Starting at the first sign of spring when temps get above freezing until the last of the leaves have fallen we are busy with landscaping projects. Specifically, retaining walls on lakeside properties with the gorgeous beams of natural stone. Pelican Lake Existing stairs and wood retaining walls were torn out of this property. A lakeside…

Thermally modified wood made through a custom, in-house kiln by Forest Elements. /kiln/: thermally insulated chamber, a type of oven, that produces temperatures sufficient to complete some process, such as hardening, drying, or chemical changes. Kilns have been used for millennia to turn objects made from clay into pottery, tiles and bricks. This means the…

Farmhouse Design Style Read On Here!  

When doing renovations or builds that require multiple designs, the floor can get overlooked. Not overlooked as in not taken into consideration, just not the piece of the design that is the most exciting. However, we had reason to go through our flooring project photos and I wanted to share my favorites. It isn’t a…

Not one project is the same. Each client and home are distinctly their own, therefore, needs to be treated as such. We always remind our clients that this is YOUR project. Home is a feeling. – CLJ Phase 1: We do one free consultation. This can be in a zoom meeting or face to face…

With rumors of distance learning spreading, the anxiety and fear that the beautiful summer days have been melting away are starting to creep back in. One of the coping methods to this anxiety and fear is making a plan. Preparation as best we can with what little notice we usually get is all we can…

Our client and her husband are busy working full time and running a house full of kids. We were so excited when they came to us looking to do something for themselves for once. They decided to add on a garage to their Rambler home and convert their existing garage into a master suite, laundry…

Introducing At Center of Design, we carry home products that we truly believe in. Do you watch Shark Tank? You might recognize Flexscreen because Laurie Grenier made Joe an offer he couldn’t refuse for his small, USA made product. If you don’t recognize it, let me tell you how cool it is. Every fall, I…

I know you’ve seen it. When a roof looks like it’s been through a hurricane except we aren’t anywhere near the ocean. Fortunately we don’t have to worry about many natural disasters but heavy winds is nothing new in our region. With an average wind speed of 9.3 in Minnesota, you would think that we…

Brought to you by: We are going to prescribe a couple of things during this blog visit. Malted Pork Chops followed with Pfeffernuse Cookies. Take with a beverage or two of choice. Vigorous activity post meal is not advised. Malted Pork Chops Serves 4 grapeseed oil 4 bone-in pork loin chops salt 40g light malt…