Parade of Homes: Rick and Denise Sandau Home

On a gravel road in a beautiful country setting a few miles out of Sidney, Rick and Denise Sandau decided to build a house in 1987, ridding themselves of the mobile home they'd lived in for years. The couple chose their home, which included walls made of 6-inch Styrofoam, to be built by contractor Bill Schilling. This energy-efficient split level had the typical plan of most 1980s homes.

As one walks in the front door, a beautiful, inviting foyer awaits with plenty of room to shed those winter layers, with closet space for shoes, coats and lots of storage. The split-level allows friends and family to enter where they may. The lower level includes a beautiful family room, two bedrooms, bathroom and laundry area. The upper level includes two bedrooms, bathroom, living room, and dining and kitchen area.

A partitioned wall closed off the kitchen right at the top of the stairs of the upper level, keeping the view of "something's cooking" to only the aroma. Behind that wall lay the u-shaped design, simply allowing a perimeter area for all appliances, cabinetry, a very small bar between kitchen and dining room. If there was more than one person in the kitchen, you moved from your spot - you lost your place!

Denise kept up with the times, as she enjoyed changing paint colors and freshening the décor around the house, but she was ready for that kitchen/dining room remodel job soon. The couple talked about what they should do, and it was at a Parade of Homes in Billings where Denise saw Creative Solutions owner, Brenda Larson, also on tour. "I was inspired when I went through those homes, and it helped me think about other design elements that would work in our home," Denise said. Sandaus knew Larson from Great Plains, where much of their home material was purchased at the time of building in '87.

It wasn't long before Sandaus met up with Larson at Creative Solutions, where measurements were eventually taken, plans were discussed and a new open concept of the Sandau's practical home would be formed.

"This is one of my all-time favorite remodels, because it takes the typical design and creates the illusion of a much larger space just by taking out that wall," Brenda Larson said. Sandaus did their own demolition work, giving a blank space for their new area. Larson flipped the kitchen and dining room, which included changing spaces with the window and door on the exterior wall of the home. By the simple notion of keeping the same placement of door and window, the header work was kept at a minimum for contractor Jesse Thom.

Today, the open space shows warm and cozy in a creamy butterscotch-caramel color, and Knotty Alder cabinetry in natural stain with a coffee glaze. The countertops are a hi-definition laminate in the Canyon Passage with a gemloc edge. The hand scraped engineered wood flooring, purchased from Chads, is viewed in full capacity from living room to kitchen to dining room and down the hallway.

Sandaus used yet another practical idea of working with the oak that was already used throughout their home. "I knew I had to choose something that would look nice with the existing oak," Sandau said. The wood shutters finished off the windows so beautifully! "Can you believe I only have two metal blinds to change out in this house," Denise said. "That's a great feeling!"

The couple chose Frigidaire appliances, an induction stove top (special pots and pans needed), microwave/vent hood, French door refrigerator/freezer.

The design gave more room as it added a pantry beside the refrigerator and the island. "The island, with all the drawers for pots and pans, is my favorite part of the redesign," Denise said, "but, I love my stove, too." The project took about five feet from the living room, but the space is now being one cohesive room - "it doesn't feel like anything has been lost, but gained," Larson said.

Yesterday's walls and small space have been changed, giving plenty of room for more people to sit around the island or walk around in the kitchen. "It has also allowed whoever is in the kitchen to be able to watch TV or visit with family and friends in the living room," Denise said.

Recessed lighting shows the rooms opulence, which includes drop pendants at the island and a chandelier over the dining room table.

Sandaus wanted a patio for the hot tub, which was finished with Trex decking from Boise Cascade and PVC white fencing to enclose the area. "Our family uses the hot tub quite a bit in those cooler months," Denise said.

Today, Sandaus live within the same square footage that the original home gave them, but the remodeling project made the space much more open, efficient and practical. "I just can't tell you how much I love this transformation," Denise said. "We've come to be a lot less formal," Larson said. "We're more comfortable these days. We like being practical."

Now that the big project at the Sandau home is complete, would they do things differently? "I would have chosen the undermount sink," Denise. "Maybe add another recessed light above the sink, and put in a backsplash."

Sandaus land is beautified by plenty of trees, a well-maintained lawn, an inviting entrance of fencing, and curb appeal by Melby's Landscaping. "Guy made the curbing to look like the retaining wall. He did a great job," Denise said. What's the couples' next project? "Well, we've got to remodel the bathroom, and maybe add a boot bench for the entryway. I think we'll call that good for now!"