Jody McGuire

Perched at the edge of a lake bluff in northern Minnesota, this cabin is a one-bedroom retreat that serves as an invitation to appreciate nature’s splendor. It is wrapped in a sleek black metal exterior, with bursts of brilliant blue accents. Named Blue Finn, these vibrant touches mimic the graceful fins of a fish, infusing playfulness and delight. 

This formerly quiet house received a Nordic inspired face lift. A new screen porch with a welcoming entry porch were added – perfect for the long Minnesota goodbyes. Traditional colors of Norwegian rural buildings inspired the choice of the richly red exterior.

Interior alterations included opening the (newly painted pink) dining room to the screen porch and replacing a living room closet with a central cabinet.

Silver Jeans Co., a retailer based in Winnipeg, Manitoba reached out to us to update their flagship store in the Mall of America.  With a limited budget and aggressive construction timetable, we contained our design work to the storefront and window display systems.  Collaborating with custom metal fabricators Jacobsson Carruthers, we used blackened steel exterior panels to frame the window displays and entry portal, which are united with a ribbon of fir plywood.

A sense of Zen and a touch of glam guided the design of this master suite renovation. Keeping the original floor plan, we sculpted the space into a modern retreat by adding white oak cabinetry, new bathroom fixtures, and textural materials. The custom cabinetry provides functional storage while also creating a consistent backdrop for the textures of a luxurious fabric headboard, contemporary glass bathroom tile, calming full length window treatments, and chic bedroom wallpaper. A slipper bathtub sits on a raised wooden deck. Soft brass accents around the built-in bed and angled fireplace add warmth and charm. The overall effect is pure joy and relaxation.

This project tells the story of a humble abode undergoing a metamorphosis. Entitled Crow’s Roost, this transformational renovation entailed replacing a tiny half-story with a full second level. Located in Minneapolis’ vibrant Linden Hills neighborhood, the project’s evolution redefined the home’s possibilities while honoring its historical roots. 

On top of a hill in the fields of Wisconsin, the Meadow Cabin needed just a bit more space so that guests could share in the serenity. To the north side of the cabin, we added a small wood lined sleeping room and an expansive cedar deck. From the deck, large landscape stairs connect the cabin to the landscape. In the sleeping room, everything is kept in its place within the wall of storage that seamlessly integrates with the cabin’s maple plywood walls and ceilings. The colors and patterns of the carpet tiles reflect the surrounding patchwork of farm fields, giving an additional connection between inside and out. The complimentary shed roofs of the existing cabin and the new addition form the shape of a butterfly pausing in the meadow.