2023 Ideas to Steal: Building & Remodeling

Explore cutting-edge architecture, futuristic floor plans, and quality craftsmanship from award-winning industry professionals

California Love

Photo by Landmark

Modern, California-style flat roofs inspired by West Coast-influenced architecture are popping up around the Midwest in spades, largely thanks to work like this by Hagstrom Builder and Imprint Architecture and Design LLC. Locally sourced concrete panels clad both the exterior and interior of the home, and other long-lasting materials include aluminum windows, ironwood siding and decking, and exposed structural steel beams and columns.

Rest & Retreat

Photo by Landmark

In a post-pandemic era, gyms, yoga rooms, rock gardens, spa-like bathrooms, and custom-designed offices where one can unwind and relax in solitude are the norm. Sure to bolster productivity, encourage creative thinking, and keep its occupants focused, this at-home Orono office by James McNeal Architecture & Design (JMAD) and Hendel Homes is defined by its unique A-frame roofline, open shelves, natural light, and two separate work spaces divided by a modern glass wall.

Ask the Pros
What are the advantages of open and closed floor plans?

Photo by Spacecrafting

“Visual connectedness with a sense of separation, where the main living spaces work together functionally and visually with each other, is what works best for most lifestyles,” explains Mark Peterson, owner of MA Peterson Designbuild Inc. “Most people do not like living in wide-open spaces where multiple rooms—with no definition between the functions—are contained within a large living space.”

What about closed-off floor plans? Out of sight, out of mind, says Peterson. “This type of layout leads to specific use—not collective living—so if this is the objective, separate and closed-off spaces (like a quiet office, porch, or sitting room) may be the best,” he explains.

No Limit to Luxury

Long gone are the days of unfinished or unprioritized closets, laundry rooms, and mudrooms. This year, these hardworking, “messy” areas are being treated with the same attention to detail as a home’s primary living spaces. This walk-in closet built by Frontier Custom Builders, for example, doubles as a laundry room and features an unparalleled level of convenience. This approach also frees up additional square footage—making room for other splurge-worthy amenities.

Porch Perfect

PKA Architecture, Engler Studio, Telos, and architects Tammy Angaran and Kristine Anderson all played a role in the creation of this custom porch inspired by a love of midcentury-modern design and the Sunshine State. The resulting dramatic freestanding structure adds an elevated indoor-outdoor connection to the 1956 Edina rambler. Consider your own three- or four-season porch with Phantom Screens, heaters, grills, and more to take full advantage of the Midwest’s fleeting seasons.

Full House

Photo by Spacecrafting

Designing for multiple generations under one roof is an increasingly popular way to not only add value to your home but also make lasting memories with loved ones. From next-level nurseries and kid-friendly play gyms to elements that assist in elegantly aging in place and keeping family close, curating your home to host those nearest and dearest might just be the move of 2023. Try the trend yourself, and invest in a nanny quarters in your lower level, an in-law suite above the garage, or even a separate accessory dwelling unit (ADU) for a little extra privacy. This plywood-clad sport court by Yerigan Construction, Rehkamp Larson Architects, and Martha Dayton Design is one way to get multiple generations involved in the fun.

A Statement-Making Secret

Photo by Alyssa Lee

Originally constructed in 1931, this Minneapolis Tudor Revival by JDD Studio, Welch Forsman Associates, and Harris Weldon Interiors makes a (secretive) statement with an integrated back kitchen/butler’s pantry behind a paneled wall. The same stunningly simple, yet surprisingly innovative concept can be applied to private offices, powder baths, and more.

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