Award-Winning Homes

Creek Hill Custom Homes
Bob Moore, Director of Sales

“We used an interesting mix of finishes in this Maple Grove rambler. Wood stain, slate, limestone, and other textures make this house unique. And we used varying widths of trim according to different areas. Around large rooms, the trim is much wider than what surrounds small windows. We didn’t want to overwhelm small spaces. In the kitchen, there is an antiqued island that looks as if it could be an old piece of furniture. And the windows along the back, in the sunroom and big room, really pop. Since the back of the house faces the pond in the Shannon Lough development, the windows are big, so you get an amazing view, especially at dusk. The view sets this part of the house off from the rest of it. But this isn’t necessarily the best part of the house. A lot of people come and say, ‘this plan has a great flow.’ Even though there are two floors, and many nooks and private areas, there is an overall openness that really pulls everything together.” 

Christian Builders
Gretchen Hempel, Land and Contract Manager

“This Otsego rambler in the Martin Farms development has a Trillium Award-winning kitchen. I think that’s what draws a lot of people to it. It has an overall very open design with many upgrades. In the kitchen, there are Cambria countertops. Like granite, this is a solid surface, but it’s very safe and beautiful. The kitchen also has all stainless steel appliances, a double oven, and a wine cellar. Hardwood oak floors sweep from the kitchen to the dining room, and out into the foyer, with matching oak cabinets displayed in the kitchen. Cove lighting in these same three rooms offers soft, indirect light that permeates through them. In the dining room, a built-in hutch serves as a convenient and beautiful storage for fine china. Of course, our interior designer did a fantastic job with faux painting techniques and great window treatments. And, like every other one of Christian Builders’ homes, this one is built to Energy Star guidelines, which is especially important during tight times like these.”

Smuckler Custom Builder
Jack Smuckler, Architect, Contractor, and Owner

“There are so many interesting architectural details in this house. It’s a walkout rambler located within Indian Hills in Edina. When people first walk in, the main impact is on the curved glass window along the back of the house. They see it and say, ‘Wow!’ It’s such a striking feature, especially paired with the home’s curved staircase. There are unique ceilings in each of the rooms. Vault, tray, mahogany-beamed, and domed ceilings draw attention from all over the house. The master suite is also a major asset. It can basically be locked off from the rest of the house; it features its own kitchenette, laundry room, and Pilates area, along with a fireplace, elaborate master closet, steam shower, and sauna. The great thing about this house is that it can accommodate large groups of people, yet it has intimate areas as well.”

Accent Homes
Bud Dropps, Owner and Builder

“Its design and high quality make this Champlin home a winner. We’ve won eight Reggie Awards, so people must be liking something. This is a detached one-level, single family, association-maintained house. It has high-volume ceilings, which means that in parts of the house, the ceiling is sixteen feet tall. Like the rest of the house, the kitchen—with its beamed ceilings, granite countertops, hickory staggered cabinets, and hickory floor—is very warm. The house encompasses a ‘whole feel.’ You can tell that a lot of attention to detail went into both the interior and exterior. The Shaker-style trim is getting a lot of good feedback. It looks like living in the past without feeling like you are. We’re selling the good life here at Villas at Water’s Edge. You get your own home, your own porch, your own patio, your own yard. But someone else cuts the lawn and shovels your snow.”