Award-Winning Homes

“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.”

Hanson Builders
Mark Englund, Vice President of Design

“They say the devil’s in the details, and I think that comes through in this two-story Shoreview house. We probably detailed this house more so than any other before it. The ten-inch crown molding really comes through for people. They love it. And also, the hand-hewn wood beams in the living room give the place an old-world feel. They look like old timbers from a European castle, but really, Hanson and his son got that effect by using chains, grinders, and sanders in their garage. Unique things in the house, like the sitting room set off of the master bedroom by a graceful arch supported by decorative wood columns, are really getting the attention of people. Visitors are also responding to the deep, rich colors we used, even on the exterior. We were able to do that because Snail Lake Landing mandates concrete siding, rather than wood or vinyl, so the colors show up nicely. Of course, the home theater in the basement has also been a hit—especially with the kids!”

Swanson Homes
Curt Swanson, President

“There are so many different lighting techniques throughout this Mediterranean-influenced house. Even though we used natural products, like granite and limestone, and incorporated mainly earth tones, dashes of color from lighting fixtures add interest. Some of the fixtures were ordered direct from Europe, which helped achieve the Mediterranean feel, even thought it’s located in Plymouth. Wall sconces line the foyer, hallways, and staircase, and decorative pendant lighting hangs over bathroom vanities and sinks, as well as the kitchen island. In the den, soft lighting creates a warm, rich feeling alongside the leather-like wall finish and cherrywood beamed ceiling. Other interior finishes in unique colors and textures contribute to the overall feeling of the house. One of the great assets to the house is art-specific areas throughout. Appropriate lighting is set up to highlight treasured pieces of the homeowner.”

Hans Hagen Homes
Nate Smith, Director of Sales

“Buyers going into this row townhouse are happy to know that even though they’re seeing it in Hudson, Wisconsin, it’s also available in the Minnesota cities of Blaine and Cologne. On the main floor, visitors are awed by the nine-foot ceilings. In the kitchen, they enjoy the custom maple cabinets and the backsplash. But what they love is the upstairs. Within the second floor are a master suite, a second bedroom, a loft, and a den that could also be used as a third bedroom if desired. The floor plan is situated to give the master suite a sense of privacy, as you have to walk through the loft to get between the two bedrooms. The comfortable loft can just as easily be used as a living room as a study. The shared bathroom is stunning, with its large vanity and barrel vault over the tub. But an equally attractive attribute is the second-floor laundry facility, which is incredibly convenient.”

Senn & Youngdahl
Mark Youngdahl, CEO

“The architectural style of this two-story at Tapestry at Charlotte’s Grove in Lake Elmo is very intriguing, we call it Archi-Clecture. The unfamiliarity of it makes it appealing and interesting. People react to its uniqueness, and they want to see more. The home is casual, relaxed and soothing. A patio along the front of the house leads off to the dining room window, which overlooks a meadow. On the backside of the house, there is a more private patio area. In the middle of it is a free-standing fire pit, and the twelve-foot door connecting it to the quasi-formal dining room makes it ideal for get-togethers. The kitchen, though, is the hub of the house. The room is set up for two people, with separate stations for preparing, cooking, and cleaning, so you’re never bumping into each other. The hickory floor features knots and various widths of planks. The cabinetry is enameled in soft colors, but there are some glass cabinets, too. The homeowner really gets to decorate this kitchen. There are calming backdrops throughout the house, but they’re offset by vibrant colors. Every room just flows into the next, and people recognize that.”