Renovation Posts

Blog posts about residential home renovations written by Chris Doehrmann Architect, a Residential Architect specializing in new homes, additions and renovations. Chris helps tailor your home to fit you so you can enjoy your dream home.

The Year + In Review

Wow! It has been four years since my last year in review and what a four years it has been. It’s kind of like wanting to write a Christmas letter but your life has been too busy to get it done. Just for the record it has been much more than 4 years since our last one of those but that is my wife’s issue so enough said. The last four years has been a crazy ride… Read More

February 4th, 2023 by

Modern Dellwood Testimonial

The transformation that resulted from the renovation of this home is truly incredible, taking it from a dark 80’s builder grade home to a bright and open modern dream with plenty of windows, clean lines, and functional living spaces. Read More

September 28th, 2020 by

Modern Dellwood Transformation

Hello and happy 2020! It turns out that 2019 was a busy year for construction but not for blogging. Rather than writing blogs I have been designing homes which means I have many projects under construction or almost completed! One of those project is the Modern Dellwood Transformation… Read More

January 24th, 2020 by

The Home Show Season is Here!

The Minneapolis Home & Remodeling Show is the first major home show of the home show season and is held in the US Bank Stadium on February 16-18, 2018. Be sure to go to the Home & Remodeling Show website for discounted tickets and then stop by and see me in Booth #1329. Read More…

February 14th, 2018 by

Dynamic Duo featured in 2018 Spaces Before & After Issue

After previously designing Jeff & Alyn’s home on White Bear Lake I was called back to renovate their existing garage and shed, transforming the dilapidated structures into a classic contemporary studio and office that melds well with the existing home design while significantly adding to the overall composition. Read More…

February 3rd, 2018 by

8 Inspirational Home Remodeling Projects

If your journey to find a home in the Twin Cities seems like a far-fetched fairy tale, you may want to consider a remodeling project to upgrade your current home. But how do you make that decision? How do you know what you can do to your home and how much it will cost? Working with a skilled home remodeling architect is the key to helping you navigate the process that brings new life to your existing home so you can live how you want, where you want. Read More…

November 20th, 2017 by

Inhabited Ruin: Modern Home Hidden Inside Abandoned Masonry Shell

When the architect of this remarkable remodel was hired to create a new home for his clients, a derelict building on the site caught his eye and turned out to be the focal point of a marvelous design project.
Minneapolis has a fair share of historic buildings that have been re-purposed beautifully and some that would benefit from some thoughtful design. This re-designed building I found is a great example of what architects can really do with original structures.

April 21st, 2017 by

How to Avoid Renovation Mistakes: Part 4

Like an architect, choosing the right contractor is the key to a successful renovation project. How many of you have heard horror stories that have kept you from pulling the trigger on your project? How many times have you heard of a homeowner that had to hire a second contractor to fix the first contractor’s mistakes? We’ve had clients whose contractors…

February 6th, 2015 by

How to Avoid Renovation Mistakes: Part 3

We had a homeowner that came to us after they added a two story space to their house. They had room available in their yard and added on to their house, but their problem was that they couldn’t figure out how to get to their new addition from their current home! They had never planned for how the new space would integrate into their existing home. Now, they would have to redo…

January 6th, 2015 by

How to Avoid Renovation Mistakes: Part 2

Our second pitfall is having unrealistic expectations. Let’s say you’ve avoided the first mistake, made the right decision, and you’re working with an architect. Now you have in front of you a design that you absolutely love. So, you do the wise thing in this market and you ask several qualified contractors to bid your project. You get the bids back and they’re no where close to what you can afford to spend. Now, you’ve spent a significant amount of money designing your home, completing…

December 6th, 2014 by

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