North Dakota Nice
Midwest Mod
In the quest for a new home in 2020, designer Trever Hill and his husband, Jesse Masterson, took one deep step into the grass-green shag of this 1971 abode and fell in love. The four-bedroom, one-bath fixer-upper on a quiet street in Casselton, ND, stood out like a shining beacon in a sea of humble Midwestern ramblers. It didn’t matter that Casselton was a 29-minute commute from their Fargo businesses, Curated Home and Trever Hill Design. Moving from downtown Fargo to a population of 2,459, they’d found a Mid-century modern marvel – a rare find, perfectly paused and preserved in its architectural era.
By Tracy Nicholson | Photography by Dan Francis Photography
Before
Small Town, Good Bones
The home’s good bones led back to its original owners, Francis “Hank” and Dona Weber, who designed the home and kept all 2,720 square feet of its rainbow-hued shag and glulam beams pristine until the day Hill and Masterson arrived 49 years later. That year marked the start of a year-long renovation to breathe new life into nearly every inch of their home, moving in just in time to celebrate the home’s 50th birthday and a meaningful transition into its next lifetime.
Hill and Masterson preserved the home’s original architectural character, balancing carefully curated collections with a monochromatic palette – making guests feel as if they are the art on display. The couple set aside passing trends and inessential materialism, letting personalized, one-of-a-kind pieces surround guests and subtly tell the story of their lives and loved ones.
Come Inside
To properly greet guests, the two started by overhauling the home’s original front door and foyer, replacing the bulky barrier of solid wood double doors with large glass doors that direct natural light into the main entry. They also created a more expansive foyer by removing the bi-fold closet doors, adding grasscloth wallpaper, and installing a tile floor and ceiling.
From the front stoop and throughout the home, are artisanal displays of pottery the couple has collected over time. The raw expression of the varied pots is purposeful, adding an old-world level of comfort to an otherwise sharper minimal palette. Hill likens it to a “pair of old shoes you just can’t seem to get rid of.”
“When you step into a monochromatic space, the contrast of anything else becomes the focal point.”
- TREVER HILL
While most of the home’s aesthetics have been re-envisioned, the more distinct architectural elements were accentuated, including the living room’s pine ceilings, beams, brick fireplace, and lofted lounge. Adorned with a stylized monochromatic mannequin, the unusual loft is now one of the home’s very few intentional focal points.
“When we purchased the home, our only goal was to personalize it, fill it with love, add in curated pieces, and share the space with loved ones,” explained Hill. “The reason we went in the direction of this aesthetic was because we wanted the people we love to be the focus. When you step into a monochromatic space, the contrast of anything else becomes the focal point.”
Culinary Revival
To upgrade the kitchen, Hill and Masterson removed the original cabinets, which were then donated and repurposed by a family member. Although the range and fridge location stayed the same, the flow throughout the rest of the kitchen was reconfigured to allow for a large island. Hill saw the perimeter countertops while working on a design project in California. To find a local company that could source the product, he reached out to Northern Stone, who was able to find the exact stone from the same quarry. “One of the many benefits of working on projects around the country is that I’m able to see products from everywhere, not just what suppliers in our area are currently carrying,” added Hill.
Unexpected Art
At their Casselton home, a brief glance around the room is not long enough. Look deeper and you’ll find the couple’s character in art installations out of the raw and unexpected – a disco ball melting off the edge of cabinetry, rounded stones lined along beams, and old exposed wiring artfully tied to driftwood branches. Everything that could be fixed is, and everything that couldn’t has taken on a more interesting and artful existence. “In the Midwest, we spend more time indoors than nearly anyone else in the country - we don’t just prefer well-designed interiors, I think we need it,” added Masterson.
“We wanted our home to be a meditative place that communicates calm in a world of chaos,” said Hill. “By surrounding ourselves with subdued reflections of the past, people, and places we love, each space creates its own unique energy that feels like it flows and transcends time. When people first see our home, they often mention the minimalist, calming energy, which makes sense because they’re surrounded by a reflection of everything that calms us.”
Master on the Move
Hill and Masterson are currently on the second redesign of the primary bedroom, which originally included the installation of a refurbished spiral staircase leading to an open, loft-style closet. In the newest primary bedroom design, the two once again kept a clean, minimalist palette that repeats finishes from the main living areas, like the room’s bamboo grasscloth wallpaper that is also found in the foyer. Naturally, all of the room’s furniture, lighting, and bedding were sourced from their Fargo store, Curated Home. The light is one of the few items the couple purchased early on; a piece from Palecek that was originally planned for the living room. “It’s all right to change your mind on where you want a piece you love, the important thing is that we get to see it daily,” said Hill.
With the original primary bedroom transitioning to the spare bedroom, their old primary has become the couple’s full-room closet, giving more space to separated clothing displays and the room’s spiral staircase and upper loft.
In between the new primary bedroom and walk-in closet, the couple has worked with family and friends, including Benjamin Custom Homes, on a complete remodel of the bathroom. As the home’s only bathroom, the two opted for an elegant, spa-like design that would appeal to guests and everyday use. Here, every surface was upgraded, including the addition of heated tile floors and a one-of-a-kind vanity top and drain system designed by Hill and fabricated by Northern Stone. The custom vanity appears to be missing a sink, yet the soft slope allows water to drain into the middle.
Cultured Creativity
A fresh perspective has always kept the fast-paced couple far from boredom, traveling often to connect their global lifestyle to their North Dakota roots and favorite Minnesota pastimes. In the summer, they pack up and head to their co-owned Dead Lake tiny home, a property that is also a very chic Airbnb with a shared beachfront and on-demand amenities. “This is just one of the many places we go to relax and where I find inspiration for my designs,” said Hill. “When we need a bigger change of pace, Jesse and I jump on a plane and head wherever we’ve never been for the weekend. Sometimes it’s like throwing a pin at a map and opening our eyes to a new adventure. With each new destination, I like to soak up the culture, colors, and architecture, then bring elements of that experience home.”
Mod Curb Appeal
The Mid-century modern architecture is what originally piqued the interest of Hill and Masterson, so its original facade only required minimal adjustments. To make a stronger visual statement, emphasizing its architectural lines, they chose a dramatic black exterior finish, only re-siding what was necessary while adding a black steel roof, a new front door, and new garage doors with stone surround. The home already had a beautifully treed backyard, so Hill and Masterson simply cleaned it up and added a firepit area with fully furnished outdoor settings.
“Traveling allows me to see outside of our own space and bring a spark of interest back home. Even after hundreds of trips to some of the world’s most beautiful places, we love coming home,” said Hill. Since moving in and leaving downtown Fargo, the two have quickly eased into the slower, small-town lifestyle of Casselton; Hill has even taken on a role with the City Council.”There’s just something about rural North Dakota, or maybe it’s the people, that makes a person want to plant their roots. We just believe that if you want to love your life, you need to design a life you love.”
Design Details
Designer: Trever Hill Design
Contractor: Benjamin Anderson (BCH) & Luther Holm (Holm Construction)
Flooring: Jason Nelson, Floor To Ceiling Carpet One
Tile: Bronson Jesme, McArthur Tile Co.
Cabinetry: Klearvue Cabinetry
Countertops: Northern Stone
Wall Coverings: Phillip Jeffries
Paint: Patience by Sherwin Williams, Weyer Companies
Furnishings & Lighting: Curated Home
Spiral Staircase: Refurbished and installed by Mike Nicholson, Level Landscapes
Siding & Steel Roof: Benjamin Custom Homes
Masonry, Stone & Fireplace: Hebron
Windows: D&M Industries