Updating the "Perfect Size" House
Tom and Michele Sorman have lived in their 1954 rambler for 27 years. While raising three kids, the house sometimes felt cramped, but now the home is the perfect size for just the two of them again. They love their neighborhood, so they decided to remodel their kitchen and stay put rather than move. The couple was already familiar with some of the City's home loan programs (they had used a loan program to build a detached garage), so they were excited to learn more about the Home for Generations II program. They hoped it could help them create the kitchen of their dreams!
After researching the program, they learned an architectural consultation was required to become a participant (program participants pay a small fee; the City subsidizes the majority of the cost). This required consultation turned out to be something the Sormans appreciated most.
Tom Sorman says, Having access to the professional architect was wonderful. It provided that second opinion; it helped validate ideas we already had in our minds about how we would create our new kitchen, plus the architect suggested a few more features and ideas that helped bring the project together that we hadn't thought about. It was great!
The Sorman's featured their home as part of the 2016 Coon Rapids Remodeling Tour, which takes place each May. Over 200 people toured their newly remodeled kitchen and dining room, which features beautiful cherry kitchen cabinets, under-cabinet lighting and electrical outlets, hardwood floors, stone tile back splash and open floor plan which was made possible by removing a wall that divided the kitchen and dining room space.
We love it. We absolutely love it. We always joke that we got $20 worth of fun out of our kitchen tonight just by having a glass of wine in there…so we're constantly enjoying it.
Sorman continues, I think this is a great program. I think a lot of people are like us in that they don't want to move, but they may want to add features to their home and this program allows you to do that. The added incentives are great too!