Smart Sophistication

With towering windows offering stunning views of the Minneapolis skyline, this modern condo feels like a luxurious urban tree house
In the open plan living area, entertaining opportunities abound–guests can gather around the gas fireplace or jaunt out onto the balcony for a breath of fresh air. Part of Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour.
In the open plan living area, entertaining opportunities abound–guests can gather around the gas fireplace or jaunt out onto the balcony for a breath of fresh air. (Spacecrafting)

“Cool factor!” enthuses Todd Simming, president of Kroiss Development Inc., throwing his hands in the air and smiling when asked about the plethora of smart technologies incorporated into the design of this Kenwood upper-level, 2,950-square-foot condominium. “What’s so much fun about building these luxury, high-end condos was collaborating with such a creative team that had great ideas, to come up with even better ideas.”

Those ideas include retractable patio screens and window shades, stove hood in the kitchen, and 80-inch TV screen in the bedroom, which are operable by remote, smartphone, or iPad. The heating, cooling, and security systems can also be programmed via smart technology. Then, the tech gets granular. The Toto Washlit Bidet toilet has a heated seat that “learns” homeowners’ habits (in order to warm up just before use). In-floor radiant heat is also included in the shower.

The doors incorporate slow-closing mechanisms so they don’t slam. An elevator connects the lower-level heated parking (accessed via a heated driveway) with the condo. Floor-to-ceiling Kolbe VistaLux windows and doors bring in light and views; in the master bedroom, sound-deadening glass blocks white noise from the nearby freeway. “The condo is full of these small details the homeowner might not see but definitely experiences and appreciates,” says Simming, who developed the project in collaboration with Lenox House Design and Ted Martin and Gabe Keller of Peterssen/Keller Architecture.

The awe factor, however, starts outside the modern two-level structure, clad in stucco and custom corrugated-metal siding. From the ground-level entrance, guests access the upper level via a floating steel staircase with thick wood treads: A window looks out to the woods beyond. The open plan living area includes a kitchen with Wolf, Subzero, and Asko appliances and quartz waterfall countertops; a gathering area with white-oak floors, custom walnut cabinets, and gas fireplace; and a balcony with ipe wood decking and a live-roof edge feature.

Meanwhile, the staircase continues to the rooftop with a bluestone terrace, gas fireplace, and seating area. The unoccupied surfaces were engineered for a live roof, so the owners could put in a garden or grasses, and water and power are available for the installation of a hot tub. Back inside the condo, the hallway serves as an art gallery before terminating at the master suite, but also opens into the prep kitchen/pantry area (which includes plentiful storage as well as a powder room); a guest room and bath; and a flex space that can serve as a sleeping area, office, or reading room.

The condo sold the first day it was on the market. So have several others in the two-building development—all to empty nesters. “Every buyer had been seeking a warm yet modern home with lots of livable outdoor space, which they could easily close down when they travel,” Simming explains. “And yet, they also wanted to be close to everything: Lake of the Isles and the trail system, Uptown, downtown Minneapolis.”

The smart condo with the sophisticated aesthetic truly has it all.


Luxury Home Tour

Builder

Kroiss Development, Inc.

Home location

Minneapolis

Square footage

2,950

Architect

Peterssen/Keller Architecture

Interior designer

Lenox House Design

Sponsors

Ferguson
Southern Lights Inc.


White oak flooring, custom walnut cabinetry, ample living space, and a plethora of smart technologies set this contemporary Kenwood condo apart from its neighbors. Part of Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour.
White oak flooring, custom walnut cabinetry, ample living space, and a plethora of smart technologies set this contemporary Kenwood condo apart from its neighbors. (Spacecrafting)
Floor-to-ceiling windows (equipped with retractable shades) in the master bedroom allow for a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding treetops, with glimpses of the Minneapolis skyline visible through the leaves. Part of Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour.
Floor-to-ceiling windows (equipped with retractable shades) in the master bedroom allow for a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding treetops, with glimpses of the Minneapolis skyline visible through the leaves. (Spacecrafting)
A kitchen, an entertainer’s dream, offers a gorgeous backsplash with plentiful prep space courtesy of spacious quartz countertops. Part of Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour.
The nearby kitchen, an entertainer’s dream, offers a gorgeous backsplash with plentiful prep space courtesy of spacious quartz countertops. (Spacecrafting)
Located off the living room, the balcony features ipe wood decking, a variety of seating options, and a live-edge roof feature. Part of Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour.
Located off the living room, the balcony features ipe wood decking, a variety of seating options, and a live-edge roof feature. (Spacecrafting)
A rooftop’s patio features a bluestone terrace that provides an outdoor getaway, with a seating area, gas fireplace, and additional space for the owners to add a garden or hot tub. Part of Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour.
Upstairs, the rooftop’s bluestone terrace provides an outdoor getaway, with a seating area, gas fireplace, and additional space for the owners to add a garden or hot tub. (Spacecrafting)
Geometric patterns on the wall and a black stone basin sink create unique textures in a powder room. Part of Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour.
Geometric patterns on the wall and a black stone basin sink create unique textures in the powder room. (Spacecrafting)
Gold accents add a touch of glam to the natural wood cabinetry used in the master bathroom. Part of Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour.
Gold accents add a touch of glam to the natural wood cabinetry used in the master bathroom. (Spacecrafting)
In the main living area, the home’s formal dining table sits beneath a contemporary chandelier, in tune with the condo’s urban atmosphere. Part of Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour.
In the main living area, the home’s formal dining table sits beneath a contemporary chandelier, in tune with the condo’s urban atmosphere. (Spacecrafting)

Digital Extra: Virtual Tour

1. Kroiss Development

A living room of a home on Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour that features seating, and artwork on the walls.

2. Kroiss Development

An all white bathroom in a home on Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour that shows vanity, toilet, and tub with shower.

3. Kroiss Development

A kitchen in a home on Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour that features white cabinetry, backsplash, and rug.

4. Kroiss Development

A kitchen in a home on Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour that shows a white center island with seating, light wood flooring, and patterned backsplash.

5. Kroiss Development

Lounge seating next to a floor-to-ceiling window over looking trees in a home on Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour.

6. Kroiss Development

The pantry in a home on Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour that features wood flooring and cabinetry with a white sink.

7. Kroiss Development

The pantry in this home on Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour opens to a secret powder room.

8. Kroiss Development

A stairwell connection the lower and upper levels of a home on Midwest Home's 2018 Luxury Home Tour.

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