Explore Societal Shifts and Their Effects on Design
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) released its 2026 Trends Outlook report in January, sponsored by Sherwin-Williams, which analyzes the forces shaping interior design amid rapid social, technological, and economic change.The annual report...
Artisan Spotlight: Hennepin Made and Handcrafted Lighting
Since its founding 15 years ago, Minneapolis-based artisan lighting company Hennepin Made has remained grounded in its commitment to local makers and the soul handcrafted goods bring to a home.While studying ceramics at University...
How Minnesota Leads in Sustainable Housing
In the Minnesota custom design-build market, building eco-friendly homes has shifted from a niche ask to a continued request. More than one-third of new homes built in the state are rated by Home Energy...
4 Home Design Trends on the Rise in 2026
Trends in home design ebb and flow, but some of the most crucial trends to watch in 2026 may have more staying power. Homeowners are interested in creating interiors that are a form of...
How Curators Bring Artistic Value to Commercial Design Projects
Not all curators work for museums. Tricia Heuring, for one, is interested in all the other places that art lives. While she’s known locally as the founder and artistic director of Public Functionary, an...
Local Designers Weigh in on 2026 Pantone Color of the Year
The design world eagerly anticipates Pantone’s Color of the Year pick each December. The brand, widely regarded as the global authority on color, influences design trends for the coming year with its selection. In...
Midwest Design’s Top 5 Featured Projects in 2025
In 2025, we published incredible home projects led by talented builders, remodelers, architects, landscapers, and interior designers across Minnesota and beyond. They were highlighted in the pages of Midwest Design magazine, shared on our...
How WINC Is Blazing New Trails for Women in Building and Construction
It was 2016 when Masha Romer and Leah Krig connected over a shared concern: Support for women in the Twin Cities building industry lacking. Both women had extensive experience in the field—Krig, with Northland...
The Future of Workspaces: How Hybrid Work Is Changing Office Design
The COVID-19 pandemic might be in the rearview mirror, but it left in its wake permanent shifts in how we work. According to a 2025 Gallup survey, 50 percent of U.S. employees have a...
Building a Career in Trade: How One Remodeler Cultivates and Retains Talent
Chris Wylie spent his high school summers helping his uncles build houses for what was then McDonald Homes (now McDonald Remodeling). He joined the staff full time as a carpenter at the age of...
Locking in Clients: 4 Tips to Help Designers Secure Repeat Business
Founder and Principal Designer Sarah Randolph of Randolph Interior Design knows a thing or two about cultivating a loyal client base. Her interior design career spans more than 25 years, taking her from San...
NKBA | KBIS Releases Annual 2026 Bath Trends Report
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA | KBIS) recently released its 2026 Bath Trends Report, and all signs point to the bath design landscape in a state of flux. The evolution of technology...
5 Ways Design Professionals Can Use AI
When ChatGPT launched in 2023, it reached 100 million active users in two months. Now, the wildly popular artificial intelligence (AI) app has 700 million active users weekly, and the number continues to climb....
NKBA | KBIS Releases Annual 2026 Kitchen Trends Report
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA | KBIS), the world’s leading trade association for the $230 billion kitchen and bath industry representing nearly 55,000 North American kitchen and bath industry professionals, has released...
Artisan Spotlight: Crafting Statement Pieces With Minnesota Woodcarver Erik Wyckoff
With nearly 30 years of experience designing and building custom, hand-carved doors, mantels, and furniture, Minnesota woodcarver Erik Wyckoff brings unparalleled skill that can make a project sing.Originally inspired by woodcarvings in historic homes...
Alliiance Earns AIA Minnesota’s Top Firm Honor
For the second time in its history, Minneapolis-based architecture firm Alliiance has received the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Minnesota Firm Award, one of the organization’s highest honors. Presented biennially, the award recognizes firms...
Join Us: Pre-Gala Celebration With Nor-Son Custom Builders
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Oct. 8, 4-6 p.m., for an evening of networking and celebration at Birch’s on the Lake—hosted by Midwest Design and Nor-Son Custom Builders. This industry happy hour will bring...
The Impact of Tariffs on the Design-Build Industry—and How to Work Around Them
Tariffs remain a hot topic in the design-build world, adding uncertainty and budget challenges to projects of every scale. Pricing can shift without warning, making it difficult to plan material costs or lock in...
Trade Discounts 101: What Every Designer Should Know
Photos courtesy of Interior Impressions One of the biggest perks of working as an interior designer is the access to exclusive trade discounts—price reductions offered by manufacturers and showrooms to professionals who purchase on behalf...
Posting With Purpose: A Designer’s Guide to Social Media Strategy
Photos by Spacecrafting || Project by Jkath Design Build + Reinvent As a professional in the home industry, you’ve probably heard it countless times: Building a strong online presence is essential for business success....
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