Outstanding lakeside architecture doesn’t just live in Minnesota. This time, Craftwell Architecture + Construction traveled south of Fargo to Hankinson, ND, to design a family-inspired hot spot on Lake Elsie, just minutes from my hometown. This contemporary design caters to two sisters, North Dakota’s prairie terrain, and its surrounding family compound, complete with a lakeside garage room for everyday entertaining. Here, Craftwell’s team got extra crafty, creating a unique layout that directs family foot traffic from the lakefront to the glass-doored garage bar. Sure, the owners could park their cars here, but they’d rather see you park yourself, enjoy the view, and celebrate summer, North Dakota-style.

Living in both the past and present, this Pelican Lake home by Trever Hill Design achieves a jaw-dropping juxtaposition of old-world European craftsmanship and new-age, contemporary architecture. Here, the homeowners leveraged their background in land development to general the project themselves, working with Hill on its architectural and interior design elements. While they brought home artisanal inspiration from abroad, this lake country home is settling in nicely to the modernized Midwest.

While the kitschy vibe of Marge's Diner is happy to take patrons down memory lane in downtown Fargo—sharing the love of 70's lunch and brunch—Minnesota's lakes country had been patiently awaiting a bite of the giant pancake. Settling into a syrupy sweet spot in Ottertail City, MN, Marge's American diner classics now have a second home, sprinkling new life into the former main street site of the small town's beloved Betty's Pantry. From homemade pies and cinnamon rolls to tasty tater cakes, hangover hashbrowns, breakfast lasagna, walleye sandwiches, and brioche burgers, Marge's Diner is serving up the classics with a twist. Warning: If attempting the diner's XL take on the "The Pancake," your summer is about to get very full.

In celebration of Krueger Construction’s 40th Anniversary, Greg and Bonnie Krueger gathered the family, just like they do every day—in the office and on the job site, this time at “The Tenlee” model. For years, all three of their children, Corey, Kimberly, and Kristi, have helped build the family business, spouses included, inviting everyone’s talents to the table. From the first home in 1984 in Western North Dakota to their 40th year in Fargo, Greg and Bonnie have built a legacy of love, starting each new year with new model homes—most named after their nine grandkids, one great grandchild, and three children. For the Kruegers, time flies when they’re growing together.

Inside this “Willow Avenue” remodel, we took our client’s home from studs to stunning. The top-to-bottom overhaul of their newly purchased home presented an exciting opportunity to delve into space planning with talented architects, specify timeless finishes, and finally, infuse every room with comfortable, elegant furnishings. These homeowners put their move-in plans on hold and trusted the process, transforming an exciting project into a dream project. The setting for the client’s bustling family life required beauty and balance — a refined design that could slow down the pace, plant new roots, and create a peaceful yet productive home where their family’s memories could grow on the green.

Tucked amid the forest and cattails of Fish Lake, Craftwell Architecture + Construction fused two states of inspiration to reflect alpine architecture – traveling from Montana’s peaks to Minnesota’s pines. With an elevated aesthetic fusing natural material and modern form, Principal Architect Mike Dawson and his team crafted a year-round retreat that brings together family, faith, and fun.

On the wooded North Shore of Dead Lake, formerly known as White Haven Resort, Firefly’s gated, community-style cabin living was the perfect style for the Curated Home owners and designer, Trever Hill and Jesse Masterson. The couple’s captivating retreat is one of 16 small-footprint lake homes sharing 10 acres and 1,200 feet of shoreline, doubling as your next Airbnb getaway. See inside the couple’s well-”curated” quarters – a lofted two-story design that captures the view and elevates low-maintenance lake living.