Behind the Build: Finish Presentation

This winter, we’ve been sharing a glimpse behind-the-scenes of a new home build in Edina. So far, we’ve introduced Tim and Hannah, scouted out their homesite, and assembled their design team. Today, we’re tagging along for their finish presentation!

Tim and Hannah are building their dream home in Edina for their family and graciously allowed us to document their journey. At REFINED, we pride ourselves on offering an involved client process, meaning we’re with you every step of the way.

The finish presentation happens between 6-8 months into the design process. At this point, the designer and architect have spent a lot of time building a relationship with the homeowners. Through many meetings, they’ve listened and gathered information about their style, preferences, wants, and needs.

Typically, the interior designer makes selections based on their conversations with the client. The finishing presentation is when they propose their ideas to the homeowners, room by room. This meeting is incredibly detail-oriented, with samples of everything - for example, flooring, millwork, lighting, paint colors, countertops, etc.

The entire team attends together, and we consider this a working meeting. Everyone provides input and insights, and the clients react and give feedback. Often, 75% of the designer’s choices are perfect, and 25% are sent back to the drawing board for a follow-up meeting in a few weeks. Since Hannah loves design and has a clear vision for her home, she was very involved with shopping and selections!

Once this process is wrapped up, our design team meets less frequently because most of the major decisions have been made. From there, it’s time to start building a house!

Did you miss the video from our earlier blogs with Tim and Hannah? Click on the link below to learn more about their beautiful home - we can’t wait to share more updates!

Design Trends: Inspiring Wallpaper Selections

Few finishes have more staying power than wallpaper. Trends come and go, but the best styles stand the test of time. Our favorite designers and brands always find new and inspiring ways to reinvent and revitalize wallpaper.

One of the things we love most about wallpaper is its versatility. No matter your taste, from neutrals to bright colors, soft florals to bold graphic patterns, optical illusions to large-scale designs that function more as art - endless options are available!

Many of our recent client projects feature gorgeous wallpaper. We’ve seen it used in powder rooms, pantries, laundry rooms, bedrooms, kids’ bathrooms, offices, mudrooms, and even on ceilings. Scroll below to explore a gallery of some of our favorite wallpaper patterns!

Behind the Build: Assembling the Team

Over the last couple of months, we’ve been sharing a behind-the-scenes look at our lovely client’s new home build. So far, we’ve introduced Tim and Hannah and helped them scout their homesite; now it’s time to show you how we assembled their design team!

Tim and Hannah are building their dream home in Edina for their future family and graciously allowed us to document and share their journey. At REFINED, we pride ourselves on offering an involved client process, meaning we’re with you every step of the way.

When assembling a design team for our clients, we aim to facilitate the process, gather their input, and help them find their ideal collaborators. This assembled team’s job is to guide the client, providing additional thoughts on even the most minor decisions. These experts also keep all details organized, which there are always plenty of! Our clients can count on us to be on their side and keep costs in check.

The primary team for Tim and Hannah’s build is Andy from REFINED, Terri from REFINED, Bridget from B. Burns Designs, Jeff Lindgren of Jalin Design, and Jason Davenport of JD Woodcraft, along with extended showroom professionals and craftspeople.

Our first step was helping Tim and Hannah select an architect based on aesthetics, personality, capacity, and budget. They chose Jalin Design, who also designed Tim’s previous home. Once we’ve found the right architect, the team meets and gets to work! (Note: about 20% of the time, clients ask to interview architects or designers and then make their decisions based on the interview, and 80% of the time, clients defer to us to help them select the best fit.)

The other big piece we put into place alongside architecture is discussing interior designers. It’s just as vital to find a designer who’s the right fit for our clients! Once the architecture has been set, we finalize a budget and communicate that with our designer. From the start, we still emphasize our motto, “respect the budget.”

We consider it our responsibility to help homeowners select a designer who again meets their aesthetic, budget, personality, and capacity. Hannah is organized and has a clear vision for her home, and Bridget from B. Burns Design was the perfect fit!

Did you miss the video from our first two blogs with Tim and Hannah? Click on the link below to learn more about their beautiful project - we can’t wait to share more updates along the way soon!

Our 2022 Year in Review

As we reflect on 2022, our team is sincerely thankful for a busy year filled with inspiring projects.

From lovely homeowners to respected collaborators to our talented team, we work with incredible people. Curious to see a brief overview of our year? We’ve assembled a few of our favorite highlights to look over below!

Tear Down and Rebuild in Excelsior

Our team had the pleasure of tearing down and rebuilding this home for a family in Excelsior. Located on a previous water tower site, this beautiful home is walkable to charming downtown. Finished in a modern and minimalistic style, every feature was carefully selected to stand on its own. The interior makes perfect use of clean lines, neutral tones, and current trends!

Spring Remodelers Showcase

Located in the Arden Park neighborhood of Edina, this active family of five was ready to transform their main level, lower level, and owner’s bedroom. One highlight that this addition provided was a new sport alley and remodeled lower-level media/bar area to enjoy while taking turns practicing their slapshots or corner kicks! See more of this Spring Remodelers Showcase project on our blog.

Deephaven New Build

Our team helped this Deephaven family completely tear down and rebuild their home. Reimagining how a house fits into an established lot can be a challenge, but it’s one we relish! It’s rewarding to help our clients turn their dreams and plans into reality. From the playful light fixtures to the bright wallpaper colors and patterns - this home has so much personality!

Edina New Build with a Vintage Feel

We had the pleasure of completing a new build for a family in Edina this year. With a plethora of built-ins, an oversized island, and a winding staircase, there is a lot to love about this stunning new build! The unique design details create the perfect blend of old and new, lending a vintage feel to an otherwise contemporary design.

Major Remodel for a Busy Family

Helping this Edina family reimagine their home was so rewarding! One of the biggest goals the family had for their home was to expand their living space. The remodel included a complete overhaul of the main level, lower level, and owner’s bedroom. To expand the square footage and give the family the space they needed, we built an addition on the back of the home. Head to the post to see more of this beautiful home!

Timeless New Construction

With unique yet sophisticated design details, this home has plenty of personality! Some of our favorite features include the beautiful wood beams adorning the living room ceiling, bold lighting, and patterned wallpaper. We also love everything about the u-shaped wet bar, from the black and white quartz counters to the pebbled cabinetry glass. Get a closer look at the gorgeous design details here!

Fall Remodelers Showcase

Located on Minnehaha Creek in East Edina, this beautiful new build is influenced by classic Cape Cod style. A spacious 5,700 square feet, the floorplan features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and plenty of room to roam. Finished with rich colors and fun textures, the interior features elegant fixtures and includes two main-floor offices, an oversized mudroom, and a home gym. Explore more on our blog!

Sophisticated in Edina

We love the blend of trendy and classic design elements in this project. The two-story staircase and stately study are traditional and familiar, but they’re modernized with playful light fixtures, metallic tones, and rich use of color and pattern. See all the breathtaking design details on our blog!