A lu s h w o o d e d lo t a n d n e a rb y c re e k in th e c it y so ld

th e c o u p le o n th is ra re M in n e a p o lis fin d , b u t th e

h o u s e w a s n ’t a lw a y s th is tu n e d in to its s u rro u n d in g s .

K e y ro o m s , s u c h as th e c ra m p e d k itc h e n , w e re n ’t

o rie n te d to w a rd th e v ie w , a n d th e re w a s n o w a y to

e a s ily re a c h th e b a c k y a rd . I t to o k th re e y e a rs fo r

C h r is tin e a n d T o d d , b o th a rc h ite c ts , to c o m e u p w ith

a p la n : a n a d d itio n in k e e p in g w ith th e h o m e ’s m o d e s t

s iz e a n d s ty le y e t m e e tin g th e p r a c tic a l n e e d s o f th e

c o u p le a n d th e ir y o u n g c h ild re n , A u g u s t a n d E v a .

“ F in a lly , w e w e re ta lk in g w ith o u r frie n d s ,” C h ris tin e

re c a lls . “A n d w e sa id , ‘W e c a n ’t r e a lly p ro je c t w a y o u t

in to th e b a c k —th a t w o u ld b e cra z y.’ A n d o u r frie n d s

sa id , ‘Y e s, y o u c a n —th a t w o u ld b e r e a lly c o o l.’ ”

T h e o rig in a l

1

,

200

-sq u a re - fo o t h o m e a n d a d jo in in g

1

,

100

-sq u are- fo o t, th re e - le v e l a d d itio n w ith a n e w

k itc h e n , m a s te r su ite , p la y ro o m , a n d d e c k q u ie tly tu c k

in to th e w o o d s. T h e c o u p le to o k e v e ry o p p o rtu n ity fo r

w in d o w s to c a p tu re v ie w s . In s id e , ro o m s s e rv e m o re

th a n o n e p u rp o s e , a n d c o m fo rt tru m p s fo rm a lity .

“A fte r w e re m o d e le d , w e g o t lig h te r- w e ig h t fu rn itu re ,

so w e c a n m o v e e v e ry th in g o u t o f th e w a y a n d lie o n

th e flo o r, s tre tc h o u t, a n d p la y g a m e s ,” T o d d says.

S lip c o v e re d p ie c e s w e a th e r lo ts o f p la y fro m th e

c h ild re n . “ W e ’re p r e tty la x a b o u t th e m ju m p in g o n

th e so fa,” C h r is tin e sa ys w ith a la u g h . T h e liv in g ro o m

o p e n s to th e k itc h e n , so T o d d , th e c o o k in th e fa m ily ,

is a lw a y s c lo s e to th e a c tio n . L a te s p rin g , m o s t m e a ls

m o v e o u td o o rs , e ith e r to th e d o w n s ta irs d e c k o r to th e

s c re e n p o rc h . “ B e in g o n th e p o rc h is s p e c ia l,”

C h r is tin e says. “ E v a a n d I s le e p o n a n a ir m a ttre s s

w h e n th e w e a th e r p e rm its . Y o u c a n fe e l th e a ir

m o v in g a n d h e a r e v e ry so u n d . W e ’re so h a p p y to b e

p a rt o f a n u rb a n c o m m u n ity y e t c o n n e c te d to th e

d a y- to - d a y w o n d e rs o f n a tu re .”

The heart of the Albertsson-Hansen home is the living room,

where the family hangs out and the kids do their homework.

Christine’s Swedish roots are reflected in brightly colored

fabrics against all-white walls, which keeps the look lively,

especially important during dark Minnesota winters.

2010