-entry home styles prevalent in Golden Valley and other first ring suburbs. The book includes 34 pages with suggestions for split-levels, split-entry long-faced, and split-entry short-faced variations, with existing floor plans and three-dimensional sketches of the remodeled space.

For example, it provides ideas for:

expanding and rethinking the entry
facade treatments
opening up the plan
storage, basements, and landscaping
window replacement
adding a fireplace
storage, basements, and landscaping

There is also a section dealing with common split-level house issues, such as heating and cooling, smoke alarms, stairs, and accessibility, and another with suggestions for starting a remodeling project.

The Split Vision Planbook is a joint project of 15 Twin Cities suburbs—Golden Valley, Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids, Crystal, Fridley, Hopkins, Mounds View, New Brighton, New Hope, Robbinsdale, Richfield, Roseville, St Louis Park. Residents of these communities can buy the book for $10 ($15 for nonresidents).

Golden Valley residents can buy the Planbook at City Hall or order a copy by mail. If you have questions about the Planbook, call the City’s Planning Department at 763-593-8095. If you have questions about City requirements for remodeling, contact the Inspections Department at 763-593-8092.

Cape Cods and Ramblers: A Remodeling Planbook for Post WWII Houses

Much has been made of how the post World War II Baby Boom changed the face of the country. Among other things, it fueled a housing boom that built first-ring suburbs like Golden Valley. A unique new book uses the housing boom as a backdrop for ideas to update and remodel houses built in the Twin Cities in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s.

Cape Cods and Ramblers: A Remodeling Planbook for Post WWII Houses features ideas for three home styles prevalent in Golden Valley and other first ring suburbs: Cape Cod, rambler with attached single car garage, and rambler with detached garage. The book includes 25 pages of existing floor plans and three-dimensional sketches of the remodeled space. It also offers tips to ensure the finished product fits with the original architecture.

For example, for ramblers with detached garages it provides ideas for:

kitchen remodel within current walls
kitchen expansion by adding eating area
bedroom, bath, and office addition in basement
front entry porch addition

For ramblers with attached single car garage, it shows:

master suite and full bath addition on main level
kitchen remodel; bump out to add family room
garage addition with a menu of choices
front patio/semi-covered porch addition

For Cape Cod story-and-a-half homes, it shows plans for:

creating a master bedroom
new master bedroom by adding square footage
adding side entry/mud room
remodeling kitchen within existing walls, or expanding and adding family room

The Remodeling Planbook is a joint project of 15 Twin Cities suburbs—Golden Valley, Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids, Crystal, Fridley, Hopkins, Mounds View, New Brighton, New Hope, Robbinsdale, Richfield, Roseville, St Louis Park. Residents of these communities can buy the book for $10 ($15 for nonresidents).