Jkath Behind the Business: Modern Tudor home tour (Part 5 of 5)

In this final installment our “Behind the Business” series with Jkath Design Build + Reinvent, you’ll get a special reveal of a new construction modern Tudor. Katie Kath, partner and interior designer at Jkath leads us on this exclusive home tour.

Did you miss our last “Behind the Business” post? Check out Part 4: How to attract the best clients for your business.

Jkath is a standout in the construction business for their specialized craftsmanship. Their in-house cabinet shop and design team puts them in a market that’s uniquely their own. You can see their distinct design signature in the many historic homes in the Twin Cities. While creating timeless homes, Jkath also makes each project feel handpicked and personalized.

Go on this tour with Katie to get a sneak peek of a Minneapolis modern Tudor that Jkath built from the ground up.

Be prepared to take notes because Katie dishes all the details on cabinetry, lighting, countertops, fixtures and more.

What makes a trademark Jkath home?

The Jkath footprint is quality and craftsmanship – never just the latest fads. What does that look like? For Jkath, it means a fluid design from room to room, tailored layout for the client’s lifestyle and beautiful yet functional elements throughout the home.

“The design team is challenged to pay attention and stay focused on what’s new and what’s working, what feels timeless and classic,” Katie said.

Consistent material choices

Some of the elements that run throughout this home include white oak flooring, black windows, off-white walls, arch elements and custom cabinetry. Most selections from the kitchen – including aesthetic, color, tones and metals – carry through to other parts of the home. This gives a natural flow to this modern Tudor.

There’s an echo of similar looks throughout, but each room is slightly different. For example, the black windows are uniform in every room and also tied in with the black tub in the primary suite and the black pendant in the breakfast nook.

“We carried the white oak wide engineered plank flooring paired with the black windows that you see throughout the house, and another common element are the off-white walls,” Katie said. “We kept the entire house painted light and bright.”

The similar material choices create a cohesive palate, but also Katie adds interest and character with other selections she makes.  

“In this space, we added reclaimed wood beams to the ceiling and this runs through varies parts throughout the home … it’s a lighter wood with a reclaimed texture where you can see some of the knots and holes in the material … it’s a great way to add texture and warmth and really make it feel like a home,” Katie said.   

Customized design

When you have your own cabinet shop, the sky’s the limit when it comes to customization. Jkath is always rethinking standard builder-grade and making each project special with added character, texture and personalized elements.

Katie highlights the cabinetry piece in the walkthrough pantry, which is distinct to a new build because of its timeless design.   

“It has reeded glass door fronts and is built like an heirloom piece of furniture. It’s intended to feel a little bit more of that traditional side of that modern-traditional home that we’ve built – leaning into some old-school aesthetics. We absolutely love this piece,” Katie said.

Another extension of the kitchen is the breakfast area, which mirrors the stain of the kitchen island and connects the two spaces.  

“When island seating isn’t enough in your kitchen, a really good solution is to do a built-in breakfast nook. It serves as a place for the family to gather … it’s a great homework spot,” Katie said.

Great care for detail that was put into every railing as well as the rise and the run of the staircase.

“One of the details worth mentioning is the custom railing made by our trade carpenter,” Katie said. “He was able to finesse the clearance so that the railing from top to bottom had one direct angle down to the main floor.”

Besides the specialized carpentry in the home, Katie and her team used unlacquered brass fixtures, custom upholstery and playful wallpaper to add even more personality.

“One of the trends we’re seeing with all of our client projects right now is wallpaper. And it’s terrific,” Katie said. “It’s a great design element that definitely adds interest to the space.”

Functional lived-in design choices

Homes are meant to be beautiful, but most importantly – to be enjoyed. While talking about the kitchen as the heart of the home, Katie showed off the many cabinetry and storage choices that’ll benefit a family’s daily life.

They included two lower refrigerator drawers in addition to the main cold food storage. The drawers give more space and organization for items like condiments, but also easy access for young kids. The other intentional design was to have countertop space on both sides of the range to give clients room to do prep work in their beautiful kitchen. The design shows off the custom cabinetry and architectural elements, and it keeps function first.

The formal living room sits right off the kitchen and is pulled in with the mimicked arch details. “We wanted this space to feel really cozy, an extension of the kitchen, a place for family and friends to gather/unite while there’s a lot of activity in the kitchen,” Katie said.

When thinking about central family hangouts, this home has a beautiful screened-in porch and backyard patio.

“One final stop to the outdoor patio. This was designed to be an extension of the indoor living space,” Katie said. “Great for the summer months: grilling, barbeceuing, gathering.”

Behind the business with Jkath Design Build + Reinvent

Jkath uses Buildertrend to stay on task, but also as a communication hub. Specifically, Buildertrend helps Jkath communicate installations with subcontractors.

“The organization of the lighting is critical. This is where we use Buildertrend to support these decisions: getting all of the lights selected, labeled, categorized … all of that we organize in Buildertrend,” Katie said. “So now-a-days our electricians can hop in, grab all of the files and install the lighting without us having to be on site to support that install.”

This is the final entry of our series highlighting Jkath and their beautiful home design and custom cabinetry. If you missed out on the previous installments, check them out below:

Part 1: How technology is changing the home remodeler industry

Part 2: The rise of women running construction businesses

Part 3: Construction scheduling dos and don’ts

Part 4: How to pick the right clients for your business

See how Buildertrend can lead your business to success. Schedule a demo to get started today.