Photos courtesy of Jim Kuiken Design
Minneapolis-based architectural and interior designer Jim Kuiken descends from a long line of Dutch landscape architects and designers, so it was only natural his own career would begin in the same industry. But it wasn’t until building his own early 20th-century home—where the house and its small-lot landscape blended seamlessly—that he found his true passion for residential design. “I realized how a home and landscape could mesh,” he explains. “I was sold when I discovered the multitude of design opportunities in interior and architectural design, which also naturally brought in the landscape as a critical element.”
Now, after 27 years in practice, Kuiken has honed his design process—one rooted in collaboration, communication, and attention to detail. As he says, “Planning a significant remodel or new house takes time, and being able to forecast stages of the project is as key as establishing a budget.”
How would you describe your signature aesthetic?
My signature style is interpretive of the goals and desires of the client, but it is also recognizable by the originality of the interpretation. How do you bring together tradition and the energy of today in a home? How do you marry the property to the house itself? How do you remodel a home without erasing its good bones or style? Natural light is a key element of my style and is often reflected in my love of midcentury design. California style is similar. We don’t barricade the landscape—we invite it in. I’ve found that whatever style or building type the project is, my method is to define it while bringing it beyond expectations with lighting, layout, color, custom details, personality, and function.
What is your biggest design influence?
Midcentury design was my biggest influence when I began my home design career, because no matter the size of the home, it can be such a catalyst for bringing the outside in. Windows, light, open space, non-fussy but clever and minimalist decor with splashes of unique design and functional spaces… all these elements define the style. As I designed larger projects, I was charmed by the variations many styles afforded, as well as the possibilities for interpretation and creative imagery in sync with the clients’ desires.
What’s one design rule you love to break?
Every year, the new top color palette is announced. Design trends are promoted. The truth is, the top colors and trends for the moment are as fleeting as top trends in clothing. Take barn doors in newer homes, for example—they don’t always work. The colors and trends can inform us in design decisions, but they can’t direct us.
When you’re not working on a project, how do you like to recharge?
I’m fortunate to have a lake home retreat only an hour and a half north. It’s fun to cook, relax, enjoy company, and play with the grandkids. My primary residence in town is also on a lake with a nice property, so I engage in my landscape design there as an art form.
