Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: 21st-Century Accessibility in a Traditional Home
Old-world charm and modern conveniences combine in this wheelchair-accessible house
On an empty lot in St. Paul, Minnesota, two empty nesters wanted to build a new home that would accommodate their accessibility needs now and into the future — without sacrificing their love of traditional detailing. Architect Jeremiah Battles skillfully blended Craftsman-style detailing, the couple’s architectural antiques, multiple outdoor living spaces and even an elevator to meet the owners’ mobility requirements.
Inside the front entry is the elevator to the right, and a staircase that Battles wound around the elevator. When the lift’s door is closed, it resembles a coat closet door. The elevator is detailed with quarter-sawn oak paneling. The floors are white oak.
The wife asked Battles to incorporate several pieces she found during excursions to architectural antiques stores, including the leaded-glass window on the front door.
The wife asked Battles to incorporate several pieces she found during excursions to architectural antiques stores, including the leaded-glass window on the front door.
Also found during those shopping trips were the French doors leading into the living room and the Tudor fireplace surround of travertine. The doors allow the couple to close off the living room when in need of a quiet space away from the bustle of the kitchen, without eliminating the flow of natural light.
“With all the dark wood in the house, we didn’t want to go overboard with the ceiling,” Battles says, “so we included a simple trim detail that would be reminiscent of the thicker beams in an old English cottage.”
“With all the dark wood in the house, we didn’t want to go overboard with the ceiling,” Battles says, “so we included a simple trim detail that would be reminiscent of the thicker beams in an old English cottage.”
The couple loves to cook in the house, which is “very kitchen-centric,” Battles says. An open area at the end of the peninsula can accommodate a wheelchair. The prep sink also has an opening below for a wheelchair.
The countertops are granite; the custom-designed cabinets are quarter-sawn white oak. The pendant lights and sconces were custom-made to match an antique Sheffield fixture the wife found in an antiques store.
The countertops are granite; the custom-designed cabinets are quarter-sawn white oak. The pendant lights and sconces were custom-made to match an antique Sheffield fixture the wife found in an antiques store.
The pantry window does double-duty as a pass-through to the back porch, connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Windows on both sides of the stove provide views to the wooded backyard. The bold blue tile behind the stove is from England and features a decorative floral square. The custom-designed wood range hood, like all the cabinetry, was carefully crafted to convey a blend of Craftsman and old-world style.
In the powder room off the kitchen and den, Battles recessed the sink to save space and ensure that the homeowner’s wheelchair would fit.
“The space is small but articulate in the details,” he says. Marble surrounds a hammered metal sink found in Mexico, and wainscoting also functions as a handrail for the owner.
“The space is small but articulate in the details,” he says. Marble surrounds a hammered metal sink found in Mexico, and wainscoting also functions as a handrail for the owner.
White paint on the woodwork in the upstairs bathroom gives the room a clean, airy feel. Marble forms the countertops, and runs along the perimeter of the floor. A contemporary frameless shower is juxtaposed with traditional hexagonal tile on the floor and subway tile on the walls.
“The slope of the roof makes the interior ceiling more interesting,” Battles says. “It gives that perched-in-the attic feeling.” Grab bars throughout the room help ensure the homeowner’s safety.
“The slope of the roof makes the interior ceiling more interesting,” Battles says. “It gives that perched-in-the attic feeling.” Grab bars throughout the room help ensure the homeowner’s safety.
The balcony off the master bedroom looks out onto the wooded backyard and offers a clear view toward the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair and its fireworks displays. Battles recessed the balcony halfway into the house structure to protect the homeowners from the elements. The arched roofline and vaulted beadboard ceiling add to the sense of protection, as does the curved rail.
The screened porch off the kitchen on the main level also has a beadboard ceiling. Note the window pass-through to the kitchen. Cedar was used for the walls; the floor decking is a composite material that extends outdoors to the grill deck.
The backyard’s sunken patio is off the family room in the basement and is easily accessed via the elevator. “Our goal was to create spaces outside that feel distinct but have a unique relationship to the home’s interior,” Battles says.
Builder: Ben Quie & Sons
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Builder: Ben Quie & Sons
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple of empty nesters
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Size: 2,500 square feet (232 square meters)
Designer: Jeremiah Battles of Acacia Architects
Builder: Ben Quie & Sons
The homeowners moved just a half-mile from their previous home to build a new house that met the husband’s accessibility needs. The cottage-y exterior hints at the wife’s love of Craftsman-style detailing, with brackets and corbels. (She spent time living in England.)
The attached garage opens in the basement level to an elevator that transports the couple through all three floors of the house. Architect Jeremiah Battles tucked the house into the hill to lower the roofline and reduce the scale. Most interior spaces are wheelchair-accessible, and there’s a wheelchair-accessible space on each level for outdoor living.