Dream Project: Golden Valley Retro Split-level

Listings rarely come up in certain pockets of Golden Valley, MN, where the lots are large, the streets are winding, and the homes date to the mid-50s to the mid-60s. This one, at 508 Westwood Drive South, sold quickly, but not before I saved all the photos and dreamed up a scheme to honor the bones while breathing new life into it!

The house is a split-level, which is generally unpopular but I find intruiging. It sits on a lovely wooded lot and has an indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna.

What we would keep

All the original panelling, retro spirit, beams, stained glass, custom built-ins, and quirky charm.

What we would change

The kitchen and bathrooms appear to be original and are in need of an update. Lighting and some architectural details, like stair railings and some fireplaces, could use a lift as well.

How we would furnish it

With a palette of sunshine and straw, pieces of the era with tender, sophisticated lines, and new artisan pieces that speak to the wooded lot.

As always, the true design would come in dialogue with the clients and the house (which I have never set foot in!) But I love this eclectic, collected vision that makes the most of the good bones of this midcentury gem.