If you are remodeling your home, we highly recommend Knutson Residential Design for a detail-oriented, collaborative partner who delivers excellent results.
We were referred to Knutson Residential Design for a kitchen remodel. Having had a previous, unfavorable remodeling experience we were skeptical of being able to create a beautiful, useful space with a partner we could trust. Also, we had assumed we could not afford to work with a design company, but we now know that a savvy designer can help to reduce costs and avoid mistakes.

Throughout the design process, Paul managed our expectations and communicated the remodeling process clearly. He knew what questions to ask to be able to translate our wishes into architectural concepts. We appreciated his ability to capture not only the look of the space, but how we wanted to use the space.

After preliminary drawings were completed, Paul helped us pinpoint the perfect combination of colors and textures in our material selections. We relied on his expertise to guide us away from bland, safe choices to a vibrant, exciting integration of materials. We never could have made that leap on our own.

We receive many compliments on our new kitchen, but more important is the energy and happiness we feel from being in a space we love. We look forward to future projects with Knutson Residential Design.

​          -Michelle and Jeff Casper

Paul Knutson became known to us after he worked with my husband’s parents on their kitchen design and remodel a few years ago.  We liked the work he did so much in their kitchen that we knew we wanted Paul to help us design a few spaces in our old farmhouse as well.  We were not disappointed with the result!  Our new kitchen and bath turned out beautifully, thanks to Paul’s guidance and design skill.

First, Paul consulted and designed our Prairie Style bathroom.  Paul was very careful to listen to our needs and wishes and took lots of time to help us analyze what we really wanted in our bath.  He considered our house style as well to make sure the bath blended seamlessly in to the old farmhouse surroundings.  He took time to go over materials and ideas that he thought would work and considered our ideas as well.  His design was workable and met all of our needs, both aesthetically and functionally. 

After the bath design, it was on to the Prairie kitchen a few years later.  We took this room down to the studs and remade the kitchen from the ground up.  Again, Paul sat down with us multiple times, taking lots of time to help with the kitchen layout and needs for our family. Paul gathered samples of materials for us to consider and made sure we had a good plan for our overall look and aesthetic.  Paul was able to capture in his design exactly the look, style and kitchen feel we were looking for.  Paul recommended carpenters and other subcontractors, many of whom we chose for the work.   Paul was generous with his time, always meeting with us when it worked for our schedule and was prompt and available whenever we had questions or concerns. 

We highly recommend working with Paul Knutson and Knutson Residential Design for your next house project! 

          -Kathy and Steve Schwister 
 
After meeting with Paul several times on other projects, we asked him to help us plan our dream kitchen and to help us fix our house so that we can age gracefully and efficiently in it. 
 
The first phase was the kitchen. Paul worked with us through the selection of cabinets, finishes, countertops and tile, and was more than patient when we couldn’t make up our mind.  Like all couples who like to cook, we have quirks about things we want.  Paul listened to us, understood our requirements completely and incorporated them into his designs.  Paul worked around our current space and came up with a gourmet kitchen, a kitchen library (not just a few books), large working areas, and a drink/entertainment bar, while using and relocating some of the current cabinets and adding new ones with different, yet complementary colors.  He was also very responsive to our ideas, and when we made beneficial suggestions to his original recommendations, they were immediately incorporated into his designs.  He also very tactfully talked out of some not so beneficial suggestions.
 
We’re still working on the second phase, but hope to complete it this year.  We recently asked Paul for help with some flooring options and in minutes he gave us a logical and elegant solution that neither we nor our contractor could seem to come up with.  He has also redesigned our mudroom and laundry into a bathroom with shower and mudroom, with the laundry being moved nearer to the bedroom area.
 
He is extremely personable, easy to work with, listens to us (clients), is associated with excellent contractors and workmen, and is great to bounce ideas off of.  Based on our experiences, we would not undertake any reconstruction activities without first consulting Paul.
 
          -Karen Spaulding and Rick Sandri

My husband and I bought a 1974 house on a river. Renovation opportunities were limited as there were many stipulations in the area where the property was located. The pictures of completed renovations on KRD’s website prompted us to interview them. We picked several other architectural companies to interview. The reason we picked KRD is that Paul wrote us a detailed letter of his impression of what we desired of the property along with his proposal. None of the other companies did this, instead their proposals were of what they thought the property should be. We felt he would design the house to fit our needs and style.

I am pleased to say he delivered. We wanted the outdoors brought in, he did it. We wanted open, airy, light; he did it. We wanted the beautiful view from our home to be seen from all living areas as much as possible, exceeded our expectations. And in all of this, made the house functional with ease.
The curbside appeal of the home was none existent. We were not really sure what we wanted or how to go about changing it. Paul drew up a couple designs, walked us through them helping us choose the right design for us.

Not only did we have Paul design the home but also help guide and choose the material for the inside and out. We asked Paul to guide us with color, plumbing, lighting design, every detail, steering us in the right direction for a home to fit our needs that was comfortable and enjoyable.

I believe KRD was able to do this through detailed questionnaires that gave insight as to what my husband and I liked. An example is the kitchen questionnaire. It was extremely detailed and enabled the kitchen to be designed best for our needs.  All details were thought through carefully resulting in a very pleasing home to us.
As with any renovation, we ran into problems, but KRD dealt with them with professionalism and care.

          -Sue and Phil Christman

When it came time to remodel our dark, dysfunctional u-shape kitchen Paul understood our vision, family needs, and budget.  We like midcentury modern design but we were afraid our budget would not allow for a design that nodded to this style while also serving our young family’s needs.  Paul developed multiple layout options and color palettes.  He provided valuable recommendations for contractors and product suppliers, and provided creative solutions to mitigate against material shortages and delays.  This was the first project we’ve hired a designer for, and it was well worth it.  We will definitely recommend Paul to others who want design options that are sensitive to their home’s aesthetics and meet their needs.

          -Holly Lahd-Larson and Brian Larson