Long-Term Design + Flexibility

Custom Suburban Forever Home Designed with Long-Term Flexibility

Signature Features

Heated Screen Porch w/ Fireplace
Main Suite Hot Tub Patio
Custom Cabinets, Built-ins, and Coffee Bar

Key Challenges

Designing for Current and Future use
Indoor and Outdoor Living Spaces
Reworking Site Access on Corner Lot

Project Image Gallery

Building on One of the Last Available Lots in the Neighborhood

This home was built on one of the few remaining vacant lots in a fully developed Twin Cities suburb.

Opportunities like this are limited, which meant the home needed to be designed intentionally for both the site and the surrounding neighborhood. At the same time, the homeowners were planning ahead, looking to build a home that would continue to work as their lifestyle evolves.

The goal was to create a space that feels grounded today while remaining practical for years to come.

What the home needed to support:

Main level living for everyday use
Flexible space for returning family and guests
Comfortable indoor and outdoor entertaining
A layout that remains functional over time

Every decision was tied back to how the home would actually be used.

A Layout Designed for Long-Term Flexibility

The foundation of this home is slab-on-grade construction, allowing all essential living spaces to exist on the main level.

In addition to simplifying daily movement, the home includes in-floor radiant heat, creating consistent comfort throughout the space without relying on forced air alone.

A second-story addition adds another layer of flexibility. With bedrooms, a bathroom, and a family room, it provides space for adult children, guests, or future use without disrupting the main living areas.

Together, these elements create a home that adapts instead of needing to be reworked later.

Extending Living Space Beyond the Interior

The screened porch is one of the most used areas of the home.

Originally built as a covered outdoor space, it was later enhanced with screens and clear enclosure panels to extend its usability across seasons. Heated stamped concrete floors and a large stone fireplace make it comfortable well into cooler months.

The porch connects directly to a concrete patio designed for cooking and relaxation, including space for a smoker and a hot tub.

A direct access point from the primary bathroom to the hot tub area allows for easy movement in and out without disrupting the rest of the home.

This setup turns outdoor space into something that’s consistently used rather than occasional.

Interior Spaces That Reflect a Designer’s Eye

Inside the home, the level of detail reflects the fact that the homeowner works in design and staging.

The kitchen includes a dedicated coffee bar, creating a separate zone for daily use without interfering with the primary workspace.

Custom cabinetry is carried throughout the home, including built-in benches in the dining area and integrated storage in the living room. These features are designed as part of the structure, not added later.

Attention to detail shows up in smaller elements as well, from lighting and tile to plumbing fixtures. Each selection contributes to a cohesive finish across the home.

Natural Light and Architectural Balance

Window placement plays a key role in how the home feels.

Large windows are positioned throughout the home to maximize daylight while maintaining balance and privacy. On the front elevation, the layout of the windows was handled carefully to bring in light without overwhelming the design.

This approach allows the home to feel open and bright while still maintaining a strong architectural presence.

Built With Intention, Designed To Be Used

Key elements of this project include:

Slab-on-grade construction for practical main-level living
Second-story space designed for flexibility and future use
A heated, enclosed screened porch for extended seasonal living
Custom cabinetry, built-ins, and functional interior features
Thoughtful window placement to support natural light

Every part of the home was designed to support how it will be used over time, not just how it looks on day one.

This project reflects a different approach to building a custom home.

Instead of focusing on size alone, the emphasis was on creating a space that remains functional, comfortable, and adaptable. The result is a home that feels complete now and continues to work as needs change.

Projects like this come down to solving the right problems early.

On this one, even site access needed to be reworked. The original driveway location didn’t make sense with the slope of the lot, so we worked through the process with the city to relocate it and change the address.

Beyond that, the focus was on getting the layout right and making sure the home would continue to function over time.

A few things stand out:

Main level layout with radiant heat for everyday comfort
Second-story space that adds flexibility without interfering
The porch and how it extends usable space across seasons
The level of detail carried through every finish selection

When those pieces are handled early, the home works the way it should long after construction is done.

– Matt Simones, Owner

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